Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf 2023 Guide

Hideaki Fujiwara trains the Japanese hopeful in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday. The five-year-old was well beaten on his return to the track in August when finishing eleventh of 15 over a mile and two in the G2 Sapporo Kinen.

Needs to bounce back to his very best form, which saw him finish a neck ahead of Yibir in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March 2022.

Fabrice Chappet’s runner in the Turf on Saturday is Onesto. The four-year-old clocked the fastest final furlong in the G1 Arc last month when finishing third and just under two lengths behind Ace Impact.

That was a creditable effort, and he goes well on good ground. However, it remains to be seen how much that Longchamp run has taken out of the French-trained runner. Also finished seven lengths behind Auguste Rodin in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes in September.

Philip D’Amato-trained Gold Phoenix will be among the outsiders at Santa Anita on Saturday. The five-year-old was last seen in early October, finishing fifth of eight over a mile and two in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita. But, he had won on back-to-back starts before that effort.

However, he is winless on his previous three appearances at Santa Anita, and has a lot to find in this high-quality field.

One of the Aidan O’Brien runners in the field this weekend is Bolshoi Ballet, who will be the ride of John Velazquez. The four-year-old went four starts without a win on British soil before travelling to Saratoga to land the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes over a mile and four.

Could be worth mentioning, he finished ahead of Auguste Rodin when sixth of ten in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, and his prior experience in the States could be a fascinating angle.

Ryan Moore takes the ride on Auguste Rodin for Aidan O’Brien in California this weekend. The three-year-old has won six from nine starts, including huge Grade 1 prizes in the form of the Derby, Irish Derby, and Irish Champion Stakes over the Turf distance.

This appears to have been the target since his win at Leopardstown, and his chances are certainly aided by the fact that six of the previous eight winners of the race have been trained in Britain or Ireland. Leading chance if at his very best.

Dylan Browne McMonagle takes the ride on Aidan O’Brien-trained Broome on Saturday. The seven-year-old is the most experienced runner in the field, as the Turf will be his 39th start on Saturday.

He has been below the standard required at this level throughout the season in Britain, most recently finishing 31 lengths behind Trawlerman in the G2 Long Distance Cup. However, he is a strong performer overseas, most recently landing the G2 Dubai Gold Cup from Siskany in March.

Up To The Mark is likely the most realistic U.S. challenger to spring an upset for the team of Irad Ortiz and Todd Pletcher this weekend. The four-year-old was excellent over a mile at Keeneland last month, edging out Master of the Seas to win the G1 Turf Mile Stakes by a nose.

That was his first start in 119 days after winning the G1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont. This weekend will be his first effort over a mile and four, but he should be in the frame based on ratings.

Mostahdaf is the top-rated runner in the Turf field for Jim Crowley and John & Thady Gosden this weekend. The five-year-old was sensational when landing the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot in June, before re-appearing by landing the G1 Juddmonte International at York.

He steps back up to a mile and four for the first time since being beaten by seven lengths by Equinox at Meydan, and the long layoff would be a concern. Ascot’s Champion Stakes was his preferred option before being ruled out due to ground.

Chad Brown’s runner in the race on Saturday is Adhamo, who will be the ride of Flavien Prat. The five-year-old was well beaten on his return to action at Woodbine when third of eight over a mile and two in the G1 Canadian International Stakes.

He has won just four from 18 starts, and was last seen over this distance being beaten by six lengths by War Like Goddess in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Extremely unlikely that he will play a key role.

Frankie Dettori and King Of Steel will be reunited in the Turf on Saturday for trainer Roger Varian. The three-year-old finally landed his big Grade 1 success at Ascot last month when beating Via Sistina by three-quarters of a length in the G1 Champion Stakes.

He has form to find on Auguste Rodin after finishing behind his re-appearing rival in both the G1 Derby and G1 Irish Champion Stakes. It will be fascinating to see how much his exploits on his soft ground win on his previous start have taken out of him.

Balladeer will be the runner for George Papaprodromou in the Turf this weekend. The four-year-old could be a very lively outsider based on his previous run at Santa Anita, as he beat the talented Masteroffoxhounds by half a length in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship.

He is one of few with proven winning experience at the track, and further improvement could be likely on this step up in trip. But, it would take a massive effort for him to be involved in the win.

William Mott-trained War Like Goddess will be among the most popular winners of the Turf this weekend. The six-year-old mare will be making her 16th career starts, and he has won nine stakes races.

The latest of those saw her look better than ever at Belmont at the Big A, as she beat Soldier Rising by over four lengths to capture the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Could be an interesting player for a place finish.