The US$500,000 Gr.1 Turf Classic Stakes is headlined by Beach Patrol. The Lemon Drop Kid colt trained by Chad Brown for the Al Shahania Stud America partnership, who will defend against against European raider Deauville (Galileo - Walklikeanegyptian by Danehill).

 

Deauville was second in the Turf Classic last spring, losing the advantage to Turf Classic defending champion Divisidero who will not be in the fray this year. Joel Rosario has the mount which he hopes to see first past the wire.

 

The Galileo colt is an Aidan O'Brien trained the 5 year old placed second last year. And with the defending champion out of the picture he has a great chance at the title. He has won two international graded events, the Belmont Derby-G1 in 2016 and Huxley Stakes-G3 in 2017. Last year he placed second and third places in various other races as well, such as the Queen Anne Stakes-G1, Tattersalls Gold Cup-G1, Meld Stakes-G3 and Arlington Million-G1. We see him giving winners a run for their money in these races but not succeeding in the end. He will be look to get his record straight by winning this one.

Gr.1 winner Beach Patrol shares his sire with other Gr.1 winner such as Finest City, Tamarkuz and Forever Unbridled. He comes in to the race on a fantastic high having won two group 1 races, Arlington Million-G1 and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic-G1. His trainer Chad Brown is very happy and impressed by his performance. The only hiccup is the absence from races since last year. His last race was the Breeders’ Cup Turf-G1 where he stood second behind Talismanic and we all know what a race that was. Beach Patrol fought till the end. This year Jockey Rosario should let him take a call as to when to break free.

 

Brown also will saddle Kurilov, who hopes to step up to international caliber runners. The 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky  won the 2017 Gran Premio Hipodromo Chile (G1)

 

Sarah and Ken Ramsey  owned Camelot Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Celestial Woods by Forestry) is another Chad Brown trainee. She won the Kentucky Cup Classic, which is run for the exact same distance which he covered in record time. However this is a different race and much experience race card would make it tough for him. Although his pedigree allows him access to multiple stakes winning experience he may be slightly out classed. He has got the potential to rank in the top three.  

 

We will also see a lightly raced five year old horse Synchrony (Tapit - Brownie Points by Forest Wildcat) is being trained by M. Stidham. He has had a fantastic start to this year by winning the Fair Grounds Handicap-G3 and Muniz Memorial Handicap-G2. Last year he only entered one race the Red Bank-G3 where he came second behind Irish Strait.

 

Bill Mott trained Yoshida, out of Heart's Cry won the James W. Murphy stakes and the Gr.3 Hill Prince last year. This will be his first start this year is known for his habit of breaking hearts, but who’s we will see.

 

All in all a very strong and international race card with a lot of potential. Let the best man/ horse win!

 

Deauville (T: A. O'Brien), Shining Copper (T: M. Maker), Kurilov (T: C. Brown), Camelot Kitten (T: C. Brown), Channel Maker    (T: W. Mott), Arklow (T: B. Cox), Synchrony (T: M. Stidham), Editore (T: P. Lobo), Yoshida (T: W. Mott), Beach Patrol (T: C. Brown)

 

By Apurva Chavan, Racing Writer, apurva.chavan@secretariatsworld.com