Breeders’ Cup foreign influence can never be underestimated in an international extravaganza like this early November event at Santa Anita. Over the years, those from across the pond waved their flags proudly many times in the Breeders’ Cup and there are many that will be hoping to follow in those footsteps.
Applying logic to the concept of Breeders’ Cup foreign influence is not hard to do when dealing with turf races. The majority of events in Europe and in other parts of the world are staged on grass and the cream of the crop of those races have done well when they have come to America.
Six of the first eight editions of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf has been won by an import from Europe and three were trained by Aidan O’Brien. Jockeys Frankie Dettori, a European favorite and Ryan Moore, who rides for O’Brien have won six of the last eight Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf events.
Anybody that has played golf with his buddies with some bragging rights on the line wants to hit it a bomb off that first time. O’Brien and Moore collaborated to do that last year in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf when Hit It a Bomb, a son of War Front, came from 14th and dead last to win the race at 7-1. Those that followed the Breeders’ Cup foreign influence got paid in the superfecta as the exotic paid over $15,000 for a $2 wager.
Americans have held their own in the Juvenile Fillies Turf over the years but not in 2015. Last year Canadian invader Catch a Glimpse used her tactical speed to prevail and O’Brien’s well-fancied runner Alice Springs, settled for second. Alice Springs was troubled in the race. She had her head turned at the start and was bumped down the lane.
Breeders’ Cup foreign influence has been felt in the Filly and Mare Turf too. Foreign players have earned ten of the fifteen trifecta placings in this race in the last 5 years. Last year Belmort Park shipper Stephanie’s Kitten looped the field to win the Filly and Mare Turf but the second and third finishers had shipped from Ireland and France respectively. Californians have faltered in the Filly and Mare Turf. California-based runners are zero for 37 in this race all-time.
In the Breeders’ Cup Mile, it’s been an all or nothing proposition of late. In 2012 and 2013 Americans swept the trifecta in this race. In 2014 the Europeans did the same thing. Last year, Keeneland invader Tepin won the race and a Woodbine interloper was second.
The opulent mile and a half Breeders’ Cup Turf is handmade for Europeans. In the past 11 years Europeans own a twenty two to eleven edge over Americans in Turf trifecta placings. Seventeen straight Breeders’ Cup Turf races have had at least one foreign-bred runner in the trifecta. Last year was no different. The filly Found came in from Ascot to win the race at 6-1, and the favorite Golden Horn had to settle for second.
Breeders’ Cup foreign influence this year could be felt at many levels. Lancaster Bomber may represent O’Brien in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
O’Brien’s son Joseph has an ace up his sleeve in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. His student Intricately was extra game winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes last month and looms very dangerous. Aiden has several set for this race too. Rhododendron is a Group 1 winner that ran second to Intricately recently. Brave Anna was game winning a tight Group 1 at Newmarket last out and Roly Poly chased Brave Anna.
One serious runner in the Juvenile Fillies Turf also has plied her trade somewhere other than America is Spain Burg. This youngster won her debut, could not quicken in time winning her next race but is fresh from winning three races in a row. The last was a Group 2 at Newmarket under Dettori.
On the extreme other end of the spectrum, fans would be wise to stay away from Breeders’ Cup foreign influence when betting the sprint. Sheikh Albadou in 1991 was the only European shipper to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in history.
The attractiveness about buying into the Breeders’ Cup foreign influence is that some prices will emerge. Sometimes, the more respected of the Europeans have already fired their best shot and are on the down side of their cycle. That leaves the door open for other invaders. Know that these Europeans connections are sharp. They are not going to ship across the world on a whim.
