William Buick, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin are attempting back-to-back victories in the Breeders’ Cup Mile with their entrant Modern Games leading the market after last year taking the win with Space Blues.
Run on the turf this year at Keeneland, 14 runners will fight it out for one of the most prestigious mile contests in the world.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 26th, 1.30 P.M. (GMT)
Modern Games is the 3.00 favourite with William Hill and was second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot a few weeks ago after a win in the Woodbine Mile. At Goodwood, he could only be bettered by Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes.
Frankie Dettori won this race in 1994 and 2018 and could complete a hat-trick on Kinross. The pair have combined for four straight wins, including Group 1s at Ascot and Longchamp. There are no concerns over the 5-year-old’s form, but it is almost two years since his last test over a mile with those recent wins either one or two furlongs shorter.
Nonetheless, he is the 5.00 second favourite for Ralph Beckett.
Third favourite at 6.50 is another challenger from Europe; Dreamloper. After forgettable runs at The Curragh and Goodwood over the summer, he took victory in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp in September.
Rested since then, he will be partnered by Kieran Shoemark for his first trip to the States.
The first local challenger to appear in the betting is Annapolis (8.00), trained by Todd Pletcher. Still three years old, he has never finished worse than second in his seven runs and his preparation for this race has been ideal; winning at Keeneland in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile.
That win was on firm ground, so it remains to be seen how he will do in good conditions.
Order Of Australia is looking to regain the title he won in this race at the same track in 2020 but at 26.00 is not expected to do so. Only one win over the summer – in the Group 2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes at The Curragh – won’t garner much support, but third in the Coolmore and Ryan Moore on board just might.
Flavien Prat rides the well-rested Domestic Spending (15.00) for Chad C. Brown. The 5-year-old will be running for the first time since August last year owing to injury, but six wins from eight before the long lay off means he could well be a joker in the pack.
Pogo and Malavath are also good each way chances.
