Meet the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf contenders

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson takes a horse-by-horse look at pre-entries for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland, exploring the pros and cons of each contender.

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Broome

Pros: Finished a close second in this race last year, and trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Breeders’ Cup Turf six times.

Cons: Was beaten to fourth place in the Sword Dancer (G1) during the summer at Saratoga, his lone U.S. start of the season.

Bye Bye Melvin

Pros: Arguably ran the best race of his career when finishing second in the Oct. 8 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), his first try over 1 1/2 miles.

Cons: Hasn’t won a graded stakes since August 2020.

Channel Maker

Pros: Four-time Grade 1 winner is accomplished over 1 1/2 miles and ran third in this race two years ago.

Cons: He’s gone winless in five previous Breeders’ Cup appearances.

Gold Phoenix

Pros: Unleashed a big stretch rally to win the Del Mar H. (G2) during the summer and just missed when third by a neck in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) last time out.

Cons: He’s never run against Grade 1 competition.

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Highland Chief

Pros: Won the Man o’ War (G1) during the spring and recently bounced back to peak form with a victory in the Sycamore (G3) over the same course and distance as the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Cons: He’s yet to post a triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating.

Master Piece

Pros: Upset the Eddie Read (G2) during the summer and was beaten only a head by Gold Phoenix in the Del Mar H. (G2).

Cons: He’s 0-for-2 racing 1 1/2 miles and 0-for-3 facing Grade 1 competition in the United States.

Mise En Scene

Pros: Her longest race to date produced one of her best efforts as she came home second by a nose in the Sept. 14 John Musker Fillies S. racing 1 1/4 miles.

Cons: European raider hasn’t cracked the trifecta in two previous top-level prizes, including when 10th in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Mishriff

Pros: Globetrotting five-year-old counts the Juddmonte International (G1) and Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) among his signature victories on turf.

Cons: He’s 0-for-6 this year and has been struggling to recapture his best form.

Nations Pride

Pros: European three-year-old spent the summer in the U.S., finishing second in the Belmont Derby (G1) before winning the Saratoga Derby (G1) and Jockey Club Derby (G1).

Cons: He’s been running against his own age group and must tackle older rivals in the Breeders’ Cup.

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Nautilus

Pros: Brazilian runner enters off a career-best victory in the Grande Premio Brasil (G1) racing 1 1/2 miles.

Cons: He’s yet to compete in the U.S. and figures to find the competition tougher at Keeneland.

Rebel’s Romance

Pros: Two-time German Group 1 winner is unbeaten in four starts on turf, all racing 1 1/2 miles. Trainer Charlie Appleby boasts a phenomenal 6-for-11 record in the Breeders’ Cup.

Cons: The competition in Germany can be a bit easier than in other European racing nations.

Red Knight

Pros: Returned from a layoff during the summer and went 2-for-2 racing 1 1/2 miles in the Colonial Cup and Kentucky Turf Cup (G2).

Cons: Exits an eighth-place finish in Keeneland’s Sycamore (G3) and has never contested a Grade 1 race.

Stone Age

Pros: The second Aidan O’Brien trainee has been facing elite competition in Europe, finishing fifth in the Irish Champion (G1) and fifth in the Champion (G1).

Cons: He’s 0-for-5 against Grade/Group 1 competition and 0-for-2 in the U.S., finishing third in the Belmont Derby (G1) and fifth in the Saratoga Derby (G1).

Virginia Joy

Pros: Long-winded mare counts victories in the Flower Bowl (G2), Glens Falls (G2), and The Very One (G3) on her 2022 resume.

Cons: She set an extremely slow pace when upsetting a troubled War Like Goddess in the Flower Bowl.

War Like Goddess

Pros: Seven-time graded stakes winner recently trounced a quality field of male rivals in the 1 1/2-mile Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).

Cons: She finished third in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and is facing her toughest test yet tackling European raiders in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.