The Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence: Win and You are In continues this weekend, although with solely a single qualifier, the Aug. 18 Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville Racecourse in France.
Named after Auguste de Morny, founding father of Deauville Racecourse, the brief sprint over 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) gives its winner with a paid, automated berth into the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash (G1T) over 5 furlongs on grass at Del Mar.
In 1991, lengthy earlier than it grew to become the race grew to become a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence, it had an affect on the Breeders’ Cup. That 12 months, Arazi received not solely the Prix Morny but additionally two extra group 1s on turf after which the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on filth at Churchill Downs throughout an unforgettable championship season.
In addition to propelling horses to america to the Breeders’ Cup later within the 12 months, the Prix Morny has been received by American-trained runners despatched abroad for it, particularly two skilled by Wesely Ward. Each No Nay By no means (2013) and Woman Aurelia (2016) had success there.
Neither of them had a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash alternative. The race didn’t start till 2018.
They’d go on to compete as older horses within the Breeders’ Cup, nonetheless. A 12 months after his success at age 2, No Nay By no means ran second within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T) at Santa Anita Park for Ward and homeowners Ice Wine Secure, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
As for Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel’s Woman Aurelia, she would run tenth within the Breeder’s Cup Turf Dash in 2017 after taking the King’s Stand Stakes (G1) at Ascot earlier within the 12 months.
This 12 months’s Prix Prix Morny favorites are Shareholder , Whistlejacket , and Rashabar .
Wathnan Racing’s Shareholder, a Kentucky-bred son of Not This Time , is ideal in two begins, each sprints over 5 furlongs, together with the Norfolk Stakes (G2) in the course of the prestigious Royal Ascot meet below James Doyle. There, the 2-year-old beat favored Whistlejacket, who settled for fourth.
Rashabar additionally received at Ascot, shocking at lengthy odds within the Coventry Stakes (G2).
Shareholder’s Norfolk victory already supplied him with an automated berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash by way of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence. His coach, Karl Burke, has Breeders’ Cup expertise, having saddled Dramatised to a second-place end within the 2022 Juvenile Turf Dash at Keeneland.
Although there may be an absence of home Breeders’ Cup Problem Races this weekend, some races would seem to have the potential to provide runners for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, run over two days Nov. 1-2.
At 1 1/16 miles, the Aug. 17 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) is a middle-distance filth race from which a horse may develop from which to pursue the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) or, maybe extra seemingly, the Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile (G1). Alexandres’ Il Miracolo and Wathnan Racing’s Subsandador are the principle gamers.
Additionally on Saturday, the six-furlong King Edward Stakes (G2T) from Woodbine produce potential starters for the Woodbine Mile (G1T), which is a chosen Breeder’s Cup Problem Race. 2022 King Edward victor Filo Di Arianna is closely favored on Saturday.
Filo Di Arianna wins the Highlander Stakes at Woodbine
Different Breeders’ Cup horses may emerge from any variety of the undercard stakes on King’s Plate Day on the Toronto racetrack. A pair of grass contests for 2-year-olds, the Hovering Free Stakes and Catch a Glimpse Stakes, are positioned to advance juveniles towards subsequent month’s Breeder’s Cup Problem races at Woodbine—the Summer time Stakes (G1T) and Natalma Stakes (G1T).
3-year-old fillies are additionally in competitors Saturday on each grass and filth, with the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) and Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) that includes grass fillies, with the Alabama Stakes (G1) offering a probability for 3-year-old filth fillies an opportunity to keep away from Thorpedo Anna , who’s working the next week within the Travers Stakes (G1). Final 12 months, Randomized received the Alabama earlier than later working an in depth second to champion Idiomatic within the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) later within the fall.
Grade winner Candied leads this 12 months’s Alabama. All of Saturday’s opponents would seem in want of enchancment to threaten Thorpedo Anna and the highest older fillies and mares, equivalent to Randomized and Idiomatic.