Enable won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the fourth consecutive Euro invader to win the 1 1/2 mile event. (Photo credit: Casey Phillips/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM /Breeders Cup)
It was looking as if we would see a rematch of the top two finishers from last year, but Enable came up short in the Arc and will be on the sidelined until next year while the runner up Magical will head to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
That leaves Bricks and Mortar as the early wagering favorite at US Racing for the Turf at odds of 9-4. The Chad Brown trainee is perfect in five starts this year, winning four Grade 1 races, but this will be his first test at 1 ½ miles.
There still will be a strong presence of Euro invaders for this year’s edition including Aiden O’Brien trained Anthony Van Dyck, who was third behind Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown on Sept. 14. The three-year-old is currently at odds of 5-2 at US Racing for the Turf.
The Charles Appleby trained Old Persian won the Northern Dancer (G1) at Woodbine in his North American debut. He won the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) back in March at Meydan. The colt is currently at 9-2 in early Breeders’ Cup Turf betting at US Racing.
| Turf by the Digits: (last nine years) Avg. Win payoff: $18.98 Avg. Exacta payoff: $83.07 Avg. Beyer Speed Figure: 106.7 Betting Favorites All time: 10 for 35 |
2018 Winner: Enable ($3.60) Winner final prep: won Arc de Triomphe (G1) Runner up: Magical Runner up final prep: won British Champ. F&M Stakes (G1) |
- Euro invaders making their last start across the pond have accounted for 21 of the 36 winners (there was one deadheat) of the Turf including 11 of the last 14.
- The betting favorite has won the Turf 10 times in the 35-year history of the race. Last year’s winner Enable was the shortest price in history, returning just $3.60 and topping a $2 All Euro exacta that paid $26.80. She was the first betting favorite to score since Conduit ($3.80) in 2009.
- Betting favorites have won two of the nine editions of the Turf at Santa Anita.
- Aiden O’Brien has won the Turf six times from 23 starters including three times in the last six years. Three of his winners have come with three-year-olds.
- The Arc has now produced a dozen Turf winners, with Enable the lone winner that actually won the Arc. Horses prepping at Belmont Park have fared very well, eight using the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) and four having run in the Man O’ War (G1).
- There have been nine three-year-olds that have won the Turf, the most recent being Found in 2015. Seven of the nine were Euro based. The exceptions were Manila in 1986 and Prized in 1989.
- Four fillies have won the Turf, and they too were all based overseas.
- The outside posts have fared well recently, the 11-post winning twice and the 12 post once in the past six years.
- Only four Turf winners have taken the field gate to wire, the most recent being Highland Reel ($9.60) at Santa Anita in 2016.
- It is possible to win the Turf without having won a Grade or Group 1 race as it has been accomplished eight times including Talismanic in 2017.
- In the nine runnings at Santa Anita, there is a tie between the home team and Euro invaders with five each (There was a deadheat in 2003).
