While all eyes were on where undefeated superstar Flightline (Tapit) would be slotted at Monday's Breeders' Cup draw, and overall the dirt races this weekend have gotten a bit more attention, the fields for the turf contests also bring plenty of interesting storylines.
George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel) was the beaten favorite when finishing a close third in last year's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and received that betting attention because of her utter dominance over her fellow American turf mares. This year, trainer Bill Mott has decided to try to conquer new territory for the 5-year-old, as she defeated males in her first try in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Invitational S. last out and this time will take on the boys in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
The seven-time graded stakes winner continued her preparations for the 1 1/2-mile test with a gallop over the Keeneland dirt track at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
“She's as good a turf horse as we've got in our country,” Mott said. “That doesn't mean she has to win on Saturday, but she's a competitor and she's done very well throughout her entire career. We've won the race a couple times and it would be really nice to win it with a filly.”
War Like Goddess seeks to give Mott a third Turf win, but first since he scored with Fraise in 1992. He also took the 1987 renewal with Theatrical (Ire). Mott explained that the decision to race her in the $4-million Turf mostly has to do with the 1 3/16-mile distance of the $2-million Filly & Mare Turf being too short for the star mare.
“First of all, it's not about the money, it's about winning. Frankly, if you win, the money follows. Sometimes I don't even know the size of the purse,” Mott explained. “With her, it happens to be the distance. I think that she's a true mile-and-three-eighths, mile-and-a-half horse and we wanted to get her in that type of race and that's what we did last time [in the 12-furlong Hirsch]. We ran her against the boys and she pulled it off. She was very good. A mile and three-sixteenths was probably just a little short for her. That doesn't mean she couldn't get up, but I think she's a little more effective [going longer] … and it is a big purse.”
In the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile, trainer Chad Brown will try something outside the box with Klaravich Stables' multiple Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Sporting a record of six wins in eight career starts, the gelding figured to be among the favorites in last year's Turf, but had to be sidelined because of an injury. Now, in total, he hasn't raced in over 14 months, having most recently run second in the 2021 GI Mister D. S. in August at Arlington.
“I have thankfully good horses in my barn for him to work with, even if I haven't had the benefit of a prep race for him,” Brown said. “A few weeks ago, I started to watch him work thinking this is a possibility. I know it's a tall order, but all I can do is get him ready to run the best race I can and he's going to have to work out his own trip. We are going to find out if he needed the benefit of that prep race. It's a likely possibility that it will affect him–I'm not confused about that–but there's also a chance that he's such a brilliant racehorse that he can overcome it, especially if the dynamics of the race fall right for him.”
The Cinderella story of the Breeders' Cup is Iowa-based Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca), the undefeated and untested gelding owned by Tom Lepic and trainer Tim Martin who will contest Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Five-for-five so far in his career, all races coming over dirt, the speedy dark bay got a spin over the Keeneland turf Tuesday morning.
“We did the turf today, will walk Wednesday, go to the gate Thursday and won't go to the track Friday morning,” Martin said. “I'm quarter horse training; I want him fresh and fast!”
Tyler's Tribe drew the 10-hole in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which Martin says is no problem.
“The 10 is fine; he broke his maiden from there,” he said. “On the dirt, he has a fast cruising speed and I'd like to see him get out of the gate good and then settle. He's a fast horse and the speed [Speed Boat Beach and The Platinum Queen] is outside of us. If they want the lead, they are going to have to go around us.”
The colt is named for the followers of Lepic's grandson Tyler Juhl, who was declared cancer free last week in his battle with leukemia.
“There are going to be watch parties all over the state and there will be about a hundred Iowans here for the race,” said Lepic, who has turned down offers for Tyler's Tribe.
“We never ever had even a thought of selling. We had a lot of awfully good offers but it was never considered,” Lepic said. “He's a family horse, a horse that means so much more than just to our family but to the Leukemia Foundation. He will stay with our family and Tim Martin his entire life.”
Tyler's Tribe also had been pre-entered in the $2-million GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but the connections opted to stay at a sprint distance and try the grass.
“He's going to Oaklawn Park right after this,” Lepic said. “They have four stakes there and we will stretch him out and see what happens.”
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