O'Neill juveniles to split up for Breeders' Cup preps

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – A quintet of Doug O’Neill-trained 2-year-olds will spread across the country this fall as they move closer to the Breeders’ Cup.

As of Friday, O’Neill had five juveniles with Breeders’ Cup aspirations, led by Grade 1 winners Nyquist and Ralis. Both colts went back to the track Friday morning at Santa Anita, four days after winning Grade 1’s in California and New York.

Between races Friday at Los Alamitos, O’Neill mapped out tentative campaigns for the 2-year-olds and two older horses that could end up in the Breeders’ Cup.

Nyquist, 3 for 3 following a convincing win Monday in the Del Mar Futurity, will stay in California and aim to the Grade 1 FrontRunner, a 1 1/16-mile race Sept. 26 at Santa Anita. Regular rider Mario Gutierrez will keep the mount.

Ralis, who crushed the Hopeful Stakes on Monday at Saratoga, will return to New York for the Grade 1 Champagne, a one-mile race Oct. 3 at Belmont Park. Javier Castellano will ride him back.

Castellano told O’Neill that Ralis “was more horse than I saw on paper.” Ralis, a late replacement in the Hopeful for sidelined Mrazek, won by 5 3/4 lengths. When Ralis returns to New York, he will be accompanied by an improving 2-year-old filly.

Where’s the D will target the Grade 1 Frizette on Oct. 3, following a sharp maiden win in her second start last Monday at Del Mar. She was well-regarded into her first race, but finished seventh after slow start.

“We were like – what in the world?” O’Neill said.

O’Neill schooled her in the gate, and second time out she cruised by 1 3/4 lengths. Where’s the D earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure.

Gomo is another 2-year-old filly trained by O’Neill with designs on the Breeders’ Cup. She finished a respectable third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf last Monday and will return to dirt for her next start in the Grade 1 Alcibiades on Oct. 2 at Keeneland.

Jakaby Jade, whose U.S. debut for O’Neill was a 1 1/2-length victory in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, will be nominated to the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita and also the Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon Stakes on Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

Two older horses are Breeders’ Cup sleepers. Sharla Rae, who won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 15, will face older fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita. A good effort in that 1 1/4-mile turf race would put her on target for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Sammy Mandeville currently is a longshot for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, a race his owners won the last two years with Goldencents. Sammy Mandeville is owned by W.C. Racing.

Sammy Mandeville, runner-up Aug. 16 in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, it tentatively scheduled for the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap, a one-mile race Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.