BC Mile

Singletary will try to repeat in the Mile (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

FUNFAIR (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) has scored in all three of his U.S. starts,
making his bow in an optional claimer in late July before scoring in the Troy S.
and Kelso Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). In each race, the H. Graham Motion-trained
six-year-old has earned century-topping Speed ratings, and he has plenty of
experience winning at the eight-furlong distance. The bay gelding has been
working well in preparation for this one and keeps Edgar Prado in the saddle
here. He’ll be challenging from just off the pace and has the talent to win.

WHIPPER (Miesque’s Son) ran 10th in last year’s Mile after saving ground, but
he could easily move up and finish in the top three if the ground has less
give to it this year. Last year’s Mile was run over a yielding course and while the
Belmont green is expected to be less than firm, it’s been drying out over the past few days and could come up good. Whipper is following
the same path he used in 2004, finishing a close fourth to Breeders’ Cup Classic
(G1) contender Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star) in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp
(Fr-G1) last out. The Robert Collet charge captured the Prix Maurice de Gheest
(Fr-G1) in early August and could take his second victory of the season in this
one under Johnny Murtagh.

LEROIDESANIMAUX (Brz) (Candy Stripes) will likely go off favored in the Mile
while trying to keep his eight-race win streak going. Among the Bobby Frankel
trainee’s wins are scores in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), Fourstardave H.
(G2) and, most recently, the Atto Mile (Can-G1). He’s earned nothing but
century-topping numbers since May of last year, winning over four different
tracks at three different distances. Leroidesanimaux truly looks like the horse
to beat in here, but his 12-9-1-0 record proves it’s possible. John Velazquez
has the call.

Leroidesanimaux is the horse to beat in the Mile (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) was sent off the 7-2 favorite in last year’s
Mile, but faltered to run 12th. That was the bay four-year-old’s only
off-the-board placing from his past 12 starts, and the James Jerkens charge has
posted triple-digit Speed ratings in his past nine. Artie Schiller could easily
move up in the ranks this year and challenge for it all while competing over a
course in which he shows a 7-4-2-1 record.

MAJORS CAST (Ire) (Victory Note) will be making his U.S. debut here off a
nice third in the Moulin de Longchamp. He’s been a game competitor all year in
Europe, but seems to prefer a little less ground. Nonetheless, he could still
grab part at nice odds. VALIXIR (Ire) (Trempolino) was fifth in the Moulin de
Longchamp and came out on top of the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1) over Starcraft
earlier in the season. Consider for the bottom of the gimmicks.

SAND SPRINGS (Dynaformer) could try to lead the Mile from gate-to-wire as she
did in the Just a Game Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) and Diana S. (G1) during the
summer. She returned off a slight break to finish just two lengths back in
fourth in the Flower Bowl Invitational H. (G1) last out and could hang around at
the end to earn a share with Jerry Bailey aboard. LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) made his
turf debut last out in the Kelso, running a nice fifth, just 1 1/4 lengths back
of the winner. However, against this veteran group of runners, he may need a bit
more experience to make an impact.

AD VALOREM (Danzig) and GORELLA (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) both appear to be
outclassed against this bunch. We can’t recommend.