Strong Foreign Invasion for Juvenile Turf

As usual, the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) will have a decidedly foreign accent when it is run Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park. Of the 20 horses pre-entered for the one-mile event, eight made their previous start on another continent.

Juddmonte Farms’ Commemorative, winner of the Betfred Autumn Stakes (Eng-III) at a mile in his last start, leads the invasion. Aktabantay, also a group III winner in England, is also pre-entered. Group-placed Faithful Creek and Ireland stakes winner Ernest Shackleton are pre-entered, along with two Kentucky-bred sons of War Front  —War Envoy and The Great War—both owned by Coolmore syndicates and trained by Aidan O’Brien. The Great War has first preference in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Kentucky-bred Wet Sail, who has done all his racing in England, rounds out the foreign contingent.

The domestic lineup is led by graded stakes winners Conquest Typhoon, who won the Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) two back, and Startup Nation, victorious in the With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) two races back as well. Wesley Ward-trained Hootenanny has split his four starts between the U.S. and Europe, winning a stakes in England and finishing second in the Darley Prix Morny (Fr-I) in his last effort. Lawn Ranger, winner of the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT), Imperia, first to the line in the Pilgrim Stakes (gr. IIIT), and International Star, who took the Grey Stakes (Can-IIIT) are the North American graded winners contesting the Juvenile Turf.

Stakes winners Daddy D T and Luck of the Kitten also are pre-entered.

Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey will take a two-pronged team into battle, with homebred Luck of the Kitten as well as International Star.