DEL MAR, Calif. - Humidity, among the pre-entered horses in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, did not ship from England for the race, according to a representative of the International Racing Bureau, which coordinates shipping and on-ground logistics for international Breeders’ Cup participants.
Most recently second in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, Humidity ranked as a mid-tier overseas contender for the Juvenile Turf, and probably would have been a pace factor since he has led in nearly all his races.
Humidity’s absence would allow Third Beer, ranked second among the four pre-entered horses initially excluded from the 12-runner Juvenile Turf, to get into the race. Gordon Pass, first among the excluded pre-entrants, should be able to run if, as expected, Brussels’ connections run him in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Bucanero Fuerte in Turf Sprint
Bucanero Fuerte is expected to be entered in the Turf Sprint rather than the Mile when Breeders’ Cup entries are taken Monday. Bucanero Fuerte’s connections listed the Turf Sprint as their first preference when the horse was pre-entered, and, indeed, Bucanero Fuerte has been a sprinter throughout his career.
Bucanero Fuerte, however, has the same owners and trainer as Arizona Blaze, who was pre-entered only in the Turf Sprint. Arizona Blaze beat Bucanero Fuerte when they met last out in the Flying Five Stakes and has stronger recent credentials than his stablemate – at least over the Turf Sprint’s five-furlong distance. Both horses are based in Ireland with trainer Adrian Murray.
Khaadem lone European worker
Khaadem was the lone European horse intended for a Breeders’ Cup race to train Sunday morning at Del Mar. That’s because Khaadem, trained by England-based Charlie Hills, has been in America since August. Khaadem finished third in the Kentucky Turf Sprint on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs, then moved to Keeneland, where he won the Woodford Stakes on Oct. 4.
By contrast, Jonquil, based in England with trainer Andrew Balding, went home after a good fourth in the Turf Mile, contested on the same Keeneland card as the Woodford. Jonquil and the rest of the European horses – sans Khaadem – get out of quarantine on Monday and will be permitted to train Tuesday morning.
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