Three European pre-entries likely out of Breeders' Cup, opening door for others

Bayside Boy, upset winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over Breeders’ Cup Mile favorite Modern Games, is one of three overseas pre-entrants into Breeders’ Cup races not expected to make the trip to Keeneland this weekend.

Bayside Boy’s connections hinted from the time of pre-entry they were leaning against coming to the BC Mile, a race into which they had free entry since the QE II is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

The two other horses taken off shipping lists are Saffron Beach, who was entered with first preference in the Filly and Mare Turf and second preference in the Mile, and Never Ending Story, one of two Aidan O’Brien-trained pre-entrants in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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The Mile defections allow Shirl’s Speight and King Cause to get into the oversubscribed race, and their respective trainers, Roger Attfield and Mike Maker, said Thursday they intended to run.

Never Ending Story’s absence from the Juvenile Fillies Turf means Jessamine Stakes runner-up Knockyoursocksoff gets into the field, and her trainer, Chris Block, also confirmed the filly’s intended participation.

Saffron Beach’s defection from the Filly and Mare Turf gets that race’s one pre-entrant, Mise En Scene into the field, and Mise En Scene is expected to ship from England.

All the European horses travel Saturday on two flights, one carrying the Godolphin horses as well as Turf Sprint hope Emaraaty Ana that arrives in Louisville around noon. The rest of the overseas runners are scheduled to land in Louisville early Saturday evening. The second flight includes horses trained by Aidan O’Brien, who historically has shipped his runners separately and traveled closer to the two Breeders’ Cup race days.

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