Well-Balanced Group Ready to Contest TVG Mile

Females have enjoyed great success in the Breeders’ Cup TVG Mile in the past, and a pair of standouts in Got Stormy and Uni could continue that trend this year. The event is scheduled for race nine on Saturday, November 2, at Santa Anita Park and offers a purse of $2,000,000.

The field from the rail out includes:

#1 Suedois – The 8-year-old gelding still seem to be running well, which he showed last time out at Keeneland when running third in the Shadwell Mile Stakes (G1). That was his first start in the United States since 2017, when he finished a solid fourth in this event. This French-bred’s experience in this country gives him a major advantage over his fellow European shippers who will be running here for the first time.

#2 Lucullan – A winner in three of his last four starts, Lucullan comes into this event as the hot horse. After an allowance victory at Belmont Park, the son of Hard Spun shipped to Saratoga to win the Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes, then finished fourth in the Woodbine Mile (G1). After that loss, he rebounded strongly to win the Knickerbocker Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

#3 Space Traveller – This rapidly-developing colt is ready to make his North American debut after winning the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Solonaway Stakes (G2) last time out at Leopardstown. Overall, he has won two of seven starts this season, including the Jersey Stakes (G3) at the Royal Ascot meet.

#4 Trais Fluors – Though he has only one win this season, he has hit the board in six of his seven starts. That string includes five straight in Group 2 and 3 events across Europe. This will be the British-bred’s first start away from his home continent.

#5 True Valour – This former European runner did not find immediate success when moving to the United States in the summer of 2018, but he has recently started to excel. After finishing third in an allowance race to start 2019, he picked up his first American victory in the local Thunder Road Stakes (G3). Following that win, he was sidelined eight months, but he came back to win the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2) last time out over this course.

#6 Got Stormy – She will try to give trainer Mark Casse his third Mile victory after he took home the 2015 version with a filly named Tepin and the 2017 running with the gelding World Approval. Got Stormy got hot at Saratoga this summer, winning the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes before running back on just seven days’ rest to beat the boys in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1). Last time out, she took on the boys once again in the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1), finishing a close second. She seems to have bounced out of that race well, having posted solid workouts at Woodbine and Churchill Downs.

#7 Bolo – When at his best, this horse can run with anyone, especially on the turf at Santa Anita Park. Three starts back, he won the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1) over this track, which earned him a shot at this contest. However, he has been a bit inconsistent during his career; his last two starts were off-the-board duds.

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#8 El Tormenta – A major 44/1 upset last time out in the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) earned this gelding a shot in this event. The Woodbine local has had a solid 2019 season, as he also won the Connaught Cup Stakes (G2) over that course in June. He two wins in three starts at this distance, with his only loss being a solid second in the Charley Barley Stakes.

#9 Circus Maximus – Trainer Aidan O’Brien brings this world-class colt over to the United States after he won the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp Stakes (G1) in France last time out. He was won three of six starts overall this year, one of which came at Royal Ascot in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1). Those two Group 1 victories bode very well for his chances in this spot – as long as he can handle the North American racing conditions.

#10 Without Parole – This could be a big challenge for him, considering he has not made a start in 168 days. The 4-year-old colt was last seen finishing 14th in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury, where nothing went right. He has plenty of back-class, though, with multiple stakes triumphs on his resume.

#11 Uni – After dominating her seasonal debut at Belmont Park in the Perfect Sting Stakes, Uni shipped to Saratoga for the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) to finish third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths in her only loss this season. However, she rebounded in a huge way last time out, shipping to Keeneland and storming home from the rear to win the First Lady Stakes (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths over a stellar field. Each of her last seven starts have come at a mile, showing that this is her best distance.

#12 Lord Glitters – The popular European runner shipped to North America last year and finished sixth in the Woodbine Mile (G1). After his Royal Ascot triumph in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) this season, he finished off the board in three straight Group 1 events. Those were some of the toughest fields on the European circuit, though, so this should serve as a class drop. The only question mark is how he will handle the North American racing conditions after his non-effort at Woodbine last year.

#13 Hey Gaman – This British-bred ships in from Europe after running sixth last time out in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) at Longchamp. This year, he has two wins from six starts, including the Prix du Palais-Royal (G3) at Longchamp in May. Like most European runners, he has faced stout competition all season long, which should have him prepared for this tough challenge. This will be his first start away from his home continent.

#14 Bowies Hero – This hard-knocking horse won the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) at Keeneland last time out and is running better than ever at the age of 5, having also won the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) at Del Mar three back. Overall, he has won eight of 21 starts while being a major force on the California turf circuit. This will be his second Breeders’ Cup appearance, having finished 11^th in the 2016 Juvenile Turf.

Also Eligible: #15 Caribou Club, #16 Next Shares

This race is one of the hardest handicapping challenges at this year’s Breeders’ Cup. Several horses are coming in from overseas, which is always challenging, and the major North American mile races on the turf this season have been wide-open. With no standout, this race could produce some longshots.