{"id":77238,"date":"2026-10-29T21:04:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T21:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=77238"},"modified":"2026-10-29T21:04:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T21:04:52","slug":"beyond-the-wire-breeders-bowl-mile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=77238","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Wire-Breeders Bowl Mile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Twenty Contenders, One Crown: Breeders’ Bowl Mile Promises a Championship Battle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defending champion Flamelopers faces nineteen challengers in a $3 million showdown shaped by a season of international rivalries, Grade I victories and unfinished business.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Twenty Contenders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. QUERELLE BREST \u2014 cumbia \u2014 12-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Havre \u00d7 Australia \u00d7 Sea the Stars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistency has been the defining characteristic of Querelle Brest’s 2026 campaign. The five-year-old horse has made seven starts this year without finishing worse than third, compiling two victories, two runner-up finishes and three thirds. In a championship field filled with horses whose performances have fluctuated throughout the season, that reliability is a significant asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is distance. All seven of his starts this year have come at nine or ten furlongs, while Saturday’s championship is contested at eight. Querelle Brest has been effective as a route horse, but the quicker tempo of a championship mile may require a different kind of performance. If he can adapt to that pace without sacrificing his finishing strength, his consistency makes him a legitimate contender from the inside post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. POOH CORNER CAFE \u2014 kseal004 \u2014 15-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sea the Stars \u00d7 Danehill \u00d7 Galileo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only female in Saturday’s field arrives with one of the strongest recent winning streaks of any entrant. Pooh Corner Cafe has won four of seven starts this season, including three consecutive graded stakes victories heading into the championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the five-year-old mare faces a substantial change in competition. All seven of her listed starts this year were restricted to females. Saturday she must face nineteen males, many of whom have spent the season competing successfully in open Grade I company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes her one of the championship’s most intriguing entrants. Her current form suggests she belongs in the conversation, but the Breeders’ Bowl Mile will provide a much different test from the races she has dominated this season. If she reproduces her September speed figure against this field, she could make her presence felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. BADBOYSYOWMN \u2014 claimboxharlot \u2014 23-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speightstown \u00d7 Distorted Humor \u00d7 Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Badboysyowmn has already demonstrated that he can defeat championship-caliber competition at this distance. On May 10 in California, the five-year-old captured the Grade I Cobbler Mile with a 113.97 speed figure, defeating fellow Breeders’ Bowl entrant Paul the Barber, who finished third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 23-1, he will not attract the same attention as the leading contenders. But he is a Grade I mile winner who has already beaten one of Saturday’s established rivals. The question is whether he can return from an extended absence ready to produce another championship-level performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. ALL CORRUPTED \u2014 teamasr5 \u2014 20-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speightstown \u00d7 Distorted Humor \u00d7 Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Corrupted enters the championship representing the Ten Point organization, bringing a record that includes six victories from seventeen career starts and experience against graded stakes competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His running style may become an important consideration. All Corrupted has shown a willingness to race near the front, and this field contains several other horses with similar preferences. Finding a comfortable position without becoming involved in an exhausting early battle could determine his chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 20-1, he is not among the favorites, but he has a graded victory this season and enough tactical speed to influence the race. A return to his strongest mile form would give him an opportunity to outperform his listed odds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. BESTOFMYFRANK \u2014 karen \u2014 13-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FRANKEL (GB) x SMART STRIKE x DUBAWI (IRE)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few entrants arrive with more encouraging recent form than Bestofmyfrank. The five-year-old gelding has won four of seven starts this season and comes into the championship following an impressive Grade II victory in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His campaign has combined consistency, versatility and strong performances at several distances. He has also demonstrated the ability to win from off the pace, a potentially valuable asset in a twenty-horse field containing several aggressive front-runners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bestofmyfrank may lack the championship recognition of Flamelopers or the recent Grade I victories of Box of Invinciblty, but his form is difficult to dismiss. At 13-1, he has the credentials to challenge the more heavily discussed contenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. PAUL THE BARBER \u2014 correction \u2014 15-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kingman \u00d7 Seeking the Gold \u00d7 Danehill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul the Barber brings one of the most accomplished careers in the field, with eleven victories from twenty-two starts and more than $2.6 million in earnings. He also returns to a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He finished third behind Badboysyowmn in May’s Grade I Cobbler Mile and later struggled to regain his winning form. His last three appearances produced a tenth-place finish in August, a fourth in September and a third in an October allowance race, the latter with a 106.50 speed figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That recent decline creates a difficult handicapping question. The five-year-old clearly possesses the ability to win at the highest level, but he has not demonstrated that form in several months. Saturday will reveal whether Paul the Barber can rediscover the speed that made him a multiple Grade I winner or whether his strongest performances remain in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. DARKNESS COME \u2014 darkasr \u2014 15-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dark Angel \u00d7 Ghostzapper \u00d7 Danehill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darkness Come has spent much of the season chasing some of the very horses he must defeat Saturday. The four-year-old colt has not won in four starts this year, but his record contains several performances that deserve serious consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His credentials extend beyond this year’s runner-up performances. He captured the Grade I Melbourne Guineas at Victoria in October 2025 with a 118.38 figure, then finished second to Paul the Barber in a Hong Kong Grade I that December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darkness Come is particularly dangerous when allowed to settle off the early pace and finish strongly. If Saturday’s leaders establish demanding fractions, he could benefit from the resulting pace scenario. At 15-1, the colt has the past performances to suggest that his winless season does not tell the whole story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8. KYMARH CALIPH \u2014 kev4 \u2014 8-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deep Sky \u00d7 War Front \u00d7 Street Cry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kymarh Caliph enters the Breeders’ Bowl Mile as the listed favorite, and his record explains why. The five-year-old gelding has won sixteen of twenty-seven career starts and arrives with four consecutive victories dating back to March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most encouraging development has been his tactical versatility. Although he went wire to wire in March, subsequent victories have come with different race patterns, including efforts in which he settled behind the early leaders before moving into contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge is that all four victories in his current streak came at 8\u00bd furlongs, a half-furlong farther than Saturday’s race. He is also seeking his first Grade I victory. Nevertheless, a horse with sixteen career wins and four straight graded or allowance successes has earned his position among the favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9. ULFHEDNAR \u2014 bigblueracing6 \u2014 13-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Violence \u00d7 Pulpit \u00d7 Rahy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ulfhednar has already defeated Grade I competition this season and recently came within three-quarters of a length of adding another major victory to his record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His campaign has included difficult assignments against several horses in Saturday’s field. In May, he finished fourth behind Flamelopers in the Grade I Queen Sam at Berkshire, recording a 113.97 figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 13-1, he brings genuine Grade I credentials and proven mile speed. His prospects may depend on how much pressure he encounters during the opening stages, especially from Spin the Rock and other horses who prefer to race near the front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. BLAZER COUNTRY \u2014 stormboot \u2014 12-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frankel \u00d7 Giant’s Causeway \u00d7 A.P. Indy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blazer Country returns to the Breeders’ Bowl Mile looking to improve upon last year’s sixth-place finish, when he crossed the line only 2\u00bd lengths behind Flamelopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old colt has enjoyed another productive season, highlighted by victory in April’s Grade I Sydney Mile at Victoria. His 118.28 speed figure in that race was particularly impressive because he defeated several horses who will return to face him Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That result indicates that Blazer Country has remained competitive against top-level opposition throughout the season. He has already defeated Box of Invinciblty once this year, finished ahead of several other championship entrants and shown that he can perform at the required distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 12-1, he is a serious contender whose chances may be stronger than his place in the betting line suggests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. FLAMELOPERS \u2014 given009 \u2014 12-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lope de Vega \u00d7 Galileo \u00d7 Dubawi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flamelopers returns as the defending Breeders’ Bowl Mile champion, carrying the distinction of having conquered this race a year ago when few expected him to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His championship success has been followed by another exceptional season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is one recent blemish on his record. In September’s Grade I Maudlin Cup at Paris, he finished fourth with a 111.08 figure, behind Shockingly Calm and Bestofmyfrank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That defeat suggests he is not invulnerable, particularly