Could defending Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner and champ this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) Found really take on the boys in this year’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on dirt?
According to her trainer Aiden O’Brien, it is a possibility.
O’Brien told The Racing Post, “We’ve decided to put Found in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and she will be entered for the race in the morning. Whether or not she runs in the Classic hasn’t been decided.
“She’s also in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, which she won last year, and we’ll wait a bit longer before deciding which race she will go for and what other horses we’ll be taking to Santa Anita.”
The brilliant mare has already had a busy October, winning the Arc on Oct. 2 and coming back on Oct. 15 and running second to Almanzor in the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot.
The mare took the same route last year before her Turf victory, running ninth in the Arc and then was second in the Champion Stakes.
She has made 20 career starts with six wins, but has not raced on dirt.
O’Brien has won the Turf five times, and has started 16 runners in the race. In the Classic, O’Brien has started 14 runners without a win.
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His best finishes have come with Giant’s Causeway, who ran second in 2000 and Henrythenavigator, the runner up over the Pro Ride at Santa Anita in 2008.
O’Brien has won 10 Breeders’ Cup races in total, eight on turf, one on Pro Ride, and his lone dirt winner was with Johannesburg, who won the Juvenile in 2001.
O’Brien will be represented in the Turf with Highland Reel, who ran a good second in the Arc and has made a trip to the U.S., winning the 2015 Secretariat (G1) at Arlington Park.
In early Classic wagering overseas Found is now 14-1 at Coral, making her fourth choice in the wagering. California Chrome is at even money, Arrogate at 5-2 and Frosted is the third choice at 8-1.
At Bet365.com Found is listed at 12-1 with California Chrome the favorite at 10-11.
Zenyatta is the lone female to win the Classic, taking the 2009 edition.
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