BC Profiles Mile

BREEDERS' CUP PROFILES

MILE

AD VALOREM		Danzig--Classy Women, by Relaunch
Owner:		Mrs. John Magnier
Breeder:		Calumet Farm (Ky)
Trainer:		Aidan O'Brien
Rider:		Kieren Fallon
Last 1 BRIS Speed:		93

A Group 1 winner in his final juvenile appearance, the three-year-old colt

failed to make much of an impact in his last two European starts this season and

finished sixth when adding Lasix for his U.S. bow in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1)

last out. Ad Valorem owns the back class to merit respect here, but his recent

form isn't encouraging.

ARTIE SCHILLER		El Prado [Ire])--Hidden Light, by Majestic Light
Owner:		Timber Bay Farm and Mrs. Thomas Walsh
Breeder:		Haras du Mereray Sa (Ky)
Trainer:		James Jerkens
Rider:		Garrett Gomez
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		105, 102, 102

Four-time Grade 2 winner was favored in last year's Mile (G1) at Lone Star

Park but never threatened, finishing 12th, but he's got this year's event in his

backyard and is capable of a much better showing. Winner of the Bernard Baruch

H. (G2) two starts back, Artie Schiller fell short by a head in the Kelso

Breeders' Cup H. (G2) last time and owns a terrific 7-4-2-1 over the turf at

Belmont Park. He's run well in all five starts in 2005, winning twice and

finishing within a half-length of the winner in each loss, and he can generate a

terrific kick with BRIS Late Pace ratings over 110 this season. Artie Schiller

looms as a serious win candidate.

FUNFAIR (GB)		Singspiel (Ire)--Red Carnival, by Mr. Prospector
Owner:		Cheveley Park Farm
Breeder:		Cheveley Park Stud (GB)
Trainer:		Graham Motion
Rider:		Edgar Prado
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		106, 101, 101

An undistinguished campaigner in Europe, Funfair improved noticeably when

coming to the United States this year, winning all three starts, including a

commendable score in the Kelso Breeders' Cup H. (G2) last out. Six-year-old

gelding still has class concerns against a deep group of rivals in the Mile

(G1), but he's recorded very commendable BRIS Speed and Late Pace ratings in his

U.S. appearances and figures to be overlooked in the wagering despite his recent

successes.

GORELLA (Fr)		Grape Tree Road (GB)--Exciting Times, by Jeune Homme
Owner:		Martin Schwartz
Breeder:		Earl Elevage de la Source (Fr)
Trainer:		Patrick Biancone
Rider:		Gary Stevens
Last 1 BRIS Speed:		91

Sophomore filly rallied into contention along the rail in midstretch of her

U.S. bow, the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1), before

flattening out in the final furlong, and the 10-furlong distance of the Filly &

Mare Turf (G1) is probably too far for this confirmed miler. Gorella owns

excellent European form, recording a runner-up finish behind Starcraft (NZ)

(Soviet Star) in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1) and a pair of

third-place efforts to the retired Divine Proportions, and she's got the class

to challenge males here. Three-year-old fillies have held their own in the Mile

(G1) (see Six Perfections [Fr]), Ridgewood Pearl (GB) and Miesque), but second

or third is probably a more realistic scenario for Gorella than winning.

However, she remains one to consider for the multi-race wagers at long odds.

HOST (Chi)		Hussonet--Colonna Traiana, by Roy
Owner:		Eugene and Laura Melnyk
Breeder:		Haras de Pirque (Chi)
Trainer:		Todd Pletcher
Rider:		Rafael Bejarano
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		101, 101, 102

Returned from a near eight-month layoff to capture the Shadwell Turf Mile

(G1) and has won three of his last four attempts. Five-year-old had competed at

mostly lower levels before breaking through with a Grade 1 tally last time, and

the competition will be much tougher in the Mile (G1). Respect his current form

but wonder if Host can be effective in this spot.

LEROIDESANIMAUX (Brz)		Candy Stripes--Dissemble (GB), by Ahonoora
Owner:		TNT Stud and Stonewall Farm Stallion
Breeder:		Haras Bage Do Sul (Brz)
Trainer:		Bobby Frankel
Rider:		John Velazquez
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		110, 103, 106

Mile (G1) favorite has won his last eight starts, including three impressive

scores this year, and will show speed from the start under John Velazquez. Lure

is the only horse to win the Mile in wire-to-wire fashion (doing it twice), but

Leroidesanimaux may be good enough to emulate that star performer from the early

1990s. He will have to deal with the presence of the speedy Sand Springs (Dynamormer)

and a probable soft turf at Belmont, but the five-year-old couldn't bring any

better form into the race and it won't be a surprise to see him in the winner's

circle.