against horses capable of producing strong late runs. But his championship experience, proven mile ability and two Grade I victories this season make him one of the horses everyone must defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flamelopers will attempt to accomplish something more difficult than surprising the field: returning as the champion and winning when everyone knows what he can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. SHOCKINGLY CALM \u2014 fairhaven10 \u2014 45-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lope de Vega \u00d7 Kingmambo \u00d7 Nijinsky II<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shockingly Calm may be the longest-priced horse in Saturday’s field, but his recent performances deserve far more attention than his 45-1 odds might suggest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old colt returned to competition in September following an absence of approximately seventeen months. Rather than needing several races to regain his form, he immediately produced a competitive performance against elite opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His limited racing schedule and lack of a recent victory are legitimate concerns. But at 45-1, he offers one of the most interesting combinations of price, recent improvement and demonstrated ability against this field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. PRIMED BARBARA \u2014 zbarb6 \u2014 15-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Churchill \u00d7 Danehill \u00d7 Dynaformer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primed Barbara has experienced both extremes of Grade I competition this season, making him one of the more difficult horses to evaluate heading into Saturday’s championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five-year-old gelding began the year with disappointing performances, finishing eleventh in February’s Grade I Road Kill Mile and tenth in April’s Grade I Sydney Mile. In the latter race, Blazer Country won while Box of Invinciblty finished third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primed Barbara has not raced since July, meaning he will enter Saturday following a break of more than three months. His strongest performances make him dangerous, but his uneven form and lengthy absence create uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the horse who dominated the Sparkler Handicap appears in California, 15-1 could prove a generous price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. SPIN THE ROCK \u2014 spinround \u2014 12-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fastnet Rock \u00d7 Deep Impact \u00d7 Galileo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spin the Rock enters the Breeders’ Bowl Mile following the biggest victory of his 2026 campaign, and he has already defeated two horses he will face again Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 26 at Kentucky, the five-year-old captured the Grade I Sourball Mile with a 117.16 speed figure, leading throughout and holding off Ulfhednar by three-quarters of a length. Shockingly Calm finished third, giving Spin the Rock a direct victory over two championship rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His greatest asset is his ability to establish a strong early position and make his opponents catch him. His biggest concern may be the presence of other horses with similar ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if he can reproduce the rhythm that carried him to the Sourball Mile championship, he has already proved he can defeat serious Breeders’ Bowl contenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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15. THEOD \u2014 givenhot \u2014 19-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Nay Never \u00d7 Danehill \u00d7 Lyphard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theod gives the Given organization a third championship entrant, joining defending champion Flamelopers and the highly regarded Box of Invinciblty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old colt has won nine of seventeen career starts, and his record includes success at both sprint distances and the mile. That versatility makes him an interesting entrant in a race where the early tempo could become especially demanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His most recent performance was among his best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 21 at Paris, Theod captured the Grade II Daniel Wild over a mile, producing a 118.06 speed figure. He raced tenth early before advancing through the field and winning by 1\u00bd lengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That victory demonstrated the powerful finishing ability that could make him dangerous Saturday, especially if several front-runners engage in an early battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 19-1, Theod could become a particularly important factor if the race develops in favor of horses coming from off the pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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16. MARKED IMPACT \u2014 teamasr18 \u2014 25-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

St Mark’s Basilica \u00d7 Deep Impact \u00d7 Seeking the Gold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marked Impact is another representative of the Ten Point organization, and his record suggests that he could play an important role in the early development of Saturday’s championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July’s Grade I Suffix at Newmarket, Marked Impact raced prominently and appeared positioned for victory before Primed Barbara caught him in the final stages. He finished second by a neck with a 111.36 figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That narrow defeat demonstrated that he could compete with a Grade I winner and remain dangerous deep into the stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 25-1, Marked Impact is a longshot. But his Grade II victory and narrow Grade I defeat give him accomplishments that should not be overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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17. MORNING