Carson's Run a Sentimental Choice in BC Juvenile Turf

There's no doubt Carson's Run  will be the sentimental favorite Nov. 3 in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

The 2-year-old son of Cupid   owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey is named for 31-year-old Carson Yost, who is afflicted with the disabling genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, the same horrible disease that Cody Dorman, the inspiration for the name of Horse of the Year candidate Cody's Wish  , suffers from.

"It's an emotional story," said West Point president Terry Finley, a West Point Military Academy classmate of Wade Yost, Carson's father and a partner in West Point's share of the juvenile.

Whether he'll be the betting favorite is a different story when he breaks from the outside in the full field. With only a handful of career starts for each 2-year-old and an expected international field of 14 congregating at Santa Anita, the Juvenile Turf shapes up as a challenging test both on the racetrack and on paper.

Carson's Run, bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm, has won two of his three career starts for trainer Christophe Clement and was last seen taking the Summer Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine to claim a free Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In spot in the mile Juvenile Turf.

"I was very impressed with his win at Woodbine," Clement said. "Every race has been a better one. It's ambitious to run in the Breeders' Cup, but why not? It's a fun time to be ambitious."

While Carson's Run figures to find firm turf in California, after running on good courses in the Summer Stakes and a runner-up finish in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course, Clement believes the son of the Henny Hughes mare Hot N Hectic can handle any type of course.

"He's a very good mover. I am comfortable with him on any type of grass," Clement said about the late-running colt. 

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Agate Road  earned an automatic berth by winning the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Quality Road   2-year-old won his past two starts after losing by a nose in his Aug. 5 off-the-turf debut for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

"Both of Agate Road's wins were impressive. He has a nice turn of foot and we're happy with him," Pletcher said.

D. J. Stable and Cash is King's Can Group , a son of Good Samaritan  , picked up a Win and You're In berth in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) and is 2-for-2 on turf for trainer Mark Casse.

The United States hopefuls also include the California-based Endlessly , who is undefeated in three starts, all on turf. The homebred Amerman Racing son of Oscar Performance   captured the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita by 2 1/4 lengths for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Of the 16 editions of the Juvenile Turf, 10 have been won by Europeans, including four of the past six.

Topping the list of foreign shippers are Unquestionable , Mountain Bear , and River Tiber  for trainer Aidan O'Brien, a five-time Juvenile Turf winner.