Turf
11⁄2 miles turf, 3YO and up, $4 million (4:56 p.m.)
European horses almost always have a big edge in this turf race contested at Europe’s classic distance and this year is no exception due to the presence of the best horse in Europe and arguably the world’s best, once-beaten filly Enable. Trained by the great John Gosden, she’s the two-time winner of Europe’s biggest race, the Arc de Triomphe, and she’ll try to make history by becoming the first horse to sweep the Arc/Turf double. She has won eight straight against Europe’s elite dating back more than 17 months and she runs closer to the pace than the typical Euro. The bad news? Arc winners get overbet in this race (and thus far, haven’t won.) But Arc also-rans have a terrific record in the Turf and offer much better wagering value, so take a look at a pair of Arc runners trained by the great Andre Fabre who has won this three times. Defending champion Talismanic has not been as sharp since winning last year’s Turf, including an ill-advised try on the dirt in the Dubai World Cup, and he finished a dull 13th in last month’s Arc. We’re more interested in Fabre’s other Arc also-ran, Waldegeist. He finished fourth in the Arc despite a less-than-favorable trip and he’s in the best form of his career. Never count out Aidan O’Brien, a six-time Turf-winning trainer who sends out two Arc also-rans: 3YO filly Magical, who was wheeled back two weeks after a 10th-place finish in the Arc and responded with an impressive score in the British Champion Stakes (she would love soft turf), and Hunting Horn, who could do no better than third in two stakes during a summer trip to America and finished a mere 161⁄4 lengths behind Enable at Longchamp. North American hopes are led by Chad Brown’s Arlington Million winner Robert Bruce and Bill Mott’s Channel Maker, who upset Robert Bruce last out in Belmont’s Turf Classic at this distance. The pacesetter is likely to be 7YO Glorious Empire, who’s in the best form of his career with three straight wins including Saratoga’s Sword Dancer. Sadler’s Joy hit the bottom of the super in this last year and is unlikely to do any better this year, while Brazilian Grade 1 winner Quarteto de Cordas is a total mystery horse. Domestics Liam the Charmer, Arklow and Hi Happy look up against it.
Turf Selections
1st– WALDEGEIST
2nd – ENABLE
3rd– MAGICAL
Longshot – TALISMANIC
11⁄2 miles turf, 3YO and up, $4 million (4:56 p.m.)
European horses almost always have a big edge in this turf race contested at Europe’s classic distance and this year is no exception due to the presence of the best horse in Europe and arguably the world’s best, once-beaten filly Enable. Trained by the great John Gosden, she’s the two-time winner of Europe’s biggest race, the Arc de Triomphe, and she’ll try to make history by becoming the first horse to sweep the Arc/Turf double. She has won eight straight against Europe’s elite dating back more than 17 months and she runs closer to the pace than the typical Euro. The bad news? Arc winners get overbet in this race (and thus far, haven’t won.) But Arc also-rans have a terrific record in the Turf and offer much better wagering value, so take a look at a pair of Arc runners trained by the great Andre Fabre who has won this three times. Defending champion Talismanic has not been as sharp since winning last year’s Turf, including an ill-advised try on the dirt in the Dubai World Cup, and he finished a dull 13th in last month’s Arc. We’re more interested in Fabre’s other Arc also-ran, Waldegeist. He finished fourth in the Arc despite a less-than-favorable trip and he’s in the best form of his career. Never count out Aidan O’Brien, a six-time Turf-winning trainer who sends out two Arc also-rans: 3YO filly Magical, who was wheeled back two weeks after a 10th-place finish in the Arc and responded with an impressive score in the British Champion Stakes (she would love soft turf), and Hunting Horn, who could do no better than third in two stakes during a summer trip to America and finished a mere 161⁄4 lengths behind Enable at Longchamp. North American hopes are led by Chad Brown’s Arlington Million winner Robert Bruce and Bill Mott’s Channel Maker, who upset Robert Bruce last out in Belmont’s Turf Classic at this distance. The pacesetter is likely to be 7YO Glorious Empire, who’s in the best form of his career with three straight wins including Saratoga’s Sword Dancer. Sadler’s Joy hit the bottom of the super in this last year and is unlikely to do any better this year, while Brazilian Grade 1 winner Quarteto de Cordas is a total mystery horse. Domestics Liam the Charmer, Arklow and Hi Happy look up against it.
Turf Selections
1st– WALDEGEIST
2nd – ENABLE
3rd– MAGICAL
Longshot – TALISMANIC
