Dirt Mile
1 mile, 3YO and up, $1 million (1:16)
For the first time since the Breeders’ Cup was last held at Churchill Downs in 2011, this race will be contested around one turn. Prior success in the one-turn mile races at Churchill and Belmont Park is helpful, although it bears noting that Churchill’s mile route is quirky because the chute jogs to the left nearly 2 furlongs out of the gate. The strong favorite will be unbeaten Southern California speedster Catalina Cruiser who looks like he’ll be able to get an contested lead unless the outside post gives him trouble when they have to veer left. However, trainer John Sadler is 0-for-life in the Breeders’ Cup and the last two Dirt Miles at Churchill were won by longshot closers. The logical alternative to the favorite is another Southern Cal guy, City of Light. Like Catalina Cruiser, he has no experience at a mile, but he exits a hard fought second in Saratoga’s 7F Forego. 3YO Firenze Fire is a true one-turn mile specialist, having won three of them including a nine-length romp in Belmont’s Dwyer. He would be the likeliest beneficiary of a suicidal duel between the top two. Any of the others would be a big surprise. Late running Awesome Slew, who ran third in this last year, hasn’t won in over a year but is usable in the gimmicks. Bravazo is a B-team 3YO who looks up against it in his first vs. older. California-based NY- bred Giant Expectations was non-competitive in this last year but ran well enough in his return in the Ack Ack here to merit exotics consideration. 3YO Seven Trumpets finished nine back of Firenze Fire in the Dwyer. Stretchrunning veteran Seeking the Soul is always a threat to sneak into the exotics. 3YO Trigger Warning turns back in distance but appears a couple of cuts below the top ones.Turf specialist Isotherm rarely wins and is here only because he ran third to Accelerate and West Coast in a seven- horse Awesome Again field.
Dirt Mile Selections
1st – CITY OF LIGHT
2nd– FIRENZE FIRE
3rd– CATALINA CRUISER
Longshot – GIANT EXPECTATIONS
1 mile, 3YO and up, $1 million (1:16)
For the first time since the Breeders’ Cup was last held at Churchill Downs in 2011, this race will be contested around one turn. Prior success in the one-turn mile races at Churchill and Belmont Park is helpful, although it bears noting that Churchill’s mile route is quirky because the chute jogs to the left nearly 2 furlongs out of the gate. The strong favorite will be unbeaten Southern California speedster Catalina Cruiser who looks like he’ll be able to get an contested lead unless the outside post gives him trouble when they have to veer left. However, trainer John Sadler is 0-for-life in the Breeders’ Cup and the last two Dirt Miles at Churchill were won by longshot closers. The logical alternative to the favorite is another Southern Cal guy, City of Light. Like Catalina Cruiser, he has no experience at a mile, but he exits a hard fought second in Saratoga’s 7F Forego. 3YO Firenze Fire is a true one-turn mile specialist, having won three of them including a nine-length romp in Belmont’s Dwyer. He would be the likeliest beneficiary of a suicidal duel between the top two. Any of the others would be a big surprise. Late running Awesome Slew, who ran third in this last year, hasn’t won in over a year but is usable in the gimmicks. Bravazo is a B-team 3YO who looks up against it in his first vs. older. California-based NY- bred Giant Expectations was non-competitive in this last year but ran well enough in his return in the Ack Ack here to merit exotics consideration. 3YO Seven Trumpets finished nine back of Firenze Fire in the Dwyer. Stretchrunning veteran Seeking the Soul is always a threat to sneak into the exotics. 3YO Trigger Warning turns back in distance but appears a couple of cuts below the top ones.Turf specialist Isotherm rarely wins and is here only because he ran third to Accelerate and West Coast in a seven- horse Awesome Again field.
Dirt Mile Selections
1st – CITY OF LIGHT
2nd– FIRENZE FIRE
3rd– CATALINA CRUISER
Longshot – GIANT EXPECTATIONS
