Breeders' Cup Turf 2021 Entries: Tarnawa leads European influx to Del Mar

The $4,000,000 Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf is the penultimate race on Breeders' Cup Saturday at Del Mar and one short-priced favorite has some question marks that might make this a much more open race than many expect...

Remember a year ago when Covid-19 meant travel was severely restricted? Those times (for now at least) seem like they are in the rear view mirror and when you look at the field for the Breeders’ Cup Turf that sense only seems to get heavily reinforced.

The influx of Europeans very much returns in 2021 but last year it was Tarnawa who reigned supreme in this race and will open as the 9-5 favorite to win it in back-to-back years. Two second-places in a row however might be pause for concern as he failed to win either the Irish Champion Stakes or the Prix De l’Arc de Triomphe. Neither horse who beat him though have made the trip stateside to meet again.

It will be Domestic Spending and Chad Brown who open as the second choice. This British horse is based in the US and had a four-race winning streak halted when Two Emmys bested him in the Mister D Stakes at Arlington Park back in August. Before that three straight Grade I wins (including a dead-heat in the Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard). A win contender for sure.

Three-year-old filly Teona won the Group I Prix Vermeille over in France and that alone has her rated as the third choice in the betting at 6-1. Seems short to me but one to watch for sure.

A few weeks back our turf-man J.N. tabbed Rockemperor for a big win in the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic up at Belmont and the five-year-old pulled through for the biggest win of his career. At 15-1 he’s a longshot to repeat the feat but one to take note of when handicapping the race.

Charlie Appleby as per usual sends over several horses for the Breeders’ Cup and in this race both Walton Street (8-1) and Yibir (12-1) are set to take to the starting gate.

Our racecard is at the top of the page with all the M/L odds is at the top of the page and check back later in the week for J.N. Campbell’s preview along with my thoughts for the race.