Richard Mann takes an early look at this year's Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, profiling the favourites for Future Stars Friday.
Juvenile Turf Sprint
GOLDEN PAL
- Trainer: Wesley Ward
- Jockey: TBC
Wesley Ward won this race with Four Wheel Drive at Santa Anita last year and 12 months on, the effervescent conditioner harbours strong claims once again with Golden Pal. UK fans will remember the Uncle Mo colt having to be carried out of Ascot on his shield having only narrowly lost out to The Lir Jet in the Norfolk Stakes back in June and he remains a high-class sprinter in the making. All speed, he only gave way close home on that occasion and marked his homecoming with a taking victory at Saratoga in August, one that should ensure he lines up at Keeneland a fresh animal but with enough experience to warrant his place at the top of the market.
Juvenile Turf
BATTLEGROUND
- Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
Aidan O'Brien has won this race four times since 2011 but hasn't had much luck in the last two years with Anthony Van Dyck and Arizona both failing to overcome sluggish starts. Unperturbed, O'Brien has had Battleground pencilled in for Keeneland for some time now with his late defection from the National Stakes and absence from the subsequent Dewhurst Stakes meaning he will arrive stateside a much fresher horse than the aforementioned pair. Very good when winning the Chesham, he was one of the few Ballydoyle juveniles to sparkle at Royal Ascot and was always in command when following up at Glorious Goodwood. The home guard could have their work cut out to stop this prize heading back to Europe this year.
⚔️ Battleground follows up his Chesham win
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 28, 2020
🤔 Can he follow Pinatubo's lead and go on to win a Group One?
He's been given 10/1 quotes for the 2000 Guineas 👀pic.twitter.com/v0FTaAiZD6
Juvenile Fillies
PRINCESS NOOR
- Trainer: Bob Baffert
- Jockey: Victor Espinoza
“She reminds me of other great horses I used to ride like American Pharoah. I’ve been riding amazing horses, but as a filly, she’s the best one I’ve ever ridden.” Those are the words of Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza who partnered the Not This Time filly to an impressive victory in the Grade Two Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita in September, stretching her unbeaten record to three in the process. She will need to take another big step forward at Keeneland but Baffert is the undisputed master of the dirt and is sure to have his charge primed for the big day.
Chandelier Stakes (G2)
— WR1 (@WorldRacing1) September 26, 2020
1700m, 200.000 USD, for 2yo fillies
🇺🇸Santa Anita
Princess Noor (USA)
(No This Time - Sheza Smoke Show, by Wilko).
J :Victor Espinoza
T : Bob Baffert
O :Zedan Racing Stables Inc
B : International Equities Holding, Inc. pic.twitter.com/40YBXF7H4E
Juvenile Fillies Turf
AUNT PEARL
- Trainer: Brad Cox
- Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer Brad Cox has assembled a strong team of juveniles this year but top of the tree is Aunt Pearl, a bloodless winner on her racecourse debut at Churchill Downs on September 1 before reappearing just over a month later to win the Jessamine Stakes in similarly striking fashion. That previous experience of a track Cox refers to as 'home' ought stand his filly in good stead next week, while an uncharacteristically weak European challenge should make her task easier, too. From the same sire as the mightily impressive 2018 winner of this race, Newspaperofrecord, this daughter of Lope De Vega shouldn't be inconvenienced if Kentucky sees some rain in the coming days and must rate one of the home bankers of the meeting.
Juvenile
JACKIE'S WARRIOR
- Trainer: Steve Asmussen
- Jockey: Joel Rosario
If this year's Future Stars Friday is to unearth a new global superstar, you suspect it will come in the shape of Juvenile favourite Jackie's Warrior who boasts an unbeaten record that was stretched to four with victory in Grade One Champagne Stakes at Belmont in early October. Prior to that, he had claimed his first top-level success with an astonishing display at Saratoga: setting scorching early fractions having faced fierce competition for the lead, but still managing to quicken up smartly turning in before easing clear. He has speed to burn - he was a winner over 5f at Churchill on his debut back in June - but evidently stays very well, too, suggesting there are very few holes in his armoury. Trainer Steve Asmussen has already masterminded the great careers of Curlin, Rachel Alexandra and Gun Runner to new a few, and it appears that he has another champion on his hands again.
Huge talent! Jackie’s Warrior makes it three from three in emphatic style under @JRosarioJockey for Steve Asmussen in the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga @TheNYRA… pic.twitter.com/3GLxea6esU
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 7, 2020
