2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile Preview, Entries & Odds
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OffTrackBetting.com – The G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile takes place this Saturday, November 4 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. Horses three years old and upward will take to Del Mar’s turf track and race one mile searching for the winner’s share of the $2 million purse.
A full filed of 14 will take to the track in the BC Mile – Race 9 on Del Mar’s incredible Saturday schedule. Post time is 6:19 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all 14 entries of this competitive G1 stakes.
2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile Field & Odds at Del Mar
Ribchester 7-2
Irish bred Richard Fahey trained colt has 15 career starts and has hit the board in 14 – six wins, five seconds and three third-place finishes. He arrives off a quality second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot October 21, a good win in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de Moulin de Longchamp in France September 10, a second in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes in Britain August 2 and two terrific wins – the Group 1 Queen Ann Stakes at Ascot June 20 and the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May. Ribchester has been a serious factor in ever race the last 18 months and is expected to be one of the ones to catch Saturday from gate 10.
World Approval 9-2
Mark Casse trained gelding has 10 wins, two seconds and four third place finishes in 23 career starts. He put his name on the radar with a win in July, 2015 in the G3 American Derby and has been decent since. Last time out was a good win in the G1 Woodbine Mile September 16 which followed a nice bounce back 2 1/4 length win in the G1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga August 12 and a bit of a disappointment – a fifth in the G1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park June 10. Before that was a good 2 1/4 length win with a 106 Beyer Speed Figure in the G2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico May 20, an easy 2 1/4 length win in the minor EG Vodka Turf Classic at Tampa Bay April 2 and six months away. Other quality results include an OK third in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine last September 17, a win in the G1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park July 3, 2016, an OK third behind the terrific Flintshire in the 2016 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park June 11, 2016, a second in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic May 7, 2016 and another second in the G2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds last March. World Approval has won four of his last five starts overall and will be out to build on a two-race win streak Saturday from post 5.
Suedios 6-1
French Bred David O’Meara trained gelding has 32 career starts with eight wins, eight seconds and seven third-place finishes. He made his North American debut October 7 and promptly won the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland after a nice win in the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Solonaway Boomerang Stakes in Britain September 9, an OK third in the Group 3 City of York Stakes August 25, another third in the Group 2 Qatar Lennox Stakes August 1 and a seventh in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He also produced a Group 3 score overseas in 2015. Suedios has been trending upward ahead of this week and looks for his second straight graded stakes score. He leaves from gate 8.
Roly Poly 6-1
Finished ninth in this race last year and has been good since. Last time out was a good win in the Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes in Britain October 7 after a somewhat disappointing sixth in the Group 1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes overseas September 9 and two nice Group 1 wins – the Prix Rothschild in France July 30 and the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes July 14. She was second in a pair of Group 1 races in Europe before that. Roly Poly has placed in five of her last six starts overall and chases a fourth win in five starts Saturday from gate 12.
Heart to Heart 6-1
Canada’s 2014 champion 3-year-old male, multiple G3 winning Brian Lynch trainee enters in good form – a decent second last time out in the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland October 7 followed a good 1 1/4 length win in the G2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga September 4, a second behind Miss Temple City in the G1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland April 14, a good win March 4 in the G3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park and a fourth in the G2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes on that track January 14. Before that was a front running win in the minor El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream December 17, a fourth in the minor Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct November 19 and a nice win in the G3 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont Park October 10. Other results include three straight wins – all in gate-to-wire fashion – the 2016 G3 Canadian Turf Stakes, the 2016 G2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes and the G3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs. In 2014, he had a nice three race win streak as well – all stakes races. Heart to Heart now has 13 wins (nine graded stakes), five seconds and three third place finishes in 31 career starts and has placed in six of his seven six starts ahead of this weekend with three stakes wins over that span. He departs from gate 2 Saturday.
Ballagh Rocks 12-1
Bill Mott trained colt has five wins, two seconds and three third-place finishes in his 14 career starts. He won three straight Allowance races this past winter including an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream January 20 but didn’t looked great in two starts after that – a seventh in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6 followed a fourth in the G1 Maker’s 46 Mile April 14. Last time out was an OK third in the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland October 7 after another third in the G1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga August 12 and a career-best effort – a win in the G3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park June 18. Ballagh Rocks seems to be over his funk and will chase a second graded stakes score in four starts Saturday from post 11.
Midnight Storm 15-1
Defending third-place finisher won the G2 Del Mar Derby in August, 2014 for trainer Phil D’Amato, had a second in the 2015 G1 Shoemaker and has been fairly very competitive the last year – five wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 11 starts over that span. He enters this week off a second in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita September 3 after consecutive fourths – the G2 Del Mar Mile August 20 and the competitive G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 27. Those results followed an OK third in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap April 15, a second after fading in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap March 11 and a nice two race win streak – the G2 San Pasqual Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths January 1, and by an impressive 7 3/4 lengths in the G3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar November 27 – both in gate-to-wire fashion. Before that was his OK third in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Mile and wins in the 2016 G2 Del Mar Mile, the G2 Eddie Read Stakes and in the 2016 G1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita. Midnight Storm now has 10 wins, five seconds and two third place finishes in 26 career starts and will be out to snap a five-race losing streak from the rail.
