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$600,000 Grade 1 Turf Invitational Draws Top Breeders' Cup Hopefuls
The Grade 1 $600,000 Turf Classic Invitational September 27 at Belmont may very well be the most competitive race on a card that features five grade 1 races and a grade 2.
Although only seven runners are signed on to contest the mile and a half race on the turf, handicappers might conclude that if the Breeders’ Cup Turf is to be won by an American runner this year, it will be a horse prepping in the Turf Classic Invitational. The conversation starts with the Graham Motion-trained Main Sequence (2/1)) who has captured back to back grade 1 victories since coming to the United States from England after nearly a nine month break from racing. The five year-old gelded son of Aldebaran won the United Nations at Monmouth by a neck and the Sword Dancer at Saratoga by a head overcoming slow starts in both races to beat two of his main rivals in the Turf Classic.
Big Blue Kitten looks primed
Big Blue Kitten (5/2) looks to be the main danger in the Turf Classic despite running second as the odds-on chalk in his last race – the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at Monmouth. Still Big Blue Kitten earned an excellent 103 Beyer Speed Figure in that race and looks primed for trainer Chad Brown. Big Blue Kitten was beaten just a nose by Little Mike in the 2013 Turf Classic and has shown an affinity for the Belmont grass winning two of three career starts.
Twilight and Imagining get another crack
Twilight Eclipse (4/1) and Imagining (3/1) will once again find themselves close to the early pace as they try to turn the tables on Main Sequence. Twilight Eclipse has lost his last two starts to Main Sequence by a combined margin of less than one length.
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