HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday October 5, 2016)

Red Falx won his third consecutive race, and first in a Grade 1, in Sunday’s $1,890,292 Sprinters’ Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

The Sprinters’ Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees paid berth for the winner to the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. There is no immediate indication that Red Falx will be sent to California.

Limato won his second Group 1 sprint of the European season in Sunday’s $336,930 Prix de la Foret at seven furlongs at Chantilly Racecourse in France, and is expected to race at Santa Anita on the Breeders’ Cup program on Nov. 5.

Limato is the future-book favorite with British bookmakers for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, but could also be considered for the BC Mile, trainer Henry Candy said after the Prix de la Foret.

The Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Found, runner-up in five straight Group 1 races this year, broke through in tremendous fashion Sunday at Chantilly, leading an amazing sweep of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe’s top three placings by trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Found beat Highland Reel by 1 3/4 lengths with Order of St George another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. For all the remarkable accomplishments in O’Brien’s epic career, this might have been the best.

“It’s unbelievable,” O’Brien said. “I’m absolutely delighted.”

Alice Springs registered her second straight Group 1 victory and took another step toward a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile when she won the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes on Saturday at Newmarket.

The wait is over for Postponed, who long has been aimed at Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and goes into the race the solid favorite to beat 15 rivals after drawing favorably in post 7.

Big Arthur, the winner of consecutive graded stakes for sprinters in Japan earlier this year, tries to win for the ninth time in his 13-race career in Sunday’s $1,890,292 Sprinters’ Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

The Grade 1 Sprinters’ Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth to the winner to the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Brett Davis' Selections

Race 1: 12-2-6-7-4
Race 2: 6-3-1-2-8
Race 3: 4-5-1-7-12
Race 4: 1-5-3-7-4
Race 5: 1-8-12-13-14
Race 6: 5-12-6-4-8
Race 7: 14-8-7-3-4
Race 8: 2-1-3-5-7
Race 9: 10-12-5-7-14
Race 10: 11-1-3-5-2
Race 11: 3-1-2-5-8

Peniaphobia and Not Listenin’tome, who were third and eighth in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March, return from summertime breaks in Saturday’s $386,622 National Day Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

The Group 3 National Day Cup is one of two group stakes on an 11-race program that begins at 12:30 a.m., Eastern, or 9:30 p.m. Pacific on Friday. The program includes the $386,622 Celebration Cup Handicap at seven furlongs on turf.

Sixteen horses have passed the second-to-last forfeit stage for Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France, with the favored Postponed facing no more than 15 rivals when final entries are taken and post positions assigned Friday.

Thursday also was the day for supplemental entries to be declared, but none were, leaving 2016 Japan Derby winner Makahiki, 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Found, and Epsom Derby winner Harzand as the most obvious challengers to Postponed.