The expected clash of a defending winner, a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, and a Kentucky Derby winner will make for an intriguing renewal of the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Full Serrano, who won last year’s running, is anticipated for the race, as is White Abarrio, who captured the BC Classic in 2023. Mystik Dan, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby, is also being pointed for the Dirt Mile.
Mystik Dan will enter off a gutsy win in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic last Saturday at Churchill Downs.
“We were quite happy with his race,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “He’s the best he’s ever been.
“We’ve said for weeks that the Dirt Mile was likely. I think it will give him a chance to show off his turn of foot.”
Full Serrano won last year’s Dirt Mile by 1 1/2 lengths and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104. In his most recent start, he was second in the Grade 1 Goodwood last Saturday at Santa Anita.
White Abarrio had significant trouble in his last start, when fourth in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31 at Saratoga.
Adding further depth to this year’s potential Dirt Mile field is Nysos. The 5-for-6 runner is the 4-1 favorite on the early Dirt Mile line set by Daily Racing Form’s David Aragona. In his last two starts, Nysos has won the Grade 2 San Diego at Del Mar and the Grade 3 Triple Bend at Santa Anita.
Patch Adams is the early second choice at 5-1 after the 3-year-old nailed down his second straight Grade 1 in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga.
Full Serrano and Mystik Dan are the co-third choices for the Dirt Mile at 6-1. White Abarrio and Locked have both been made 8-1 by Aragona.
Tumbarumba, who won his second straight stakes race in the Grade 3 Ack Ack last Saturday at Churchill Downs, is being pointed for the Dirt Mile, according to trainer Brian Lynch. He said Wednesday there were a couple of reasons to target the race.
“He’s run two very good races his last couple and we just feel like he’s in good form,” Lynch said. “And he was a good fourth in it last year and we feel like he’s probably a more mature, more seasoned horse this year, so we’re going to have another try at it.”
Lynch said Tumbarumba would train at his Churchill base leading up to the Dirt Mile and fly to Del Mar on Oct. 27.
“We’ll come in on top of the race,” he said.
◗ Patriot Spirit had been considered for a start in the Dirt Mile, but will instead focus on the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, trainer Michael Campbell said Tuesday. The versatile runner earned a berth into the Sprint by virtue of his win in last weekend’s Grade 3 Vosburgh at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct.
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