By Joe Bianca
With seven figures and a GI Breeders' Cup Mile spot up for grabs, a diverse field of 14 horses are set to do battle in Saturday's GI Shadwell Turf Mile S. at Keeneland, headed by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Mike Ryan's undefeated sophomore Valid Point (Scat Daddy), who takes on elders for the first time in the million-dollar, “Win and You're In” event.
A well-bet debut winner Feb. 10 at Gulfstream, the $140,000 Keeneland September graduate had to be sidelined for a few months, but came back running with a 3 1/2-length allowance score at Belmont, stopping the clock in a sizzling 1:33.09. Venturing into deeper waters Aug. 10 at Arlington, the bay put in a strong late rally to capture the GI Secretariat S. over Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien's re-opposing Van Beethoven (Scat Daddy).
A trio of Euro invaders spice things up, headlined by 2017 Shadwell hero Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Running a solid fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile after that conquest, he returns to American shores having won just once in 14 starts since. That victory came two starts back, when the 8-year-old conquered the G3 Weatherbys Supreme S. at Goodwood before running fourth last out in the G2 Clipper Logistics Solonaway S. Sept. 14 at Leopardstown. The other two pond jumpers are Godolphin's ascending Vintager (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), coming in off scores in the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil at Chantilly and Germany's G2 Oettingen-Rennen, and Haven't A Pot and Richard Foden's Robin of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}), who annexed the G2 Meilen Trophy at Dusseldorf two back before running seventh in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp Sept. 8.
Last year's winner, Next Shares (Archarcharch), returns to defend his crown as one of two West Coast shippers. Bought for $190,000 at KEENOV in 2017, the gelding was beaten a half-length in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. and GI Shoemaker Mile S. before breaking through with a 23-1 upset here. The dark bay looks to recapture that top form, as he's been sixth or worse in five of six starts since. Also shipping cross country is Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), who topped Next Shares in the aforementioned 2018 Kilroe and captured the GII Eddie Read S. July 21 at Del Mar before running fifth in the GII Del Mar Mile H. last out Aug. 18.
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