Lobo Quietly Confident in Ivar Ahead of BC Mile

Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI's Ivar  is back better than ever for his third attempt at the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T).

The son of Agnes Gold , a fast-closing third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by Space Blues  in last year's Mile, enters the Nov. 5 race off solid runner-up finishes in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) and Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T).

"His last race (Coolmore Turf Mile) was good," trainer Paulo Lobo said. "He didn't have an ideal trip but (he came running) and lost to a very good horse (Annapolis ). He likes the track (Keeneland). He's been training very well. We are expecting a good race."

Although Ivar is 6 years old, Lobo believes the multiple grade 1 winner is in mint condition coming into this year's Mile. Lobo called his last breeze, a :49 2/5 half-mile move Oct. 28 at The Thoroughbred Center on the other side of Lexington, "very easy" and "beautiful."

"You know South American horses when they come here they can (stay in training) a long time," Lobo said. "I believe he's at the top of his form right now. If he runs the race that he ran last year in the Breeders' Cup, I think we are going to be tough. But he's doing very well."

Ivar was given an extended layoff after last year's Mile and didn't return to the races until a July 9 victory in the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

"The reason we're coming back at the Breeders' Cup for the third time is because we gave him all winter off," Lobo said. "He enjoyed that and benefited from that."

An earner of more than $1.3 million, Ivar will be ridden by Javier Castellano, who rode the dark bay in the Coolmore Turf Mile, and drew post 6. He was given 15-1 morning line odds.

"(Drawing the six hole) was perfect," said Lobo.