Marcavelly could flatter BC contender

The Breeders' Cup preps are finished, the pre-entries are out, and the Breeders' Cup fields are mostly set, aside from a few defections between now and next Saturday's races.

Yet Friday's $125,000 Bourbon Stakes may still end up influencing the betting for one Breeders' Cup race: the Juvenile Fillies. Among the seven entrants Friday is Marcavelly, a 2-year-old colt who ran second to Dreaming of Anna, one of the probable favorites for the Juvenile Fillies, when they ran in the Grade 3 Summer Stakes at Woodbine on Sept.o17. How Marcavelly fares Friday could sway the support of those pondering a wager on Dreaming of Anna.

Anything but a victory from Marcavelly would likely be considered a disappointment. He stands out against six opponents in the Bourbon, a 1 1/16-mile turf race, and not just because of the company he has kept.

A son of Johannesburg, Marcavelly easily owns the top turf Beyer Speed Figures in the field, having posted an 88 Beyer when he ran second in the Summer Stakes and an 82 Beyer when he won a maiden race at Belmont in July. Between those races, he ran a 73 Beyer when he won the Continental Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park on Aug. 19.

Provided he runs back to his better figures, the race in the Bourbon is likely for second place. None of his opponents has run better than a 74 Beyer on turf, although Ohio invader Head to Toe has run an 83 on dirt.

There is very little depth in the Bourbon field, seemingly because the race competed for entries with another turf race for 2-year-olds, the $75,000 Pilgrim Stakes, which was run at Belmont Park last weekend. Two of Marcavelly's six opponents are maidens, and Head to Toe is the only other stakes winner; she won a dirt stakes against Ohio-bred company.

Bill Mott trains Marcavelly for Zayat Stables. Edgar Prado rides.

The primary foes for Marcavelly appear to be Admiral Bird and Twilight Meteor, who finished one-two in a first-level allowance Oct. 7 at Keeneland. In that race, Admiral Bird rallied from fourth to take command and outlasted Twilight Meteor by a nose.

The allowance was the second meeting between the two. In the summer, Admiral Bird finished a half-length in front of Twilight Meteor when they finished second and fourth in the Sept. 1 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga.

John Velazquez rides Twilight Meteor, and Julien Leparoux rides Admiral Bird.