Breeders Cup | Carla’s Means on the freeway

Breeders' Cup

With weather-related abandonments sweeping throughout the UK and Eire this weekend, the one assembly we are able to depend on is the wonderful Breeders’ Cup.

Hosted at Santa Anita, with a scenic view within the backdrop, the following two days of American motion ought to entice all followers of racing whether or not you favor the jumps or the Flat.

The coolmore runners at santa anita on Thursday. #drf pic.twitter.com/dcqCDbSJyq

— Steve Andersen (@DRFAndersen) November 2, 2023

Three juvenile Grade 1 races happen on the Santa Anita turf course this night and I’ve three fancies to convey you down under, although one happens in a Listed contest earlier within the card.

 

7:40 Santa Anita – Elm Drive @ 5/1 with BetVictor – 1pt EW

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Though this isn’t a Grade 1, the Listed Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at 7:40 over six-and-a-half furlongs has caught my consideration as Elm Drive is the one I’m with.

White Moonlight represents Saeed bin Suroor on the head of the market, a horse I backed in defeat at Goodwood final day trip, and at present’s journey is her first profession strive on the distance.

Regardless of her kind when beating Heredia at Musselburgh in June, I’m pleased to let her win at 11/4 on her first begin for 93 days.

Due to this, Elm Drive appears like a worthy second-favourite to take her on with as Philip D’Amato’s four-year-old by Mohaymen has good course and distance kind from her decisive victory over Honey Pants in Might 2023.

Elm Drive, winner of the Mizdirection Stakes. pic.twitter.com/zZUSzWmS4a

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) Might 21, 2023

Following that run on the turf, she switched to the grime for her subsequent three outings, two of which proved to be valiant performances in defeat when third within the Grade 2 Nice Girl M Stakes in July and third within the Grade 1 Clement L Hirsch Stakes in August.

The latter of which occurred over eight-and-a-half furlongs, a visit that barely too far as she pale within the ultimate few furlongs; the winner, Adare Manor, bolted up by five-and-a-quarter lengths on her subsequent begin to frank the shape.

At 5/1, it’s a traditional scummy each-way play, however that’s how I’ll play the race.

 

9:00 Santa Anita – Crimson Advocate @ 4/1 with Boylesports – 1pt EW

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George Weaver got here to Royal Ascot this yr and walked away with the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes in his clutches because of Crimson Advocate, and he’ll be hoping to construct on that success within the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash.

Now sporting the colors of Wathnan Racing, the Nyquist filly hasn’t been seen since that success right here within the UK, so one would possibly maintain a small quantity of fear coming into at present off a 135-day break, although certainly connections may have her spot on for a race as prestigious and invaluable as this.

Thriller! American filly Crimson Advocate wins the Queen Mary for @ljlmvel and George Weaver! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/eZn8h0omXg

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2023

At first look, the Juvenile Turf Dash appears to have loads of tempo as Large Evs, No Nay Mets, Cherry Blossom, and Slider all have the power to race prominently.

Crimson Advocate additionally made all on her second begin of the season at Gulfstream in Might and led the sector from the one-furlong pole to the road at Ascot, so she may do one thing related from stall one if breaking nicely.

#9 CRIMSON ADVOCATE ($9.40) goes wire to wire to win the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes, That may be a Stakes sweep at present at Gulfstream Park by Coach George Weaver.

The daughter of Nyquist was ridden by Edwin Gonzalez. Congrats to all of the connections! pic.twitter.com/IbDD7MHsYR

— TVG (@TVG) Might 13, 2023

That being mentioned, if she breaks slower than a few of her opponents, there will probably be a robust tempo forward of her to purpose at and together with her expertise over 5 furlongs on fast floor round a bend, she may make a late cost to the wire underneath John Velazquez.

As a lot as I’d like to see Large Evs land the spoils for Mick Appleby and Tom Marquand, Crimson Advocate appears like a robust contender and with 4/1 accessible, that appears like a great value.

 

10:20 Santa Anita – Carla’s Means @ 4/1 with William Hill – 2pt Win

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As defined yesterday on X, I’m an enormous fan of Carla’s Means for Simon & Ed Crisford and hopefully, at present may be her time to land a Grade 1 contest.

The Starspangledbanner filly picked up her second victory of the season within the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in late September, a race that has labored out nicely within the kind books as Ylang Ylang and Shuwari stuffed out the primary two locations within the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile on their subsequent begin.

Trying ahead to seeing Carla’s Means within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf (10:20) for Simon & Ed Crisford.

As defined in a bit for the @TheIrishField, I used to be taken by her capability to take a seat prominently within the Rockfel Stakes at a robust gallop with out fading away like… https://t.co/tXJ3DmLlOf

— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) November 2, 2023

Visually, the way of her success over seven furlongs at HQ impressed me probably the most as she sat prominently all through alongside the early pacesetter Non secular, clocking furlongs of 11.26, 11.04, and 11.06 between the one-furlong and four-furlong poles.

As Non secular started to fade again – partly attributable to her capability and the early tempo – James Doyle’s mount continued to press on, leaving Shuwari and Ylang Ylang with work to do.

Inevitably, they didn’t catch Carla’s Means who wanted little encouragement to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

As acknowledged in a bit for The Irish Discipline (shameless plug) and within the tweet above, her pedigree – Starspangledbanner out of Sulaalaat – does fear me for her staying a mile, although a fast-paced American race ought to be a pleasant introduction to eight furlongs forward of subsequent season.

ALGIERS, CARLA’S WAY, and WITH THE MOONLIGHT after their first go to to the monitor pic.twitter.com/INYdtbDP4k

— TVG (@TVG) October 31, 2023

All in all, she appears like the very best horse on paper and if she will navigate the duty of stall 9, hopefully she may have a Grade 1 success subsequent to her identify by the top of at present.

Author: Patrick Thomas