O'Brien Takes Aim at Breeders' Cup Record Book

When Ireland's Aidan O'Brien takes aim at some Breeders' Cup history Oct. 31-Nov. 1, some of his competition will come from sons Joseph and Donnacha. The elder O'Brien, who will begin that pursuit with five entries in the three turf races on Breeders' Cup Friday, said if either of his sons prevail in one of those races he would hope they buy him dinner, but then added, "I would hope they would buy me dinner either way." In a feat that would fit the international vision of Breeders' Cup, O'Brien this weekend will aim for the event's record for trainer wins. He enters this season's World Championships with 20 career victories, tied with the late D. Wayne Lukas for most for the event that launched in 1984. Yes the generational competition serves as a reminder that Aidan O'Brien, 56, has been sending out top Breeders' Cup horses for some time. That success, tied to owner John Magnier's Coolmore operation, launched in memorable fashion when O'Brien claimed his first Breeders' Cup victory, which, surprisingly enough arrived on dirt: the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) captured by Johannesburg, who would be named champion 2-year-old male. Last year he added his most recent Breeders' Cup victories, both coming on "Future Stars Friday" as Henri Matisse (IRE) captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and Lake Victoria (IRE) overwhelmed rivals in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fillies (G1T). Similar to last year O'Brien will have some formidable runners that could move him to the top of the list on Friday. He'll start the day with three horses entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), including recent Cheveley Park Stakes (G1)-winning filly True Love (IRE), group 3-winning gelding Mission Central (IRE), and group 1-placed colt Brussels (GB). True Love defeated males in this year's Railway Stakes (G2) and is the 7-2 favorite in Friday's 5-furlong turf test. In fact, O'Brien has the morning-line favorite in all three of Friday's turf races. As O'Brien aims to repeat in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, he'll send out two-time group 1 winner Precise (IRE). Off back-to-back victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and Fillies Mile (G1), the daughter of Starspangledbanner (AUS) is the 6-5 morning-line favorite despite drawing the outside post in the expected field of 13. "We think she's an incredible filly and we're thrilled that the lads allowed her to come," O'Brien said of the Coolmore-affiliated owners of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg. "Obviously the Fillies Mile is a great race and to win that the way that she did (by 3 1/4 lengths), was very impressive," O'Brien said. "It's a tough draw but (Jockey) Christophe (Soumillon) will be thinking about that. I'm very happy with her." O'Brien will roll out another impressive youngster in the Juvenile Turf in Gstaad (GB) who, like Precise, drew the outside post in the expected field of 14. A son of Starspangledbanner, group 2 winner Gstaad enters off three straight runner-up finishes in group 1 races. Gstaad has turned heads this week at Del Mar. Trainer Ben Colebrook noted that his stakes winner Street Beast is preparing well for the Juvenile Turf but he's been impressed by Gstaad. "He has tactical speed and I love his post (2)," Colebrook said of Street Beast. "His numbers are good but Aidan's (O'Brien) horse Gstaad is a monster." O'Brien's expected three Breeders' Cup Saturday runners are led by filly Minnie Hauk (IRE) taking on males in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). The 3-year-old Frankel (GB) filly faces a quick turnaround after a runner-up finish in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) Oct. 5 at ParisLongchamp. Minnie Hauk opened a clear advantage in the stretch of the Arc but could not hold off Daryz (FR), who prevailed by a head. O'Brien said facing males is a good option for Minnie Hauk, who likes a quicker early pace. "We felt like when she ran against the older horses in a higher-tempo race that she would upgrade and it's just what she did in the Arc," O'Brien said. "She really just got nabbed in the Arc." Minnie Hauk is the 8-5 in the Turf, where she'll face two-time Turf winner Rebel's Romance (IRE), who will spot her 7 pounds. It should be noted that both two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert and five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown enter the weekend with 19 Breeders' Cup wins and also will have an opportunity to secure the event's top spot in training wins. Baffert has 13 runners entered including Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) 5-2 favorite Explora; Brant , the 5-2 second choice in the Juvenile; Nysos, the 8-5 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1); and Seismic Beauty, the 9-5 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Brown has seven entries, including returning Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone, who is 7-2 on the revised morning line for that event, and Program Trading (GB) in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). Baffert enters the weekend as the leading Breeders' Cup trainer by purse earnings at more than $42.3 million while O'Brien ranks second with more than $35.3 million.