2016 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G1 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is on tap for this Friday, November 4 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, A world-class group of horses three years old and upward have been assembled to go one mile on Santa Anita's dirt track as they chase the winner's share of the $1 million purse.

A terrific field of nine will give it a go in the BC Dirt Mile - race 7 on Santa Anita's stacked Breeders' Cup Friday card. Post time is 3:05 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all nine combatants for this intriguing G1 stakes.

2016 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Entries at Santa Anita Park

Dortmund 6-5 - was last seen running second in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes on this track October 1 after a third behind California Chrome and Beholder in the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar August 20, a second, a half length behind California Chrome in the G2 San Diego Handicap July 23, eight months away, a win the G3 Native Diver Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths November 28 and another win in the minor Big Bear Stakes at Santa Anita last October. He finished an OK fourth in the 2015 Preakness Stakes and a respectable third in the Kentucky Derby as well. He won his first six career starts before that including the G1 Santa Anita Derby April 4, 2015, in gate-to-wire fashion in the G2 San Felipe Stakes March 7, the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 7, the G1 Los Alamitos Futurity, an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs November 29 and maiden score in his debut - at Santa Anita November 2, 2014. He now has eight wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 13 career starts - impressive. Martin Garcia is scheduled to ride the morning favorite from post 3 Friday.

Runhappy 3-1 - impressive Laura Wohlers trained colt and Champion 2015 male sprinter has nine career starts with seven wins - the only blemish was a ninth in his second career start - the G3 LeComte Stakes back in January and a fourth last time out in the G3 Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs October 1 - that result after 10 months away from the track. Before the layoff he reeled off six straight wins in 2015 - the Breeders' Cup Sprint, the G3 Ogden Phoenix Stakes October 2, the G1 King's Bishop Stakes by four lengths at Saratoga August 29 and two Allowance Optional Claiming scores in July. Runhappy to rediscover the form that saw him win an Eclipse Award and for his first win in nearly 11 months when he departs from post 7 with Gary Stevens in the irons of the second betting choice.

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Gun Runner 9-2 - Steve Asmussen trained colt was tops in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Standings last year. He had five career starts prior to the Run for the Roses with four wins - two straight wins ahead of the Derby - the G2 Louisiana Derby March 26 and the G2 Risen Star Stakes February 2- both results at Fair Grounds. He finished a respectable third in the Derby and recorded a win in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes after that at Churchill Downs June 16. He has three starts since - a decent second last time out in the G2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx September 24 followed an OK third in the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga August 27 and a career-worst outing - a fifth in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park July 31. Gun Runner now has five wins, a second and two third place finishes in 10 career starts and will be out to snap a three race losing streak. Florent Geroux has been scheduled to ride the morning line third choice from the outside post 9.

Tamarkuz 8-1 - Kiaran McLaughlin trainee has seven wins and four runner-up finishes in 19 career starts. He was terrific at the beginning of 2015 when he posted three straight wins at Meydan including a Group 3 race and the Group 2 Godolphin Mile and has been up and down in six North American starts. He enters on the heels of consecutive runner-up finishes - the G2 Kelso Handicap last time out at Belmont Park October 8 and the G1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga August 27. Before that was a ninth in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park June 11, a fourth in the 2015 Kelso Handicap October 3, a sixth in the 2015 Forego Stakes and a fourth in last year's edition of the G1 Met Handicap. Tamarkuz has shown form in the past and seems to be ramping up again ahead of this weekend. Mike Smith has been tabbed with getting Tamarkuz his first win in 20 months when they depart from gate 8.

Vyjack 10-1 - won his first four career starts including a pair of graded stakes scores at Aqueduct - the G2 Jerome Stakes and the G3 Gotham Stakes to start 2014 but has been up and down since. He also won the G2 Kelso Handicap September 27, 2014. He had seven starts last year with just a second and a third place finish to show for it - a third in the minor Forbidden Apple Stakes July 11 at Belmont Park followed an OK second in the G3 Poker Stakes in June. He has just four starts in 2016 and has looked good in all - a nice win last time out in the G2 City of Hope Mile here October 8 followed a second in the G2 Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar August 27, a second in the G2 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park in June and an Allowance score at Keeneland April 21. Vyjack has been competitive at times - eight wins, four seconds and three third place finishes in 27 career starts enters looking pretty good. He looks for his second straight graded stakes score from the rail Friday with Flavien Prat guiding the 10-1 shot.

Tom's Ready 12-1 - Dallas Stewart trained colt has just three wins in 13 career starts to go along with four runner-up finishes. Last time out was one of those wins - in the G3 Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs October 1 which followed an ugly ninth in the G1 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga August 27 and another win in the G2 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park June 11. He also had a disappointing twelfth in the Kentucky Derby, a second in the G2 Louisiana Derby March 26, a disappointing seventh in the G2 Risen Star Stakes February 20 and a second in the G3 LeComte Stakes in January. He has been a tad up and down in his career but chases his third graded stakes score in four starts Friday. Joel Rosario rides from gate 2.

Point Piper 20-1 - Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has five wins, five seconds and four third place finishes in 25 career starts. He won the minor Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar in August, 2014 and has been up and down since. Last time out was a fourth in the G2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park October 6 which followed a nice win in the G3 Longacres Mile in August, another fourth in the G2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita May 22, an OK third in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap April 16, a fifth in the G1 Santa Anita Derby in March and another third in the G3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds February 2. Point Piper has raced in seven straight graded stakes races ahead of this weekend with OK results and will chase his second win in three starts from gate 4. Mario Gutierrez has the mount

Accelerate 20-1 - impressive John Sadler trained colt has three wins, a second and a third place finish in six career starts. He arrives on the heels of a nice three race win streak - in the G2 Los Alamitos Derby last time out September 24 (his gs debut), the minor Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar August 26 and a maiden score by a terrific 8 3/4 lengths on that track July 28. The wins followed a third, a fourth and a second, which came behind the stellar Arrogate, respectively in MSW races to start his career. Accelerate looks to keep a nice roll going Friday from post 5. Tyler Baze rides.

Texas Chrome 20-1 - JR Caldwell trained colt has been impressive so far in his 13 race career - eight wins, a second and three third place finishes including wins in his first three career starts (two stakes). He enters on a nice three race win streak - The G3 Oklahoma Derby last time out at Remington Park September 25, the G3 Super Derby September 10 and the $100,000 minor Super Derby Prelude Stakes August 6. Before the streak was a good second in the G3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows July 1, a decent third in his graded stakes debut - the G3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs June 18, a win by an incredible 10 1/2 lengths in the minor Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star in May and a third in the minor Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April. He also won the minor Governor's Cup Stakes at Zia Park in October. Texas Chrome has been competitive so far and tries for his third straight graded stakes win from gate 6 Friday. CJ McMahon will be in the reins.

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2016 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Odds & Entries

Race 7 on Santa Anita's Friday card with a Post Time of 6:05 PM.