Top Trio to Battle for BC Juvenile Supremacy
Image:
Description:
Photo: Gary Tasich
Eight Rings wins the American Pharoah
Only eight 2-year-olds were entered with first preference in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), but the relatively short field comes long on intrigue, thanks to a trio of headliners who have flashed the kind of precocious talent that gives connections dreams of winning not only the Juvenile but the 3-year-old classic races down the road.
Eight Rings will garner plenty of attention, racing in his home ballpark at Santa Anita Park and for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. You only have to go back to last year to find Baffert's previous juvenile triumph with Game Winner, although it should be noted that of his most exceptional 3-year-olds in recent years—American Pharoah , Arrogate , and Justify —none raced at 2 in the Juvenile.
Eight Rings (Empire Maker —Purely Hot, by Pure Prize) sizzled in his debut at Del Mar, winning off as he pleased for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables. The Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) didn't quite go as planned, as the colt dumped rider Drayden Van Dyke in the race's first 100 yard at odds of 1-2. He recovered to take the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) by six lengths in frontrunning fashion but raced greenly in the stretch.
"He's very talented," noted John Velazquez, who rode Eight Rings in the American Pharoah and will ride back in the Juvenile. "If he focuses 100% on what he needs to do, he will be very tough to beat. His mind wanders a lot."
Added Baffert, "It was good to get a positive race out of him. Johnny rode him aggressively because he didn't want to give him a chance to think about doing something. But it looks like he's getting stronger, and I feel really confident about him."
Eight Rings will need his best effort to turn away Dennis' Moment, who has done little wrong for trainer Dale Romans. Ironically, Dennis' Moment also dropped his rider after clipping heels in his first race but returned to break his maiden by 19 1/4 lengths. He then took the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in dominating fashion, showing the ability to rate before taking over. The son of Tiznow —Transplendid, by Elusive Quality, is owned by Albaugh Family Stables, which always seems to come up with a good, precocious runner.
Dennis' Moment has been training at Santa Anita, getting used to what has been a deeper surface this year.
The third leg of the top trio is Maxfield, an impressive winner of the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The Godolphin homebred son of Street Sense —Velvety, by Bernardini , trained by Brendan Walsh, has begun slowly in both his races but has overcome his early position on both occasions. In the Breeders' Futurity, he had one horse beaten before unleashing a furious kick on the second turn and flashing past the field in a matter of strides, winning by 5 1/2 lengths.
The Juvenile will make a thrilling headliner to the first day of the World Championships Nov. 1.
Santa Anita Park, Friday, November 01, 2019, Race 9Entries: TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Dennis' Moment (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Dale L. Romans
8/5
2
2Wrecking Crew (KY)
Paco Lopez
122
Peter Miller
20/1
3
3Shoplifted (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Steven M. Asmussen
20/1
4
4Storm the Court (KY)
Flavien Prat
122
Peter Eurton
20/1
5
5Scabbard (KY)
Mike E. Smith
122
Eddie Kenneally
8/1
6
6Eight Rings (KY)
John R. Velazquez
122
Bob Baffert
2/1
7
7Anneau d'Or (KY)
Juan J. Hernandez
122
Blaine D. Wright
15/1
8
8Full Flat (KY)
Yutaka Take
122
Hideyuki Mori
30/1
9
9Maxfield (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
122
Brendan P. Walsh
3/1
