Oceanic, Front Run the Fed draw into 2022 Breeders' Cup races

Scratches in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and Mile (G1) have allowed two also-eligibles to take their chances as big longshots at Keeneland.

#16 Oceanic (30-1), initially the second on the also-eligible list for the Turf Sprint, is now in following the withdrawals of both #12 Bran (by order of the veterinarians) and #15 Dancing Buck (the first also-eligible who didn’t ship).

Trained by Jordan Blair, Oceanic comes off a strong-closing second to defending Turf Sprint champion and hot favorite #8 Golden Pal in the course-and-distance Woodford (G2) on Oct. 8. Julien Leparoux was aboard that day as well as for his 3 3/4-length stakes breakthrough in the Da Hoss S. two back at Colonial Downs.

This is obviously a vastly deeper race than the Woodford. Oceanic is in tough in a rematch with Golden Pal, plus two other accomplished contenders from the Wesley Ward barn, #4 Campanelle and #7 Arrest Me Red, as well as several leading international players led by #6 Highfield Princess. His best talking point is as an improving closer with a local mark of 3-1-1-1, but it would be a career high to make the superfecta.

In the Mile, the scratch of #8 King Cause has opened the door for #15 Front Run the Fed to get in as the first also-eligible. The Caio Caramori trainee stretches out from a fourth in the Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs, where he recorded a 103 Brisnet Speed rating. Although Front Run the Fed had won a mile stakes at Saratoga at three when originally trained by Chad Brown, he’s subsequently found it tougher at this trip. Judging by his fifth in the Aug. 13 Fourstardave H. (G1) and his sixth in last fall’s Turf Mile (G1) here, Front Run the Fed looks up against it versus a world-class field in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.