LIMEHOUSE		Grand Slam--Dixieland Blues, by Dixieland Band
Owner:		Dogwood Stable
Breeder:		Cheryl Curtin (Fl)
Trainer:		Todd Pletcher
Rider:		Jose Santos
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		194, 96, 96

Bred for the grass, Limehouse finished a close fifth when making his turf bow

in the Kelso Breeders' Cup H. (G2) last out and owns some upside for his second

grass appearance, but the four-year-old colt will have to do so against the

world's best milers. That looks like an unlikely proposition.

MAJORS CAST (Ire)		Victory Note--Ziffany, by Taufan
Owner:		Mrs. Susan Roy
Breeder:		Joe Fogarty (Ire)
Trainer:		Jeremy Noseda
Rider:		Frankie Dettori
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		n/a

Four-year-old colt brings improving form from Europe, recording a commendable

third-place finish to Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star) in his last outing, but he

will be tested for class at Belmont. Majors Cast is a very honest campaigner,

compiling a 9-3-2-2 mark this year, and will offer value in his U.S. bow, but

he's a big question mark at this level.

SAND SPRINGS		Dynaformer--Lovely Martha, by Storm Bird
Owner:		Sangster Family Stable
Breeder:		Willmott Stables (Ky)
Trainer:		Bill Mott
Rider:		Jerry Bailey
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		97, 99, 101

Classy five-year-old mare owns wins in the Diana S. (G1), Just a Game

Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Honey Fox H. (G3) this season, but she does her best

running on the front end and won't get an easy early advantage with

Leroidesanimaux (Brz) (Candy Stripes) in the field. It's difficult to envision

her sustaining her quickness throughout.

SINGLETARY		Sultry Song--Joiski's Star, by Star de Naskra
Owner:		Little Red Feather Racing
Breeder:		Disler Farms (Ky)
Trainer:		Donald Chatlos Jr.
Rider:		David Flores
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		94, 101, 99

Last year's Mile (G1) winner has maintained his form this season and exits a

sharp 1 1/2-length score in the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Five-year-old

horse was overlooked at 16-1 in 2004, and Singletary isn't getting a lot of

respect this year despite clearly being one of the top contenders. Very

tractable, the bay horse can be placed anywhere during the early stages of the

race and owns an explosive turn of foot, receiving BRIS Pace ratings of 106 (E2)

and 107 (Late Pace) at Lone Star Park en route to his half-length decision.

Singletary has proven that he can ship successfully and should be in the mix

again this year when the serious running begins on the far turn.

THREE VALLEYS		Diesis (GB)--Skiable (Ire), by Niniski
Owner:		Juddmonte Farms
Breeder:		Juddmonte Farms (Ky)
Trainer:		Bobby Frankel
Rider:		Patrick Valenzuela
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		94, 100, 98

Won his first two starts this year, including a game score in the Del Mar

Breeders' Cup H. (G2), but he didn't fare well when shipping outside of

California for the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) last out. Bobby Frankel has said that

Three Valleys doesn't like off turf, and the four-year-old won't have favorable

conditions in the Mile (G1).

VALIXIR (Ire)		Trempolino--Vadlamixa, by Linamix
Owner:		H.H. Aga Khan
Breeder:		Snc Lagardere Elevage (Ire)
Trainer:		Andre Fabre
Rider:		Christophe Soumillon
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		n/a

Perhaps Europe's best miler when reeling off consecutive Group 1 scores

earlier in the year, Valixir has tailed of in his last two starts and will need

to turn things around in his U.S. bow. The four-year-old colt is a threat to

bounce back with an improved showing for three-time Breeders' Cup race winner

Andre Fabre and remains a logical candidate to use in the wagering, but Valixir

will bring plenty of concerns with him from France.

WHIPPER		Miesque's Son-Myth to Reality, by Sadler's Wells
Owner:		Richard Strauss
Breeder:		Flaxman Holdings (Ky)
Trainer:		Robert Collet
Rider:		John Murtagh
Last 3 BRIS Speed:		n/a

Didn't fire when 10th in last year's Mile (G1) at 7-1, but Whipper has the

opportunity to make amends in 2005. Belmont features features much more wider,

sweeping turns that Lone Star, and Whipper has maintained his top-class form at

four, winning the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-G1) and finishing second in the

Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1, both against Europe's best milers. He exits a

respectable fourth behind Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star) in his last outing, and Whipper could prove to be a very dangerous European if he takes to Belmont's

turf course.