Breeders’ Bowl Turf

With all eyes turned towards the Breeders’ Bowl this weekend, we’ll take a look at the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1), which will be held on Saturday with a post time of 3:00 PM EST. Like the other races on the card for this Friday and Saturday, the race will have a full field of twenty runners. The Breeders’ Bowl Turf will be offering up a total purse of three million dollars and will be held on a firm course at post time on Saturday with entries open to horses three years of age and up. With twenty horses going to the gate, let’s look through the contenders for who will reign supreme on the turf for this year. 

1. Rising Monsuns (IRE) – oakridge61 – A. Jolly – 16/1 

Drawing the inside rail, this five-year-old bay horse was a former claimer turned into a Grade I winner. The son of Order Of St George has made nineteen career starts, winning eight times. The most recent start for the horse came in late September overseas during The Europe Classic (G1) at a mile and a half in Germany. Stalking the pace early, the bay horse never fired in the race but held on to his fourth-place finish at the wire with a speed figure of one hundred nine. His most recent win was in April of this year in The Cold Plate (G2) at a mile and five-eighths and also held in Germany. The horse took this race in wire-to-wire fashion, drawing away at the end to win by five and three-quarter lengths. This is the horse’s second Breeder’s Bowl; the horse finished eighth in this same race last year. 

2. La Fireez (ENG) – lopickles – Q. Cassell – 14/1 

Coming into the race from Germany, the four-year-old gelding is by top sire Dubawi (IRE) and has won half of his twenty career starts. The most recent start for the bay gelding was in late September during The Europe Classic (G1) at a mile and a half. The gelding was held off the pace in seventh early until being asked to make his bid midway through the race. The gelding would advance steadily, not taking over the lead until coming into the stretch where he would go on to win by four lengths and set a speed figure of one hundred sixteen. 

3. Oro En Polvo – haack10 – J. Selden – 20/1 

The first of three son’s of Justify in the race on Saturday, the five-year-old chestnut horse is returning to graded company after a step down in class. The most recent start for the horse came this past September during a Local Championship listed stakes in his native Kentucky over a mile and a half on the dirt. Breaking near the back of the field in the race, the horse would rally late in the stretch to cross the wire in eighth setting a speed figure of one hundred five. This was the horse’s first dirt stat since debuting over the surface as a two-year-old. The horse last won in January in South Africa during the Mr. Met Cap (G1) at a mile and a quarter. Still well off the pace on the turf, thirteenth out of the gate at the start, the horse steadily was picking up positions early on in the race before going on to win by a length and a half. 

4. Turbo Drop – xpansion9 – C. Mecklenburg – 19/1 

Another son of Justify, this four-year-old chestnut colt may have found his forte on softer tracks, which unfortunately he will not get this weekend. The most recent start for the colt was overseas in Japan this past month during The Angry Dragon (G2) at a mile and a half. Send out of the gate towards the middle of the pack in seventh over the yielding turf course, the colt started to advance midway through the race, getting up for second at the wire and setting a speed figure of one hundred ten. His most recent win was in his prior start which came in August in Ontario over the same distance during The Polish Damsire (G2) over a track that was rated as good. Out of the gate in sixth for this start, the colt ran in the same fashion, challenging midway through the race but finding the lead this time and winning by three and a half lengths.  

5. Bricks In Galileo (JPN) – dkstables19 – D. Givins – 20/1 

Bred in Japan, this son of Bricks And Mortar will be making his nineteenth start in the Breeder’s Bowl. The most recent start for the five-year-old brown horse was in late August during The G. P. Von Vaden (G1) in Germany over a mile and a half. The horse was late out of the gate, breaking in tenth. Never seeming to find his stride, the brown horse would also cross the wire in tenth while setting a speed figure of one hundred five. We would need to go back to November of last year for the horse’s most recent win which came in the Euro Classic Final (G1) over the same distance in Belgium. More forwardly placed in this race, the horse settled into fifth out of the gate. He would be asked to challenge the other contender’s midway through the race and was able to get up to win by half a length. 

6. Just Street Talk – ddstables – K. Ledwith – 12/1 

At six-years-old, the brown son of Triple Crown winner Justify is one of the older contenders in Saturday’s field and he will be making his twenty-seventh career start. The most recent start for the horse came in New York last September during the Classic Turf Stakes (G1) at a mile and a half. Settling into fifth out of the gate, the horse would rally a little late in the stretch to cross the wire in fourth while setting a speed figure of one hundred ten. His prior start, taking place in early August, would end in a win. This win was also in New York, during the Sword Swallower Stakes (G1) at the same distance. Running in a similar fashion to his most recent race, the horse broke in fourth, but by the midway point in the race was challenging other runners and had moved up into second before taking over the lead in the stretch and winning by a quarter of a length. 

7. Cthulhu Reins – borodino – R. Bokie – 15/1 

Approaching four million dollars in career earnings, the Kentucky-bred son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will be making his twenty-second career start this weekend. The most recent start for the five-year-old horse came in early September in Australia during The Expensive Jalopy (G1) at a mile and a half. The horse was sent out to stalk the pace in second but would fade some in the stretch to cross the wire in third while setting a speed figure of one hundred nine. The horse saw his most recent win in July over the same distance in Ontario over the same distance in The Dancing North Cup (G2).  The bay horse took the field from gate to wire in this race, ultimately winning by a length and a half. 

