breeders cup

 

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf will be run on this upcoming Friday. The race has been dominated by the Europeans since its inception in 2007. There have been 2 winners from the States and 5 winners from across the pond. John Gosden had back to back winners with Donativum (2008) and Pounced (2009) and Aidan O’ Brien had back to back winners with Wrote (2011) and George Vancouver (2012). Last year the British bred Outstrip rallied for a thrilling victory. Let’s take a look at the European contingent for 2014’s edition and focus on their brief racing careers and pedigrees. There’s a good chance one of them will end up in the winner’s circle.

1. Aktabantay

Aktabanty has 2 wins and 3 seconds from 6 starts. He is trained by up and comer Hugo Palmer. He won the Group 3 European Wealth Solario Stakes by a nose at the end of August. In his last he finished sixth by two and a half lengths in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere. Here is a look at his pedigree.

Sire Line:

Aktabantay’s sire is Oasis Dream. He won 3 Group 1 sprint races and was a Champion 2-Year-Old in England. As a sire he has been the leading British based sire for stakes winner from 2010 to 2014. He is also known as a superb two-year-old sire. He has sired 15 Group 1/Grade 1 winners, including Breeders’ Cup Champion Midday. His sire, Green Desert, was an excellent sprinter who won the July Cup. He sired Cape Cross, the sire of Sea The Stars. Aktanatay’s 3rd sire is Danzig, the leading sire of stakes winners in North American history. This looks to be a strong sire line.

Dam Line:

Aktabantay’s dam is Splashdown. She won a mile and a quarter turf stakes race at 3. His 3rd dam, Space Ritual, was a winner in France and a is a half-sister to stakes winners Calista and Earthrise. His 4th dam, Proskona, was a champion 3 year old in Italy. Finally, Aktabantay’s firth dam is Konafa, who is a Chef-De-Course mare. There is a decent amount of class in his dam line.

Dam Sire Line:

Aktabanty’s dam sire is Falbrav. On the track he won 8 Group 1/Grade 1 races in 5 different countries and earned over 6 million dollars. He was the European Champion Older Horse in 2003. At Stud, Falbrav is the sire of 17 stakes winners. His 2nd dam sire, Fairy King, sired 73 stakes winners. A couple of his best were Helissio (Prix De l’Arc De La Triomphe) and Oath (Epsom Derby). Aktabanty’s 3rd dam sire is the great Northern Dancer. These dam sires should enable him to cover a mile of ground easily.

Final Analysis:

This is trainers Hugo Palmer’s best horse to date. He says he is in excellent shape since that eventful yet encouraging 6th place finish 2 weeks ago where he got bottled up on the rail and had to swing out wide in the home stretch. He also thinks Aktabantay will relish the firm turf of Santa Anita and a turning track. Aktabaantay seems in good form, should be forwardly placed and he’s been highly regarded in England all year. By looking at his pedigree, I like what I see and think he is one of the strong European contenders to win this race.

 

2. War Envoy

War Envoy has 1 win, 1 second and 3 third place finishes out of 7 starts. He race raced in stakes/Group company in all but one of his races. He is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race twice (Wrote in 2011 and George Vancouver in 2012). 2 races back he finished 2nd by 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 2 At The Races Champagne Stakes. His last out in the same Group 1 that Aktabantay ran in on the Arc undercard he finished 5th by 1 1/4 lengths. Here is a look at his pedigree.

Sire Line:

War Envoy is sired by War Front. War Front won the G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in 2006 and earned $424,205 on the track. He never raced on turf and won only once past 7 furlongs. Yet he has become a versatile sire of race horses over all surfaces and distances. He has sired 33 stakes winners so far, 18 Graded Stakes winners and 8 Grade One winners. He progeny include four millionaires in Declaration of War, Departing, Warning Flag and Lines of Battle. War Envoy’s 2nd sire is Danzig. Amongst his 200 stakes winners there are 4 Breeders’ Cup Champions-Chief’s Crown, Lure, Dance Smartly and War Chant. He was also a sire of sires, producing Danehill amongst others who was the first thoroughbred to sire 300 stakes winners. War Envoy’s 3rd sire is Northern Dancer. In all, his sire line is pristine-there is a reason War Front stands for $150,000.

Dam Line:

War Envoy’s dam is La Conseillante. She was a stakes winner in France. His 2nd dam, Stormin Winnie, produced 2 stakes winners. His 3rd dam is Hall of Fame filly Winning Colors, one of three fillies to have ever won the Kentucky Derby. His 4th dam, All Rainbows, was a stakes winner. Finally, his fifth dam Miss Carmie was a Reines De Course mare and the dam of champion 3 year old Chris Evert. This is one classy family of mares.

Dam Sire Line:

War Envoy’s dam sire is Elusive Quality. He sired some great horses including the likes of Smarty Jones, Raven’s Pass, Quality Road and Maryfield. His 2nd dam sire is Gone West. He sired 7 millionaires including Da Hoss and Speightstown and was a sire of sires. His 3rd dam sire is the influential sire Mr. Prospector. These dam sires give War Envoy enough stamina to make the trip.

