Mondialiste Heads Deep Cast in Shadwell Mile

As you’d expect for a $1 million purse, a deep and talented cast numbering 11 signed up for a run in the Oct. 8 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland.

The third of three grade I races on Saturday at the Lexington track, the Shadwell goes as the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:45 p.m. ET post time. It is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.

NBC will present live coverage of the Shadwell Turf Mile and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) as part of a 5-6 p.m. telecast called the "Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In Series presented by Lane’s End Farm and America’s Best Racing."

Off his victory in the Arlington Million (gr. IT), Geoff and Sandra Turnbull's Mondialiste rates the first look. The 6-year-old came to hand last year for trainer David O'Meara after alighting in North America; he took the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) before running second to champion turf mare Tepin in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland. The mid-pack runner tends to win his races in bunches, and has put in good efforts the last two outs. Daniel Tudhope, who rode him to victory in the Million, retains the mount as the two depart post 4.

Wimborne Farm's Kasaqui checked in a neck behind Mondialiste at Arlington after taking the Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) for trainer Ignacio Correas. He was an allowance winner at Keeneland in the spring and, while possessing speed, needs to prove himself at the mile distance, where he is 0-4 lifetime.

Last year’s Shadwell victor Grand Arch is back for another run, looking to become the third back-to-back winner in the race's history (the other consecutive winners are Gio Ponti in 2010-2011, and Dumaani in 1995-1996). Millionaire Grand Arch is now 7 and hasn’t won for Brian Lynch since his Shadwell score, but is a proven and consistent grade I runner training well for this engagement. He comes off a third-place finish in the Aug. 20 Fourstardave (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course. Luis Saez has the mount from post 5.



The Club Racing, Allen Rosenblum and Sagamore Farm’s Miss Temple City, who became the first filly to win the Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland in the spring, will take on the boys once again in this spot for trainer Graham Motion. She was a close fifth in the Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) at Saratoga in her most recent start, and will be ridden by Hall of Famer Edgar Prado from post 7.

Three other grade I winners are included, among them the past two winners of the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita, Ring Weekend (2015) and What a View (2016), as well as Fourstardave winner Tourist. 

Ring Weekend also hails from Graham Motion's stable and won the Bernard Baruch (gr. IIT) last out Sept. 5. What a View is riding a four-race win streak at Santa Anita including scoring in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT), but the water gets deeper here for the Cal bred. He will likely be placed prominently from the outside gate but needs to find position in the short run to the first turn. Tourist won the Fourstardave nearly wire-to-wire and figures to have a say in the early tempo here. He has been competitive in three tries at Keeneland and might steal the show if left alone.

Ironicus has not been worse than third in his last dozen trips to the post. Proven in New York against grade II and grade III company, he raced in a grade I for the first time last out and ran second to Flintshire by 1 3/4 lengths in the Manhattan (gr. IT). He does his best running from off the pace.

Tower of Texas has been the bridesmaid three straight, most recently running Tepin to a half length in the Woodbine Mile. He is another mid-pack racer, and was handled easily by Mondialiste in last year’s Woodbine Mile. Pleuven got the best of Kasaqui in the Wise Dan (gr. IIT) in June but has been kept to lesser company, and this is a large step up. Triple Threat won the Monmouth Stakes (gr. IIT) 16 months ago but has done little since that would merit a strong look against this competition.