The weather comes into play for leading trainer Chad Brown because of his 6-year-old grass star Flintshire, a headline act for the mile and a half BC Turf on Nov. 5, one of the main Breeders' Cup picks for the big weekend of racing. 

On Oct. 1, Juddmonte Farms’ Flintshire put in his final prep race for the World Championships in the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and it seemed a likely spot for his fourth straight win of the year. Unfortunately, it poured, man, it poured at Belmont Park and the two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up struggled on a soggy, yielding turf course and finished second to the front-running Ectot by five lengths as a 1-5 favorite in the mile and a half stakes.

After that race, jockey Javier Castellano was blunt in his assessment that the soggy conditions negated Flintshire’s chances of winning.
“It was really soft ground and heavy. I think (Flintshire) didn't like it much,” the three-time Eclipse Award-winning rider said.
Which explains why the prospect of a firm course has Brown believing a much different Flintshire will be on display when he returns to southern California to avenge a runner-up finish in the 2014 BC Turf at Santa Anita.

“The course was wet (for the Hirsch) and as it turns out it was in even worse condition than I thought it was. The way the course was so deep, it was nightmare conditions for a horse like him. I was pleased with his first work since that race (a 4-furlong breeze in 50.98 seconds on Belmont’s inner turf course on Oct. 15) so we’re going to draw a line through that race and give him a chance to redeem himself at Santa Anita.”
The make-up of the field hinges on what trainer Aidan O’Brien decides for the brilliant European filly Found.

The 4-year-old defeated 2015 Arc winner Golden Horn in last year’s BC Turf at Keeneland and captured the Arc earlier this month on Oct. 2 in a highly impressive effort. But after Found finished second by two lengths in the Group 1 British Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 16, O’Brien told racingpost.com plans for several members of his powerful stable are up in the air.
For Found, a start in the Breeders’ Cup would be her third in about a month and her 10th start in a year that has seen her post two wins and finish second six times.

“They are all fine and all seemed to come out of Champions Day good,” said O'Brien, whose horses ran 1-2-3 in the Arc, led by Found. “Don't rule any of them in or out of America, even Found. We'll decide in seven or 10 days' time.”

Among the European-based runners with their eyes on the BC Turf are Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race winners Mondialiste, who was fourth in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile after securing a Breeders’ Cup berth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, and Highland Reel, who earned a trip to the World Championships by winning the QIPCO King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and was most recently second to Found in the Arc.

Other possible starters from overseas include Erupt, winner of the Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 16, Dartmouth, a 4-year-old colt owned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was second in the Canadian International, So Mi Dar, a 3-year-old filly owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber whose lone loss in five starts was a third in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera Longines in her last start, and Group 3 winner Ulysses.

From the United States, Ectot’s defeat of Flintshire came in a “Win and You’re In Stakes” as well as in his third start in America. Even without someone humming Hammond’s tune to him, trainer Todd Pletcher expects the going to be different at Santa Anita but he’s unfazed by that.

“Today's race was a big step,” the seven-time Eclipse Award winner said after the Joe Hirsch. “We don't anticipate we'll get a lot of rain in California but at the same time, he's run well on firm ground. We're delighted with his effort today.”

Ashleyluvssugar nailed down a spot in the Breeders’ Cup by virtue of a victory in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” stakes. The 5-year-old gelding triumphed in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in his previous start for trainer Peter Eurton.

“This is his kind of track,” Eurton said after the John Henry. “You gotta think this horse is just full of heart. When he’s healthy like he is right now he’s great.”

Other U.S.-based possible starters include The Pizza Man, who was fourth in the Canadian International, multiple graded stakes winner Da Big Hoss, who has won his last four starts, $2 million earner Twilight Eclipse, who was sixth, third and eighth in the last editions of the BC Turf, and Texas Ryano and Metaboss, who were second and fourth, respectively, in the John Henry.

Brown said Money Multiplier, who was third in the Joe Hirsch, also didn’t care for the wet conditions and might be entered in the BC Turf.

If he is, there’s no doubt over who is the stronger half of Brown’s duo. In fact, it would come as no surprise if Brown sends out the favorite in both the BC Turf and the BC Filly and Mare Turf. When you have great horses in your stable along the lines of Flintshire and the great turf filly Lady Eli, even Brown marvels at his good fortune. 

“Flintshire is a rock solid 6-year-old and he’s an amazing racehorse. I’m blessed to have Flintshire on the male side and Lady Eli on the female side in my barn,” he said. “I feel like I have two of the all-time greats in my barn. I really do, and when their careers are over I think it will be proven that they are indeed among the all-time greats.” Breederscup.com