BC Turf

A competitive field has been assembled for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf
(G1) at Belmont Park, including several top-class European shippers, but the pressure
isn’t on the foreign
contingent. SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]) is seeking to keep his unbeaten
record perfect with another win on Saturday and could easily go off favored
based on his brief but exceptional record. However, the lightly raced
four-year-old will have to tackle 12 rivals, including many veterans of the 1
1/2-mile marathon distance. We’re going to go with BAGO (Fr)
(Nashwan).

Bago has the class to win in his U.S. debut (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) The Jonathan Pease trainee has compiled an incredible 14-8-1-5 record during his three seasons of racing, with most of his starts coming in Group 1 events. He started off this year in style, taking the Prix de Ganay (Fr-G1) at Longchamp, and finished close in his subsequent four races. Most recently, the dark bay turned in a close third as the defending champion of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). This year’s Arc winner and runner-up are skipping the Breeders’ Cup, leaving the way clear for Bago to make his presence felt. The four-year-old has won over both good and soft turf during his career, and he brings regular jockey Thierry Gillet over for the ride. Bago can score in his U.S. debut. AZAMOUR (Ire) (Night Shift) finished ahead of Bago in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. (Eng-G1) in late July, then just missed, two lengths back in fifth, in the Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) off a brief layoff, so the 49-day break here shouldn’t hurt his chances. His King George score came at the Turf’s 12-furlong distance, and he’s used to running over ground that has some give to it. The John Oxx-trained four-year-old will get Mick Kinane back in the irons for this one, and the bay colt could come with his normal late run to challenge for the win. Shakespeare appears to be the best of the American-runners and will seek to prove his dominance over the world’s best on Saturday. The Bill Mott charge likes to race near the lead before offering his explosive turn of foot, and his past three races have all resulted in century-topping BRIS Late Pace and Speed figures. The bay has experience over Belmont’s green, taking the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) going 1 1/2 miles last out, but we are concerned that his margin of victory was cut dramatically that afternoon, as he finished just a head in front of ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike). Shakespeare keeps the services of jockey Jerry Bailey and remains a threat to extend his five-race win streak to six.

BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) is our sleeper special, not only because he is the defending champion from last year, but
also due to the fact that he owns terrific Speed and Late Pace ratings. The H. Graham Motion-conditioned
six-year-old veteran entered last year’s Turf off a fourth in the Man o’ War S.
(G1), but he drastically improved upon that with a win in the 1 3/8-mile test last out.
He also owns a victory in the United Nations (G1) from earlier this year and has
yet to finish worse than fourth in five races this year. Better Talk Now could
make it back-to-back wins on Saturday with Ramon Dominguez holding the reins.

English Channel was touted as the next coming of Kitten’s Joy earlier in the
year before runner-up finishes in both the Secretariat S. (G1) and Turf Classic
tarnished his image. The Todd Pletcher trainee still earned 107 and 105
Speed ratings, respectively, for those starts, and English Channel will attempt
to turn
the tables on Shakespeare in the Breeders’ Cup. He has the talent to end up in the winner’s circle and will probably be overlooked in the wagering. John Velazquez has the call.

ACE (Ire) (Danehill) is one up on his fellow European shippers. The Aidan
O’Brien charge made his U.S. debut in the Turf Classic, running only three parts
of a length back in third, while earning a 105 Speed rating and 103 Late Pace
figure. The bay four-year-old entered that one off close fourths in the Irish
Champion and Juddmonte International (Eng-G1), and is versatile enough to run
stalk the lead or close late. Either way, Ace should be considered for all exotics.

FOURTY NINERS SON (Distorted Humor) entered graded company just four races
back but immediately made his presence felt, running third by just a half-length
in the American H. (G2). Placings followed in the Eddie Read H. (G1) and
Arlington Million (G1) before the chestnut four-year-old broke through with a
one-length victory in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1) last out. He
didn’t earn quite the same numbers from his previous races last time, but the
improving Fourty
Niners Son could still earn part under Corey Nakatani.

SILVERFOOT (With Approval) is a nice runner, taking the Kentucky Cup Turf
(G3) last out by 6 3/4 lengths and finishing second in the United Nations S.
(G1) earlier this season, but the gray five-year-old is facing really tough
company. He sporadically earns nice numbers but is not consistent enough for us
to recommend. SHIROCCO (Ger) (Monsun) is making his U.S. debut in this spot and
owns only two starts so far in 2005. The bay four-year-old needed to show more
in his few starts this year for us to recommend here.

GUN SALUTE (Military) captured the Secretariat and Hawthorne Derby (G3) in
his past two, but those came by short margins and he may not be able to last
going 1 1/2 miles for the first time. We’ll let him beat us. LAURA’S LUCKY BOY
(Theatrical [Ire]) has been going well of late, but may not be in the same class
as these. LEPRECHAUN KID (Alphabet Soup) doesn’t appear fast enough to keep up
here. SHAKE THE BANK (Sandpit [Brz]) has been entered to set the pace for
stablemate Better Talk Now but probably won’t last the entire way.