An action-packed weekend of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” racing is set to take place this weekend, with key races from all over the world on deck.
On Saturday, racing from Belmont at Aqueduct (which should simply known as Aqueduct), Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita takes center stage, but the most important race globally takes place at Longchamp in Paris on Sunday.
Arguably the most prestigious race in the world, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be contested over roughly a mile and a half on Sunday morning (U.S. time), with the defending champion Torquator Tasso looking to repeat for Germany.
Below you will find selections from the G3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs, the G1 Champagne at Aqueduct, and the G1 Arc de Triomphe from Longchamp (on Sunday).
After thirty-six weeks, here is the results tally (records reflective of $2 WIN / $2 WPS):
WIN: 15-108 (13.9%, -$97.80)
WPS: 55-108 (50.9%, -$199.80)
SATURDAY
4:55 ET – CHURCHILL DOWNS R9 – G3 ACK ACK STAKES – 1 MILE – DIRT
If Speaker’s Corner runs to his paper, the rest of the field is racing for nothing more than minor awards. Unfortunately, the Bill Mott trainee appears to be trending the wrong direction, making him an easy fade at an extremely short price. As an alternative, SENOR BUSCADOR (8) appeals at a square number for trainer Todd Fincher. A four-year-old son of Mineshaft, Senor Buscador most recently rallied to a third-place finish in the G2 Pat O’Brien at Del Mar after chasing a slow pace while racing wide throughout. The effort was better than the past performances may suggest, especially when considering the fifth-place finisher returned to win his next start, earning a 95 Beyer Speed Figure in the process (as the only horse to come back from the Pat O’Brien to this point). While the pace scenario may work against him, there is no reason to think Senor Buscador will not come with his run beneath the twin spires in Louisville on Saturday.
THE PLAY: 8) SENOR BUSCADOR TO WIN at odds of 6/1 or greater
5:45 ET – BELMONT AT AQUEDUCT R10 – G1 CHAMPAGNE – 1 MILE – DIRT
TOP RECRUIT (2) ran an exceptional race in the Ellis Park Juvenile in mid-August, setting fast fractions while contesting the pace before eventually prevailing by a scant head. The other pacesetters he dueled with finished up the track, making the performance from the Mike Maker trainee even more impressive. A two-year-old son of Midshipman, Top Recruit defeated a field that included two next-out winners on August 14, including Curly Jack, who returned to win the G3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, and Frosted Departure, who returned to defeat optional claimers at Churchill Downs while earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. There is no denying that Top Recruit will need to run the race of his life on Saturday to prevail but given the speed he possesses and the form exiting his most recent victory, he deserves consideration as the third choice.
THE PLAY: 2) TOP RECRUIT TO WIN at odds of 7/2 or greater
SUNDAY
10:00 AM ET – PARIS LONGCHAMP – G1 PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE – ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES – TURF
Annually one of the highlights on the international racing calendar, this year’s Arc de Triomphe will almost certainly be impacted by weather, as rain is scheduled in Paris for much of the weekend. Accordingly, I want a horse that’s proven themselves not only over the roughly 1 1/2-mile trip of the Arc, but also over testing ground which the field is likely to see at Longchamp on Sunday. WESTOVER (18) was unlucky to lose the English Derby in early June after encountering a great deal of trouble in deep stretch, but he made up for that by blowing the doors off a decent field in his subsequent start in the Irish Derby. Following the blowout victory at the Curragh in late June, trainer Ralph Beckett took a shot with Westover against some of the better older horses in the world in July’s King George at Ascot, only to see the three-year-old son of Frankel get cracked by an unrelenting pace scenario over incredibly fast ground. Now, with a more favorable trip projected over ground that is likely to suit him, Westover represents a solid option in this year’s Arc.
THE PLAY: 18) WESTOVER TO WIN at odds of 8/1 or greater