Final Analysis:

War Envoy definitely has a few things going for him in this race. First he is in the hands of Aidan O’Brien. Second he has a good amount of experience, having run 7 times already this year. Although he’s only found the winner’s circle once, War Envoy has been close to it in solid company. He’s faced well-regarded juveniles The Wow Signal, Kool Kompany, Estidhkaar and Full Mast-they’ve won eight group races between them. He should sit a mid-pack trip and after looking at his pedigree I think he’s another with a great chance to win a Breeders’ Cup Championship.

 

3. The Great War:

The Great War is another of Aidan O’Brien’s horses who crossed the pond for this race. His first preference is the Juvenile dirt race though. He was bought at a Keenland auction for $1,000,000. His record is 3 wins and 1 second from 7 starts. He has not performed well in his 2 Group stakes races but in his last he won a small stakes race in Ireland by 3 1/2 lengths. Here is his pedigree.

Sire Line: Same a War Envoy with War Front being his sire.

Dam Line:

The Great War’s dam is Guide. She is a half-sister to Trip, a multiple graded stakes winner who bankrolled close to $900,000 on the track. She is a winner who is a dam to 6 other winners. His granddam is Tour. She is a stakes winner and the dam of 3 stakes winners. His third dam, Fun Flight, was a stakes winner and the dam of 3 stakes winners. You can see that there is some class with the mares in his family.

Dam Sire Line:

The Great War’s dam sire is Pulpit. He is the sire of Tapit and the grandsire of California Chrome, Untapable and Tonalist. On the track he was the winner of the Toyota Bluegrass. A.P. Indy is his 2nd dam sire. In 1992 he won an Eclipse award as Horse of the Year and he was the leading sire in North America in 2003 and 2006. He’s known as a great stamina influence. The Great War’s third dam sire was Triple Crown hero Seattle Slew. Distance will be of no concern for The Great War.

Final analysis:

Although he may take a liking to the firm turf of Santa Anita, I don’t think he measures up in talent with some of the other European runners. He did get a confidence builder, though, in his last one but he was even money in that race. He does have a dirt pedigree and should be able to go long so that might be where Aidan places him (dirt). O’Brien often likes to take a stab on the dirt with one of his horses at the Breeders’ Cup. If he does run in the Juvenile Turf we would have to see a race we haven’t seen from him yet to win it.

 

4. Commemorative

Juddmonte Farm’s Commemorative is a rapidly improving horse who has 2 wins from 3 races. He won his last start in the Group 3 Betfred Autumn Stakes by 1 length at the mile distance this race will be run at. He is trained by Charles Hills, who won a Breeders’ Cup Championship last year with Chrisellium (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf). Here’s a look at his pedigree.

Sire Line: 

Commemorative is sired by Zamindar. On the track his greatest accomplishment was winning a Group 3 sprint in France. He is a full brother to the European Champion 2-year-old colt of 1992 Zafronic. As a sire Zamindar has produced Champion Fillies Darjina and Zarkava. He also produced Zenda, who is the dam of this season’s super miler Kingman. His 2nd sire is Gone West. On the track he won the Withers Stakes, The Dwyer Stakes and the Gotham Stakes in 1987. He was more successful, though, in the breeding shed. Gone West sired 98 stakes winners including 3 Breeders’ Cup Champions in Da Hoss (Mile X 2), Speightstown (Sprint) and Johar (Turf). His 3rd sire is Mr. Prospector who was an extremely fast sprinter on the track. You can see a good amount of brilliance in his sire line.

Dam Line:

Commemorative’s dam is Revered. She is a seven furlong winner and is a full sister to the dual Group Three winner and five-time Grade/Group One placed Visit. She is also a half-sister to the 2008 Group One Pretty Polly Stakes winner Promising Lead. Commemorative’s granddam, Arrive, is a stakes winner. She is also a full sister to the ultra-impressive broodmare Hasili, who produced five grade/group 1 winners. His 4th dam, Sookera, was a Champion 2-year old in Ireland. There is a lot of class in Commemorative’s dam line.

Dam Sire Line:

Commemorative’s dam sire is Oasis Dream. I wrote about this line in Aktabanty’s sire line. Commemorative has enough stamina to make this mile trip because he has already won at a mile.

Final Analysis:

Commemorative appears to be a dangerous horse entering this race. He has improved in each of his 3 races including a win in Group 3 company at 10-1 odds. He is also a fresher horse when compared to his European counterparts. Commemorative’s trainer knows what it takes to win a Breeders’ Cup Championship. He should like firm turf and possesses tactical speed to stay within contention throughout the race. If he can take another step forward he looms as a win candidate for this race at a nice price.

 

5. Wet Sail 

Wet Sail has 1 win and 2 third place finishes out of 4 races. His trainer is Charlie Fellowes, who is in his first season as a horse trainer. In his last one out, Wet Sails got up in the last 100 yards to finish 3rd in the Totepool Two Year Old Trophy Stakes in England. That was in a 23 horse field. Wet Sail has been running at lesser know tracks in England so this race will be a step up in class for him. Here’s a look at his pedigree.

