10/11/18
New York horses are on their way to Breeders’ Cup 2018
By Matt Shifman
With the Breeders’ Cup just three weeks away, it is not too early to start thinking about the World Championships that will be held at Churchill Downs on November 2 and 3. A good way to begin your handicapping is to take a look back at how horses prepared for their trip to Kentucky.
Here is a look at the horses that qualified for the Breeders’ Cup with a victory in a “Win and You’re In” race at Belmont Park or Saratoga along the Daily Racing Form contender odds.
- Abel Tasman [Distaff, 9-2] – June 9, Ogden Phipps and August 25, Personal Ensign. The Bob Baffert filly seems to run her best away from California as she showed when she ran fifth in the Zenyatta at Santa Anita. She won the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill in 2017.
- Disco Partner [Turf Sprint, 5-1] – June 9, Jaipur Invitational. This Christophe Clement runner backed up the Jaipur victory with an easy win in the Belmont Turf Sprint last weekend.
- Bee Jersey [Dirt Mile, retired] – June 9, Met Mile. The impressive winner of the Met Mile was retired due to a tendon injury.
- Limousine Liberal [Sprint, 10-1] – July 7, Belmont Sprint Championship. Since the Belmont win, Limousine Liberal had two troubled trips in the Forego and the Phoenix when he could easily have been the winner. He loves Churchill Downs.
- Diversify [Classic, 15-1] – August 4, Whitney. His disappointing fifth place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup leaves his status for the Classic up in the air.
- Marley’s Freedom [Filly & Mare Sprint, 5-2] – August 25, Ballerina. Her big win at Saratoga for Baffert makes her the likely favorite in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
- Whitmore [Dirt Mile, 15-1] – August 25, Forego. He is under consideration for the Sprint or the Dirt Mile.
- Glorious Empire [Turf, 15-1] – August 25, Sword Dancer. He’s training up to the Breeders’ Cup in Maryland.
- Sippican Harbor [Juvenile Fillies, 8-1] – September 1, Spinaway. She’s training up to the Future Stars Friday.
- Channel Maker [Turf, 12-1] – September 29, Turf Classic. In fine form for Bill Mott, especially on softer turf.
- Imperial Hint [Sprint, 3-1] – September 29, Vosburgh. He had two of the easiest victories in the this very deep division.
- Discreet Lover [Classic, 20-1] – September 29, Jockey Club Gold Cup. The longshot winner of the JCGC will once again be a big price.
- Complexity [Juvenile, 4-1] – October 6, Champagne. Trainer Chad Brown went from the Champagne to win the Juvenile last year with Good Magic.
- Fourstar Crook [Filly & Mare Turf, 8-1] – October 7, Flower Bowl. Part of a powerful Chad Brown duo with Sistercharlie.
- Uncle Benny [Juvenile Turf Sprint, 10-1] – October 7, The Futurity. He may opt for the Juvenile Turf instead.
- Jaywalk [Juvenile Fillies, 6-1] – October 7, Frizette. This John Servis runner impressed with a big win in the Frizette.