Uni, Circus Maximus Return in Breeders' Cup Mile

This year's renewal of the $2 million Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) has managed to lure back two of last year's runners, as defending winner Uni once again faces off against a preponderance of male competitors in the Nov. 7 Keeneland test. 

The other is Circus Maximus, who will have to jump through all the hoops that come with transatlantic travel in the age of COVID-19 to try his luck at a North American grade 1 win for only the second time in his career. The bay finished fourth in last year's renewal of the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile, less than three lengths behind the winner. 

Slated as one of the most talented turf runners in Europe, 4-year-old Circus Maximus found himself back in the spotlight early during his 2020 campaign when he scored the third group 1 of his career in the June 16 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Owned by Flaxman Holdings, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, the son of Galileo next went to Glorious Goodwood where he finished second in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1). 

Shipped next to France, he put in a pair of third-place finishes in the Prix du Haras de Fresney-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1) at Deauville and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) at ParisLongchamp.

"He's been in good form," said O'Brien. "He likes a nice racing surface, he likes an even pace, he likes a flat track, and he loves to get into a battle at the end. So we think and hope that all those things might suit him. We think he's in good form. He's a tough, hardy, consistent miler that gets a mile away. So we think and hope that the conditions might suit him there." 

Bred in Ireland by Flaxman Stables Ireland, Circus Maximus earned his first group 1 during his sophomore season in 2019, scoring in the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. In a season reminiscent of his 2020 campaign, the colt went on to place second in the Sussex Stakes that year before jumping up next out to win the Prix du Moulin. 

With COVID-19 still raging around the world and with many countries locking down their borders for the second time this year, O'Brien said there was some obvious trepidation about sending runners from his Irish stable to the United States for the World Championships. 

"We have been and all over the world, and I think we're the same here in Ireland as well, in most countries in England, France, and Europe … it's the same. Obviously we're delayed," said O'Brien. "Obviously everybody has to be careful and very respectful of each other's space and have their own space, the most important thing so that everybody stays healthy. We just felt it's important for the industry and racing and everybody in the business to buy and sell and breed and train, and doing everything." 

Hoping to keep her crown firmly atop her head on Saturday is Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables' Uni, who will be making only her fourth start of the year in the Mile. Trained by Chad Brown, the 6-year-old More Than Ready  mare opened her year with a third in the June 27 Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. 

Facing off against mostly males next out in the Aug. 22 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, Uni finished an uncharacteristic seventh—her lowest placing in a career spanning 21 starts. After a month off, the mare bounced back to take home her first win of the season Oct. 3 at Keeneland when she took the First Lady Stakes Presented by UK Healthcare (G1T) by one length over Beau Recall. 

Brad Cox will send out Factor This, who will also be hoping to take home his first top-level win. The son of The Factor  has had only two missteps in seven starts this season—a second-place finish in the Sept. 5 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1T) at Churchill, beaten less than a length, and a third in the Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Owned by Gaining Ground Racing, the 5-year-old will enter the mile of a 2 3/4-length victory in the Dinner Party Stakes (G2T) Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course. 

No doubt one of the more interesting competitors to watch on Saturday will be Qatar Racing's Kameko. The U.S.-bred son of Kitten's Joy  has carved out a niche for himself in the world of British grass racing. He posted group 1 wins in the Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1), run on Newcastle's all-weather surface last year after Doncaster's turf became soaked, at 2 and the June 6 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at 3. Trained by Andrew Balding, Kameko last raced Sept. 25 at Newmarket when he won the Shadwell Joel Stakes (G2). 

The Mile will be the first start outside of Europe for Kameko, who was purchased for $90,000 by David Redvers from the consignment of Paramount Sales to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

Entries: FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1T)

Keeneland, Saturday, November 07, 2020, Race 9

• Grade IT
• 1m
• Turf
• $2,000,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:15 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Circus Maximus (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	126	Aidan P. O'Brien	12/1
2	2Kameko (KY)	Oisin Murphy	123	Andrew Balding	6/1
3	3Lope Y Fernandez (IRE)	Lanfranco Dettori	123	Aidan P. O'Brien	30/1
4	4Siskin (KY)	Colin Keane	123	Ger Lyons	15/1
5	5Digital Age (IRE)	Javier Castellano	126	Chad C. Brown	8/1
6	6Safe Voyage (IRE)	Jason Hart	126	John Quinn	15/1
7	7Casa Creed (KY)	Junior Alvarado	126	William I. Mott	20/1
8	8March to the Arch (FL)	Tyler Gaffalione	126	Mark E. Casse	15/1
9	9One Master (GB)	Pierre-Charles Boudot	123	William J. Haggas	12/1
10	10Halladay (KY)	Luis Saez	126	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1
11	11Ivar (BRZ)	Joseph Talamo	126	Paulo H. Lobo	4/1
12	12Uni (GB)	Joel Rosario	123	Chad C. Brown	5/1
13	13Factor This (KY)	Florent Geroux	126	Brad H. Cox	8/1
14	14Raging Bull (FR)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	Chad C. Brown	8/1
15	15Order of Australia (IRE)	Christophe Soumillon	123	Aidan P. O'Brien	30/1