Slipstream to Target Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

While Slipstream  earned a free spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) through winning the six-furlong Futurity Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park, his path to the winner's circle at the World Championships will most likely run through the longer Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Trainer Christophe Clement said stretching out to a two-turn mile for the Juvenile Turf will be a better option for the son of More Than Ready   as opposed to cutting back to the five-furlong distance of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

In the Futurity, Jump Sucker Stable's Slipstream rallied from last in the field of eight 2-year-olds to prevail by a length in a listed time of 1:08.36 over firm turf.

"He was impressive in the Futurity but I would love to see him go a mile," Clement said.

Under the Breeders' Cup's "Win and You're In" conditions for the Futurity, which includes travel expenses to Del Mar and entry fees as well as a guaranteed spot in the Juvenile Turf Sprint for the winner, Slipstream's connections cannot transfer his guaranteed spot to the Juvenile Turf. Yet with four qualifying points, he should be able to land a spot in the starting gate for the mile turf test, even if the race is oversubscribed.

Slipstream's connections can, however, use the travel bonus to ship to Del Mar and they can also apply a credit from the value of the nomination fees for the Juvenile Turf Sprint to the charges for running in the Juvenile Turf. Since the fees for entering and running in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint and $1 million Juvenile Turf are an identical $30,000, there will be no additional costs if they run in the Juvenile Turf.

Slipstream, bought for $170,000 by Northshore Bloodstock, agent, from the Burleson Farms consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, has won two of four career starts with earnings of $147,600.

The dark bay 2-year-old is one of four probable Breeders' Cup starters for Clement, joining Gufo  in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), Natalma Stakes (G1T) runner-up Pizza Bianca  in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), and Woodbine Cares Stakes winner Derrynane  in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Multiple grade 1 winner Gufo, who locked up a free spot in the Turf through winning the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, tired in the stretch and finished third as the 9-5 favorite in the Oct. 9 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T). But Clement said he was pleased with the way the 4-year-old son of Declaration of War  has bounced back from that loss and is targeting the $4 million Turf at a 1 1/2-mile distance.

"Gufo is doing quite well now," he said.

Clement will be searching for his initial Breeders' Cup victory during the World Championships' Nov. 5-6 stay at Del Mar. He has six seconds and six thirds from a total of 40 starters and has compiled earnings of $4,503,945 in the series.