8. Thejunglecatstalks (FR) – zkingab30 – P. Syduck – 11/1 

Winning two consecutive races before coming into the Breeder’s Bowl, the French-bred five-year-old gelding will be making his twenty-first career start. The most recent start for the gelding was in Berkshire, England for the Ark Trial (G3) in September at a mile and three-eighths. The gelding was forwardly placed out of the gate, stalking the pace early in third. The bay gelding took over the lead at the midway point of the race and went on to win going away by six and three-quarter lengths. Prior to this the gelding also won a listed stakes race over the same distance in Sweden. 

9. Street Skills (GB) – thezoo – R. Cerda – 13/1 

This five-year-old horse is shipping in from Australia after making his most recent start there this past September. This start came in The Expensive Jalopy (G1) over a mile and a half. The chestnut colt was placed towards the middle of the pack out of the gate, held back in sixth early. The horse did not seem to find his footing in the race and began to lose ground midway through the race. He would cross the wire in tenth, eleven lengths back off the winner and setting a speed figure of one hundred five. The most recent win for the son of New Approach (IRE) came in early August in England during The Freer Stakes (G3) at a mile and five-eighths. The horse in this race was once again held back off the pace, this time in seventh out of the gate. Midway through the race the horse was asked to challenge the other contenders. He pulled ahead in the final furlongs to win by half a length while recording a speed figure of one hundred fourteen. 

10. Frankhill (ENG) – falvelon – D. Dowell – 10/1 

Making his twentieth career start in the Breeder’s Bowl this Saturday, this four-year-old son of top sire Frankel (GB) is coming off of a three-race winning streak in the lead up to the race this weekend. The most recent start for the bay gelding was across the country in New York during the Classic Turf Stakes (G1) over a mile and a half. Out of the gate towards the middle of the pack in sixth, the gelding took over the pace midway through the race and would go on to win the contest by an impressive eight and three-quarter lengths while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred twenty. Prior to this the gelding also won the United Countries Handicap (G1) at a mile and three-eighths in New Jersey and the NY Island Cap (G1) at a mile and a quarter back in New York. 

11. Sammy Doubles Down (GB) – givensunday – O. A. Haack – 11/1 

By one of the top sires of the turf in Dubawi (IRE), this five-year-old gelding will be making his twenty-fifth career start and is seeking his first Grade I win. The most recent start for the gelding came overseas in France during last month’s Arc de ComicDog (G1) at a mile and a half. Sent out of the gate to settle back in seventh at the start, the gelding started to advance on the other runners midway through the race but he would come up just short at the wire as he would come home to finish second, setting a speed figure of one hundred fifteen. His most recent win was this past July in Germany during The Dutchland (G2) over the same distance. He was more forwardly placed in this race and stalked the front pace early from the third position. He would begin to mount a challenge halfway through the race and would go on to win by two and a half lengths. 

12. Nidhogg – mississaugua3 – E. Cerda – 17/1 

Sired by Tapit, the four-year-old light grey colt will be making his eighteenth career start on Saturday with seven of these starts resulting in wins to date. The most recent start for the colt came in Australia in late September over a mile and a half in the Coalminer Cup (G1). Stalking the pace in fourth early the colt advanced into third early in the race but wasn’t able to get by the other horses out in front as he came home with a speed figure of one hundred eleven. His most recent win was in his prior start which took place in New York early in July during the Man Of War Stakes (G1). Further off the pace in this race in seventh out of the gate, the colt was held back until midway through the race before being asked to run. He would just have room at the wire to win by a head while recording a speed figure of one hundred fourteen. 

13. Honor The Sunrise – prahran – F. Duffy – 20/1 

With twenty-six career starts, the five-year-old bay gelding is seeking his first Grade I win with the Breeder’s Bowl. Formerly a claimer, the son of Honor A P most recently started here in California during The Roberto Clemente (G1) at a mile and a quarter. Out of the gate and settling into eighth early, the gelding started to challenge other runners when the field reached the midway point of the race. He would show a good turn of foot down the stretch but only got up for second at the wire, setting a speed figure of one hundred thirteen for the race. July saw his most recent win, which was also here in California, this time in the Dawn To Dusk Cup (G2) at a mile and a half. Run in a similar fashion to his more recent start, the gelding was out of the gate in seventh before going on to win by a length. 

14. Blavakin (ENG) – peeps9 –J. Hernandez – 16/1 

With a Grade I winning dam in Famous Indy, this five-year-old brown horse has twenty-seven career starts and has earned just over two million in career earnings. The most recent start for the horse came last month in France during the Arc de ComicDog (G1) at a mile and a half. Out of the gate last in sixteenth, the horse did start to challenge other runners early but it was only enough to get him up into ninth at the wire as he turned in a speed figure of one hundred eight. Late August saw the horse his most recent win which came in Germany during The G.P. Von Baden (G1) over the same distance. Once again the horse came on as a late closer after lingering back out of the gate in elventh before going on to win by a quarter length. 

