Horse Wagering

2007 Breeders' Cup Mile

Horses based in the U.S. have won the last three runnings of the Breeders' Cup Mile: Miesque's Approval pulled off the upset last year, returning $50.60. Artie Schiller ($13.20) was the winner at Belmont Park in 2005. Singletary won in 2004, paying $35.00 at the first Breeders' Cup held at Lone Star in Texas.

However, horses based overseas have won nine of the 23 runnings of the Mile. The invasion is on the light side this year, just three Europeans likely to go on Saturday, with Excellent Art having the best chance of winning among the invaders from the other side of the pond.

One of the greatest training feats in Breeders' Cup history was performed by Michael Dickinson in the Mile. Da Hoss won the Mile in 1996 at Woodbine in Canada. After sitting out all of 1997 with a variety of minor injuries, the horse had one prep race at Colonial Downs and returned to win the Mile in 1998 at Churchill Downs, returning $25.20 for the victory.

Here is a look at the top contenders for this year's Mile:

Excellent Art: This colt is a top notch classy European invader for Aidan O'Brien. The three year old comes into the Mile off back to back runner up finishes in Group 1 company behind the highly regarded Ramonti. His last victory came in June at Ascot where he won the Group 1 St. James Palace Stakes. His overseas rankings earned in his last three starts stack up very good here against a U.S. group of runners that does not look as deep as in previous years.

After Market: Trained by John Shirreffs, this colt had a four race win streak snapped when finishing second going a mile in the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park. Is a mile too short for this colt? His four race win streak included races won from 1 1/6 miles to 1 3/8 miles.

Cosmonaut: This five year old headed for home with a clear lead in the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile and was caught late by upsetter Purim. The five year old is a consistent sort, earning Beyers between 100 and 104 in 11 of his last 12 starts. Those numbers are on the light side for winning this race in most years, but against the group he will facer on Saturday could put him in the mix here.

Nobiz Like Shobiz: Trainer Barclay Tagg was saying he was going to skip the Mile, but it appears he he having second thoughts and this colt seems likely to show up on Saturday. The three year old colt is a perfect 3 for 3 since getting switched to the turf. His win last out in the Grade 2 Jamaican came against a weak group, but the colt looks visually impressive. All three of his turf victories have come at nine furlongs but note this colt was in the mix turning for home and looks capable of handling the cut back to a mile.