BC Juvenile

BREEDERS’
CUP PREVIEWS

There were only eight two-year-olds entered in this year’s
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but the 1 1/16-mile test features
the top three finishers from the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont
Park, the winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and
the victor in the Norfolk S. (G2) at Santa Anita. For the most
part, this is a clash between East and West, with a Midwest
contender, who is trained by the ever-dangerous D. Wayne Lukas
and ridden by the up-and-coming Rafael Bejarano, thrown in for
good measure. The event features entrants from the most widely
known Kentucky Derby (G1) trainers — Bob Baffert, Nick Zito and
Lukas — and the outcome will no doubt play a pivotal role in
determining the champion of the division.

Our initial thought was that a horse coming out of the
Champagne would be our top choice, but after watching race
replays and his workout on Sunday, ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus)
earns the award. After winning his first two races impressively,
Roman Ruler was criticized for not winning the Del Mar Futurity (G2)
after apparently taking the lead in midstretch. But in the final
60 yards or so, he really wasn’t under that much pressure to do
so. Baffert equipped the colt with blinkers for the 1 1/16-mile
Norfolk, his two-turn debut, and we liked what we saw.

Roman Ruler was keen out of the gate and was hard held while
well off the rail around the first turn. He remained in that
position down the backstretch, then easily opened up a clear lead
around the second turn while remaining well off the rail. Because
of the loss of ground around the turns, his performance in the
Norfolk is probably better than it appears time-wise. In his
final workout, Roman Ruler clocked a workmate before finishing
his final eighth in :11 3/5 and galloping out three-quarters in 1:11.
Baffert is taking the blinkers off for the Juvenile to help the
colt be more relaxed. We’re not thrilled with the post position,
but he rates the nod at what could be better than expected odds.

AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) looked beaten with a furlong to
go, then suddenly leveled off and accelerated with a late burst
of speed to win the seven-furlong Hopeful S. (G1) in the slop at
Saratoga. He returned in the Champagne, where he pressed the
early pace along the inside, was trapped behind a wall of horses
turning for home, then shifted to the outside for clear sailing
and finished determinedly for runner-up honors. Afleet Alex was
gaining ground in the final stages of the Champagne and worked
extremely well over the Lone Star main track on Monday. He rates
a serious threat.

PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It’s True) got a perfect trip in the
Champagne, stalking the pace in the clear from the outside,
taking the lead on his own in upper stretch while traveling
strongly, then holding sway to the wire under a confident John
Velazquez. The Todd Pletcher-trained juvenile is undefeated in
three starts and is nicely drawn near the outside for a similar
trip here. Proud Accolade is a big, good-looking colt, and is a
major contender for all the marbles.

After being left at the gate, SUN KING (Charismatic) rallied
belatedly for fourth in his debut at Saratoga. He bobbled at the
break, advanced decisively around the turn, then repelled a bid
from eventual Breeders’ Futurity runner-up Patriot Act (A.P. Indy)
to break his maiden at Belmont Park in his next outing. Much to
the dismay of Zito, however, the dark bay colt broke running and
dueled for the early lead before holding on gamely for third,
beaten just 1 3/4 lengths, in the Champagne. Sun King is expected
to be taken back off the early pace and will be a formidable foe
with a clear trip.

The Lukas-trained CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat) clocked the
pacesetter, took the lead around the second turn, then opened up
daylight on the rest of the field while being hard ridden by
Bejarano to take the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He has
excellent early speed and will likely try to steal this in front-running
fashion, but we’re going to play against.

SCANDINAVIA (Fusaichi Pegasus) was odds-on in his first three
starts and exits a runner-up effort in the one-mile Royal Lodge S.
(Eng-G2) at Ascot. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt finished evenly
in that event and earned a commendable 108 Timeform rating. WILKO
(Awesome Again) ran third, 1 1/2 lengths behind the one above, in
the Royal Lodge, despite encountering trouble. Both of these add
first-time Lasix but would be a surprise to get their picture
taken. TWICE UNBRIDLED (Unbridled’s Song) is still a maiden after
two starts and will likely be a useful horse in the future. He is
overmatched in this spot, however.