By Joe Bianca
Six Grade I winners. A multiple graded stakes winner never off the board on turf. Four other graded victors. Minus an appearance from Tepin (Bernstein), it's hard to imagine a more contentious and high-quality gathering for the GI Shadwell Turf Mile, as 11 horses, all with real credentials and a fighting chance, will line up for the “Win and You're In” showdown.
Tourist (Tiznow) gets the slight morning line nod off of a sharp tally in the GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 20 at Saratoga, in which he overcame an awkward step on the far turn to fly home in :22.59 for his first top-level score. The 5-year-old's last two Beyers–107 in the Fourstadave and 109 when second in the GI Shoemaker Mile–make him formidable.
A pair of GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile winners, 2015 victor Ring Weekend (Tapit) and 2016 hero What a View (Vronsky) are sure to take plenty of play. The former comes off a triumph in the GII Bernard Baruch H., while the latter will make his first start since Apr. 9, when he punctuated a four-race winning streak by showing a new dimension and closing to win Santa Anita's GIII Thunder Road S.
Ironicus (Distorted Humor) looks for his first Grade I success, a little under four months after running second with late traffic trouble to Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan S. June 11 at Belmont. The gray 5-year-old has won five of his last seven starts, has never been worse than third on turf and owns a trio of competitive 106 Beyers.
Grand Arch (Arch) is back to defend his Shadwell Mile crown. Last year's winner, who was also second to Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) in the 2014 renewal, hinted at a return to top form last out when third in Tourist's Fourstardave.
Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of last year's GI Woodbine Mile and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile on this course, stretched out to 10 furlongs to conquer the GI Arlington Million Aug. 13. Miss Temple City (Temple City), the lone female in the field, returns to a preferred course after three consecutive off-the-board finishes this summer. When last getting her hooves over the Lexington green, the 4-year-old upset the boys in the GI Maker's 46 Mile with a 108 Beyer Apr. 15.
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