OF THUNDER \u2014 anniepower \u2014 16-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Night of Thunder \u00d7 Zoustar \u00d7 Montjeu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning of Thunder returns to the Breeders’ Bowl Mile after finishing fifth in last year’s championship, only 2\u00bd lengths behind Flamelopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year-old colt has continued to improve his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 during 2026, capturing three graded stakes races and demonstrating an ability to produce strong late-running performances against accomplished opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning of Thunder’s late-running style could prove particularly effective if Saturday’s early pace becomes contested. With three graded victories this season and a respectable performance in last year’s championship, he has earned serious consideration at 16-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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18. BOX OF INVINCIBLTY \u2014 givenhello \u2014 10-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invincible Spirit \u00d7 Montjeu \u00d7 Kingmambo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Box of Invinciblty may be the most improved horse returning from last year’s Breeders’ Bowl Mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five-year-old finished thirteenth in the 2025 championship, five lengths behind Flamelopers. But his performances in 2026 suggest that he has developed into one of the world’s most formidable turf milers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has won four of five starts this season, including three Grade I victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Spin the Rock, Ulfhednar and other speed-oriented runners in the field, the early pace could provide an ideal setup for a horse comfortable coming from behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 10-1, Box of Invinciblty is one of the leading championship selections, and his current form makes him a serious threat to reverse last year’s result against Flamelopers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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19. SEA STARS CHOICE \u2014 dkstables14 \u2014 14-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sea the Stars \u00d7 Redoute’s Choice \u00d7 Kitten’s Joy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sea Stars Choice enters the championship as one of the field’s older competitors, but the six-year-old has demonstrated this season that he remains capable of competing at a high level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 26, Sea Stars Choice captured the Grade II Fried Rice Mile with a 117.06 speed figure, confirming his ability at Saturday’s championship distance and adding another graded victory to his record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That victory showed that Sea Stars Choice could still deliver at the championship distance.  His latest effort, however, fell considerably short of that standard, leaving a difficult question heading into the Breeders\u2019 Bowl: can he return to that form?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 14-1, he is not being dismissed by the betting line. His ability is established; the challenge is recovering the form that made him a graded stakes winner in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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20. MONPEZAT \u2014 xpansion94 \u2014 21-1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kingman \u00d7 Danehill \u00d7 Dubawi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monpezat completes the twenty-horse field from the outside post, bringing a record of eight victories from sixteen career starts and a Grade I triumph from his three-year-old season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He won a mile allowance race at Surrey in May with a 111.01 figure and finished second in August’s Grade II Dell Web Mile at California, recording a 110.26 figure. But his most recent appearance came October 10 in the Grade I Makybe Prima Donna Stakes at New South Wales, where he finished eighth with a 106.25 figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has demonstrated the ability to finish strongly when positioned behind the leaders, and a contested pace could help him overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 21-1, Monpezat faces a difficult assignment. But his Grade I mile victory and eight career wins provide a legitimate foundation for his championship appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Beyond the Wire Championship Outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selections:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

18-BOX OF INVINCIBLTY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11-FLAMELOPERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8-<\/strong> KYMARH CALIPH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LONGSHOT\u2014SHOCKINGLY CALM<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty horses have traveled different paths to reach California. Some arrive with winning streaks, others with unfinished business, and several with the opportunity to reverse defeats suffered earlier in the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, those separate stories will meet over one mile of turf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when the field crosses the finish line, one horse will carry the title of 2026 Breeders’ Bowl Mile champion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll see you Beyond the Wire<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Twenty Contenders, One Crown: Breeders’ Bowl Mile Promises a Championship Battle Defending champion Flamelopers faces nineteen challengers in a $3<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[2],"class_list":["post-77238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77238"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77266,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77238\/revisions\/77266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}