Pivotal preps coming up for Breeders' Cup Mile

It was all quiet on the Breeders’ Cup Mile front this past weekend, but the division blazes back to life Saturday and Sunday with action in Kentucky, California, and France.

Wise Dan, the BC Mile winner in each of the last two years, continues to lead the Mile rankings, but his position is more precarious than in recent years, and he could be in for a challenge from Seek Again on Saturday at Keeneland in the Shadwell Turf Mile.

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Seek Again came within a head of Wise Dan in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic last May at Churchill Downs, and Seek Again might be a stronger horse now. Wise Dan, meanwhile, had colic surgery in May and was out of action for much of the summer. Though he won his comeback race, the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga, while giving weight under handicap conditions, it was a narrow victory lacking the decisiveness of his top performances.

Santa Anita hosts the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile on Saturday. Obviously would be the best-known runner if he starts, while Tom’s Tribute – vying with Obviously for leading California turf miler this year – was not nominated to the race.

The seven-furlong Prix de la Foret on Sunday at Longchamp on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe undercard could produce starters for the Mile, with Aljamaheer and Mustajeeb among the horses being considered for a trip to Santa Anita depending upon performance Sunday.