Limato Aims for Breeders' Cup Mile

By Michael Adolphson

In one of the most intriguing races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, a stellar cast has assembled for the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), topped by the queen of American turf, Tepin, whose best effort wins the race.

This is the majority American perspective.

While all this star-spangled banter about whether or not the Mark Casse-trained superstar has or has not lost a step may be valid, assuming that she is the only horse to beat is a sign that it may be time for an equipment change.

Take off the proverbial blinkers and the periphery reveals there is a Union Jack-clad rocket by the name of Limato taking dead aim on the winner's enclosure for this weekend's penultimate Breeders' Cup contest.

An emblazoned bay gelding with a dangerous combination of whirlwind cruising rate and wicked acceleration, the son of top group I-winning sprinter Tagula enters the Mile off an overpowering performance in the group I Prix de la Foret at Chantilly on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe undercard—the same seven-furlong trial Goldikova used as a prep for two of her three (2009 and 2010) Breeders' Cup victories.

In four starts this year, all in group I company, the Paul G. Jacobs-owned and Henry Candy-trained star has won two, with acceptable alibis in the remaining pair.

In his first race this year, a fourth in the one-mile, group I Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, Limato likely needed the race and was attempting a trip beyond seven furlongs for the first time in his career.

Two months later, the 4-year-old obliterated his rivals with a lightning turn of foot in the group I July Cup at Newmarket over six furlongs, finishing two lengths clear and much the best. Six weeks later and a cut back to five furlongs—a trip likely too short for him—resulted in a game runner-up effort to top sprinter Mecca's Angel in York's Nunthorpe.

Appearing to thrive with the additional ground of the Foret next out gave his connections the confidence to move forward to Santa Anita Park, choosing the Mile in lieu of the Turf Sprint (gr. IT), in which he would be a favorite.

"I'm a little bit wary of the sprint course here," Candy said. "The (about 6 1/2-furlong track), with its downhill and the bends, is too specialist. Plus, the way he finished at Chantilly the other day, it looks like he would get a mile. He's a very straightforward horse and it's all right there on form."

A firm-turf-loving type, Limato has touted himself in the mornings this week at Santa Anita, leading many to believe the cross-Atlantic ship took little out of the winner of eight of 13 starts.

"He's had a couple of trips to France before, but this was his first long trip and he absolutely loved it," Candy said. "He should like the course. He had a good sprint run on the last bend (Thursday) morning and he was on the right leg, then he hit the straight and changed onto to his proper (lead) leg. I worked him around a similar turn at home and he did exactly the same. When it matters, he gets on the right lead, so I don't think it's a problem."

Long pointed to the Breeders' Cup, the Irish-bred has been impressing the data enthusiasts of the racing world, as well. While not at the herculean heights of Goldikova's 131 or Wise Dan's 130, Limato's Racing Post rating is a solid 126, a full five points ahead of Tepin's 121.

By comparison, 2003 Mile winner Six Perfections was also a 121, while 2014 winner Karakontie   checked in at 120. On Timeform Rating, he earned a career-best 129 at Chantilly last out—tying him with Flintshire, Order of St George, and Solow for ninth in the world, while rated second behind Mecca's Angel at distances a mile and below.

"Obviously Tepin is exceptional and Alice Springs is very good," Candy analyzed. "Plus many of the rest of them have won at (the group I or grade I) level, so it's a very hot race. I think they'll go very fast. I would imagine by the time they got to the first bend they'll be reasonably spread out, so I hope he would be able to (tuck) in so that he wouldn't have to travel too far (wide)."

Based at Kingston Warren, near the quaint village of Kingston Isle, England, Candy appears to keenly recognize the challenges before him, yet shows little sign of any cracked confidence since arriving in Los Angeles. From shipping the horse, to taking on some of the world's best milers over a challenging course and distance, to simply navigating the idiosyncrasies of a temperamental athlete, the entire Limato team beams belief in their beast.

"I've been lucky to train a few good horses over the years," said Candy, who also conditioned phenomenal sprinter Kyllachy a decade ago and Time Charter, who annexed Epsom Oaks, Champion Stakes, and King George in the early 1980s. "He's a challenge because he's very difficult to handle in the preliminaries, but he is good once anybody is on his back and I think he'll be well-suited Saturday.

"He's a huge pleasure to have and a tremendously exciting horse," he concluded. "He's one of the best, if not the best I've trained."