It's a wonder trainer Aidan O'Brien isn't singing one-hit wonder Albert Hammond's "It Never Rains in Southern California" these days.
As much as Luxembourg's recent form does not paint the 5-year-old son of Camelot as a threat in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), O'Brien is hopeful the hot California sun will create the kind of conditions that will bring out the best in the European shipper in the Nov. 2 event at Del Mar.
"He's running with the first string now. Obviously, he was second or third string before," said O'Brien, a winner of 18 Breeders' Cup stakes. "He's getting a good shot here. He handles firm turf and likes a mile and a half. So hopefully, he'll run a very good race."
A multiple group 1 winner who went off at 9-2 odds when seventh in the 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), Luxembourg is listed at 12-1 odds in the 1 1/2-mile Turf.
Owned by Westerberg and the Coolmore partners of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Luxembourg was a group 1 winner two starts back, taking the May 31 Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom Downs.
But since then, he was sixth in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1).
Second a year ago in the Irish Champion, he has started 18 times with seven wins and earnings of $3.2 million.
Luxembourg was bred by B. V. Sangster out of the Danehill Dancer mare Attire and was bought for $204,475 from the Castlebridge Consignment at the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Most-Represented Breeders' Cup Sires
Ten stallions will be represented by four or more starters in the Breeders' Cup, including five that could see their first winner or winners in a World Championships.
Taylor Made Stallions' Not This Time has the greatest representation this year with six starters that include three-time grade 2 winner Next in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), 7-5 favorite Cogburn and longshot Arzak in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), Dream On in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), Shareholder in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), and Abientot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). His Tenacious Leader was entered in the Juvenile Turf, but has since scratched.
Next with five starters each are Spendthrift Farm's multiple leading sire Into Mischief , Ashford Stud's Justify , and Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's Good Magic .
Into Mischief is once again leading the general sires standings with more than $29.8 million in progeny earnings. He became the first North American sire to have his progeny amass more than $20 million in earnings in a calendar year in 2020 and is well positioned to break the $30 million earnings threshold this year.
Justify and Good Magic are currently ranked first and second, respectively, on the leading third-crop sires list and are co-leaders with three grade 1 winners apiece.
Six stallions have four entrants each: Hill 'n' Dale's marquee sire Curlin , Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner , Gainesway's Tapit , Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas in Ireland, Ashford's Practical Joke , and Calumet Farm's late sire English Channel.
Curlin is the leading sire by number of Breeders' Cup winners to date with eight and close behind are Into Mischief and Tapit, who have sired seven winners each.
The stallions looking for their first winner are Not This Time, Good Magic, English Channel, Practical Joke, and Mehmas.
Sierra Leone Has a 'Purpose' in Classic
Owners Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith are not the only ones who could benefit financially from a top performance from Sierra Leone in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic.
So, too, could the Backside Learning Center thanks to Brook Smith's generosity via his participation in the Purses For a Purpose program, whereby the BLC receives donations based on either a percentage of the purse earned by a horse or a flat dollar amount. Smith donates 10% of all his purses to the BLC.
A nonprofit, the BLC provides support and resources for the community of racetrack workers and their families at Churchill Downs and surrounding tracks and training facilities. The BLC offers access to education and programs for youth and adults that support health and well-being and supports them through case management, human services, and other systems emphasizing culture and community engagement.
Smith has been instrumental in developing and promoting the Purses For a Purpose program. A second-place finish from Sierra Leone in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) contributed to the BLC, as did other starts.
Smith calls the BLC "vital for the community" and says that the Purses For a Purpose program "has developed a lot of momentum. I mean, there are checks coming in every month. So if you're an owner, to me it's a no brainer to support the community, and Sierra Leone, if he's across the line first (Saturday), it would be a really nice check to hand over."
Sierra Leone has not been victorious since April when he won the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, though he has not been out of the money in four starts since. Since his runner-up finish in the May 4 Derby at Churchill Downs, where he bumped with third-place Forever Young down the stretch, the Chad Brown-trained 3-year-old son of Gun Runner also finished third in the Belmont Stakes (G1), second in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), and third in the Travers Stakes (G1). The latter three races were at Saratoga Race Course.
The Derby was a memorable experience for Smith, a Louisville, Ky., resident.
"Being a part of the greatest two minutes in sports—unbelievable," he said. "To this day, just talking to you about it gives me goosebumps."
Now his horse pursues the Classic over the same 1 1/4-mile trip, facing some familiar rivals in Forever Young and Fierceness, who beat Sierra Leone in the Jim Dandy and Travers. In addition, he faces European star 3-year-old City of Troy, a son of Justify and a second representative in the race for Magnier, Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Brook Smith conversed with some of City of Troy owners Thursday morning after the O'Brien-trained colt returned to the quarantine barn after training.
Both horses are coveted stallion prospects whose value would increase further with Breeders' Cup success.
"It's interesting to bring him here and give him a crack," Brook Smith said of City of Troy. "The classic has so many storylines."
Watch City of Troy, Next, Fierceness and many others train Oct 31 at Del Mar