15. Modern War Tactics (GB) – padrestc – F. Gossett – 38/1 

Sired by Modern Games, this three-year-old chestnut colt has won his last three consecutive starts prior to coming into the Breeder’s Bowl. With eleven career starts, the colt has won six and finished on the board in another two, bringing home a total of just over five and a half million in career earnings. The most recent start for the colt was in late September in Ontario during the Canada Turf (G1) at a mile and a half. Stalking the pace early in second over the good turf, the colt took over the lead midway through the race and went on to win by three and a half lengths with a speed figure of one hundred fifteen. Prior to this the colt also won the Owner’s Stakes (G1) at the same track over the same distance and also on a good track in July. His first win in his three-race winning streak came in the Derby de English (G1) at a mile and a half in England. The colt will be off as the morning line longshot. 

16. Uni Kvasir (FR) – jaka2 – J. Ledwith – 13/1 

Sired by Siyouni, the French-bred five-year-old bay horse will be making his twenty-second start this weekend for the Breeder’s Bowl. With earnings just over two million dollars, the horse has won seven times. The most recent start for the horse was in Australia during the Coalminer Cup (G1) at a mile and a half in late September. Going straight out of the gate to the lead, the horse would lead right up until the final furlongs where he was overtaken in the final strides to finish second by a quarter of a length. The horse set a speed figure of one hundred twelve for the race. The most recent win for the horse was in June during an allowance race in Brazil over the same distance. The horse won the race in gate to wire fashion by an impressive eleven length margin. The most recent graded win for the horse goes back to June of last year when he won The Saint Cloud Grand Prix (G1), also over the same distance. 

17. Moi Frankel (FR) – jastables – P. Appolonia – 18/1 

With five wins out of twenty lifetime starts, the French-bred five-year-old horse is seeking his first Grade I win with his start this weekend. The bay horse most recently started in late September in Germany during The Europe Classic (G1) at a mile and a half. Out of the gate sharply and stalking the early pace in second, the horse would fade in the stretch to cross the wire in third while setting a speed figure of one hundred ten. The most recent win for the son of Pour Moi (IRE) was in October of last year during the Valley Gold Cup (G2) in Australia at a mile and nine-sixteenths. Still stalking early, this time from third position, the horse would close late in the stretch to win going away by five lengths.  

18. Bam Bam Bigelow (AUS) – bode – N. Lawton – 10/1 

Off of two consecutive wins before this race, the Australian-bred gelding is by the late Snitzel and will be making his twenty-seventh career start. The five-year-old bay gelding most recently started last month in The Sick No More (G3) at a mile and a half in Kentucky. The bay gelding took the field from gate to wire, managing to hold on to win by three-quarters of a length while setting a speed figure of one hundred fifteen. Prior to this the gelding would also win an allowance race over eleven and a half furlongs in Ireland, again taking the field on by going straight to the lead out of the gate and holding on right up to the wire, dominating the field in this race to win by six and a quarter lengths.  

19. IDK War On Putin (JPN) – ace11 – W. Gouveia – 21/1 

A local champion in his native Japan, the five-year-old bay gelding has made twenty-three career starts before coming into the Breeder’s Bowl this year, which will be only the fourth graded race of the gelding’s career. His most recent start was his only loss at the graded level, which came in the Eclipse Stakes (G1) in Newmarket, England last month at a mile and a quarter on a track which was listed as good at post time. Sent out of the gate in sixth, the gelding never seemed to find his stride as he crossed the wire where he started in sixth, recording a speed figure of one hundred four. Prior to this though the gelding would win both the Judgemont Invitational (G1) and the Kakarazuka Tinen Cup (G1), at a mile and five-sixteenths and a mile and a quarter respectively. The former saw the gelding coming from well off the pace in ninth to win by a head, while the former the gelding was closer to the pace in fifth early, taking over the lead at the midway point of the race before winning by two and three-quarter lengths. 

20. Infinite Luminance (AUS) – will10 – T. Ace – 13/1 

Rounding out our field for the Breeder’s Bowl Turf (G1) the Australian son of I Am Invincible (AUS) will be going into the far outside post. Lightly raced with twelve career starts, the four-year-old colt has won six times and has career earnings approaching the million dollar mark. The horse is returning to graded company after a step down in class for his last start, which was an allowance race over twelve furlongs in the Czech Republic. Stalking the pace early in second, the horse made a late bid for the front but came up short in the end to finish a head bob back of the eventual winner, setting a speed figure of one hundred eleven. Prior to this the colt won two consecutive graded races in The New York Stakes (G2) and The Longstickgoboom Stakes (G2) at a mile and five-sixteenths and a mile and a half respectively. The colt was forwardly placed in both, taking the later in gate to wire fashion. 

Flrancho’s Picks: 

Win: Frankhill (ENG) 

Place: Cthulhu Reigns 

Show: Thejunglecatstalks (FR)