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Karar 15-1
British bred Francis-Henri Graffard trained gelding has just four wins in 18 career starts to go along with five seconds and three third-place finishes. He has been decent in his last four starts ahead of this weekend – a third last time out in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret in France October 1 followed a good win in the Group 3 Prix du Pin at Chantilly September 3, a second in an Allowance in France and a third in a Group 3 in June. He failed to place in his previous two starts including his only North American start – the 2016 G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Karar looks for his biggest win to date Saturday when he leaves from the outside post 14.
Blackjackcat 15-1
Mark Glatt trained gelding has six wins and four third-place finishes in 14 career starts. He arrives on a four-race win streak – the minor Obviously Mile Stakes last time out at Santa Anita October 7, the G2 Del Mar Mile August 12, the minor Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar July 23 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita July 2. Before that were two straight thirds – the G3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita May 27 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita May 6. He failed to place in three of his previous five starts (all graded stakes) but did have thirds in the 2016 G2 Twilight Derby and the 2016 G2 Los Alamitos Derby. Blackjackcat has been good in his last six starts overall and searches for his fifth straight win Saturday from post 13.
Om 20-1
Has 19 career starts for trainer Dan Hendricks with five wins, five seconds and six third-place finishes. He was last seen finishing third in the G3 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita September 29 after another third in the G2 Del Mar Mile August 20, an OK second in the G3 American Stakes at Santa Anita July 4, a third as favorite in the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar November 26 and three straight runner-up finishes – the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, the G2 City of Hope Mile and the G2 Del Mar Mile August 21, 2016. He also posted a nice win in the 2015 G2 Mathis Brothers Mile, another third as favorite in the G1 Hollywood Derby November 28, 2015 and two good wins in the fall of 2015- the G2 Twilight Derby and in gate-to-wire fashion in the G2 Del Mar Derby. Om is one of two horses to ever beat American Pharoah and has placed in seven straight races ahead of this weekend. He shoots for his first win in 22 months from post 7.
Lancaster Bomber 20-1
Aidan O’Brien trained colt has just one win in his 13 career starts to go along with four second-place finishes. He finished second in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but has been just OK since. Last time out was a fourteenth-place finish in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot October 21 after a respectable second in the G1 Woodbine Mile September 16, sixth in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes in Britain August 2, a good second in the Group 1 St. James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and three straight off-the-board finishes including an OK fourth in the Group 1 UAE Derby in March. Lancaster Bomber has been fairly competitive so far but has yet to claim a stakes win. He tries to change all of that from gate 4.
Zelzal 20-1
Jean Claude Rouget trained French bred colt has four wins, a second and a third-place finish in his nine career starts. He makes his North American Debut Saturday having failed to place in his last two starts – a sixth last time out in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret at home followed a fourth in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood August 2. Before that was a second in the Group 3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines June 18, nine months away, a third in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamps and two straight wins including the 2016 Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly. Zelzal hasn’t exactly been on top of his game lately but has shown some serious form in the past. He departs from gate 6.
Home of the Brave 20-1
Irish bred Hugo Palmer trainee has 17 career starts with six wins, four seconds and two third-place finishes. He finished eleventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year and has been decent since – a third last time out in the Group 3 Alan Wood Plumbing & Heating Park Stakes in Britain followed a second in the Group 2 Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood August 1 and two straight wins – the Group 3 Betway Criterion Stakes July 1 and the minor Richard III Stakes in April. Home of the Brave had four stakes wins at home and enters in OK form. He searches for his biggest win to date Saturday from post 9.
Mr. Roary 30-1
George Papaprodromou trained gelding has four wins, two seconds and two third-place finishes in 18 career starts. He arrives off a nice win in the G3 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita September 29 after an ugly thirteenth in the G2 Del Mar Handicap August 19, an OK third in the G3 Eddie Read Stakes on this track July 22, an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Anita June 16 and eight months away. Before the layoff was an eighth in the G2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in November and another Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Anita last October. Mr. Roary hadn’t been all that impressive in stakes action before last time out and will try to build on that effort from post 3.
Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Midnight Storm | 15-1 | Tyler Baze | Philip D’Amato |
2 | Heart to Heart | 6-1 | Julien Leparoux | Brian Lynch |
3 | Mr. Roary | 30-1 | Tyler Conner | George Papaprodromou |
4 | Lancaster Bomber | 20-1 | Seamus Heffernan | Aidan O’Brien |
5 | World Approval | 9-2 | John Velazquez | Mark Casse |
6 | Zelzal (FR) | 20-1 | Gregory Benoist | Jean-Claude Rouget |
7 | Om | 20-1 | Drayden Van Dyke | Dan Hendricks |
8 | Suedois (FR) | 6-1 | Daniel Tudhope | David O’Meara |
9 | Home of The Brave (IRE) | 20-1 | Mike Smith | Hugo Palmer |
10 | Ribchester (IRE) | 7-2 | William Buick | Richard Fahey |
11 | Ballagh Rocks | 12-1 | Jose Lezcano | William Mott |
12 | Roly Poly | 6-1 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
13 | Blackjackcat | 15-1 | Kent Desormeaux | Mark Glatt |
14 | Karar (GB) | 15-1 | Lanfranco Dettori | Francis – Henri Graffard |