Sire Line: 

Wet Sail is sired by Henry The Navigator. He was a superstar miler who won 4 Group One races including 2 Classics. He was a champion first crop sire in North America and produced the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Champion George Vancouver. His 2nd sire is Kingmambo. He won 3 Group One races on the track at a mile in 1993. Kingmambo has been long recognized as a world’s leading international sire. He has sired 86 stakes winners with progeny earnings of over 90 million dollars. Wet Sails’s 3rd sire is Mr. Prospector. You see a bunch of brilliance in Wet Sail’s sire line.

Dam Line:

Wet Sail’s dam is Aljawza. She was a 2 year old winner in Irleand who’s had five winners from six to race. His granddam, Gallanta, was a stakes winner and is a half-sister to Lassie Dear. She was the dam of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise who foaled Summer Squall & AP Indy, and Charming Lassie who foaled Lemon Drop Kid. Wet Sail’s third dam, Gay Missle, was a stakes winner and dam of group II winner Byron and Sportsworld. His 4th dam is Reines De Course mare Missy Baba. She stems from one of the best sire-producing families on the international scene and is the dam of sire Raja Baba (1980 Leading Sire North America). Finally, Wet Sail’s fifth dam is Uvira, who won the 1941 Irish Oaks. This is an extremely classy female family.

Dam Sire Line:

Wet Sail’s dam sire is Riverman. He was a French thoroughbred racehorse who in 1972 won a Group 2 race and 2 Group One races in France. He was France’s leading sire in 1980 and 1981 and a top 20 broodmare sire in Turkey in 2008-2009. His second dam sire is Never Bend who was the 1962 U.S. Champion Two Year Old colt and sired Mill Reef, who at three won the Epsom Derby, The Eclipse Stakes, The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Wet Sail’s 3rd dam sire is Nasrullah, who was a leading sire in America four times and was a noted stamina influence. Wet Sail should easily cover this distance of ground.

Final Analysis:

Wet Sail seems to be a cut below these horse on talent although he is trending in the right direction. He broke his maiden impressively in a 13 horse field in late August. Most recently he got up for 3rd in a 23 horse stakes race. I see his drawbacks as having a young, inexperienced trainer and that he’s raced on lesser tracks in England. He also ran his worst of four races on good/firm turf. Wet Sail does sport a superb pedigree, though, so based on that alone he does make for an intriguing longshot in this 2-year-old race.

 

6. Faithful Creek

Faithful Creek has 1 first, 1 second and 1 third from seven starts. He is trained by Brian Meehan, one of Britain’s most successful international horse trainers. He led Red Rocks and Dangerous Midge to a Breeders’ Cup Turf Championships. Faithful Creek was last seen finishing third in the Group 3 Golden Fleece Juvenile Turf Stakes, 5 1/2 lengths behind highly regarded John F. Kennedy.  Here is a look at his pedigree.

Sire Line:

Faithful Creek’s sire is Bushranger. On the track at two he won the Group 1 Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes at 6 furlongs. In the breeding shed Bushranger is 2nd as a second crop sire in Europe by number of wins. He is the sire of listed winner Inferno. His sire, Danetime, never won a black-type event, although he was good enough to place third in both the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) and Haydock Park Sprint Cup (Eng-I).
He did sire 32 stakes winners before his untimely death at age 11. 3 were Group One winners: Bushranger, Myboycharlie and Megatic. 5 of Danetime’s sons have already sired stakes winners, including promising 3 year old filly Euro Charline who became the 1st 3 year old to win the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington International. Faithfull Creek’s third sire is Danehill, one of the greatest sires of the 20th Century. There is a bit of brilliance in this sire line.

Dam Line:

Faithful Creek’s dam is Open Verse. She has produced one other winner so far. His granddam, Anytimeatall, was unraced and produced multiple group winner Polaris Flight. Faithful Creek’s 3rd dam, Vitesse, was also unraced. She produced 2 stakes winners in the U.S. His 4th dam, Vit Reina, was a Champion 3 year old filly in Argentina in 1965. Looking at his dam line there is a slight bit of class to be found but it is lacking when compared to others in this race.

Dam Sire Line:

Faithful Creek’s dam sire is Black Minnaloushe. He was a leading miler at three, winning Gr.1 Irish 2000 Guineas and Gr.1 St. James’s Palace Stakes. He sired Louis The King, who recently became only the second horse to ever win the South African Triple Crown. He is a known sire for 2 year old excellence, probably stemming from his dad Storm Cat. He is known to put out precocious, speedy 2 year olds and has sired over 180 stakes winners world wide. Faithful Creek’s 3rd dam sire is Storm Bird. He was the top rated European 2-year-old of 1980. Storm Bird was also the broodmare sire of over 100 stakes winners. Faithful Creek should be able to cover this race’s distance.

Final Analysis:

Faithful Creek is in the hands of a capable trainer, but seems to be up against it when looking at his race record. He does have some loses, though, to excellent 2-year-old turfers John F. Kennedy and Highland Reel. He appears a bit slower than these. His pedigree is not as strong as his other European counterparts as well. I just don’t see it with Faithful Creek.