2017 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G1 Breeders' Cup Las Vegas Dirt Mile comes our way this Friday, November 3 from Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. Horses three years old and upward will take to Del Mar's dirt track and race one mile for the winner's share of the $1 million purse.

A strong field of 10 have been confirmed for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile - race 7 on Del Mar's impressive Friday schedule. Post time is 6:05 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 10 entries for this competitive G1 stakes.

2017 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Field & Odds at Del Mar

Mor Spirit 3-1

Bob Baffert trained Ringling has 13 career starts with six wins and five second place finishes. He enters on a nice three-race win streak - the G1 Met Mile last time out back on June 10 at Belmont Park, the G3 Steve Sexton Mile by 5 3/4 lengths at Lone Star May 7 and the minor Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park March 18. Before that was a quality second in the G2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita February 4 and a fourth in the G1 Malibu Stakes on that track December 26. He was tenth in last year's Kentucky Derby and before that had consecutive second place finishes - as favorite behind Exaggerator in the G1 Santa Anita Derby April 9 and in the G2 San Felipe Stakes on this track March 12. He had terrific wins in the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 6, 2016 and in the G1 Los Alamitos Futurity with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure December 19, 2015 as well. Mor Spirit had been a threat virtually every time out and is seriously trending upward ahead of this weekend. He is listed as the morning line favorite and will leave from gate 6.

Accelerate 7-2

Defending third-place finisher - John Sadler trained colt has four wins, three seconds and five third-place finishes in 13 career starts. He arrives off an OK third in the G1Pacific Classic Stakes here August 19 which followed a career- best outing - an 8 1/2 length gate-to-wire win over Arrogate among others in the San Diego Handicap on this track July 22, a third in the G3 Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita June 24, a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming May 5, a third in the G2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita February 4, a second in the competitive G2 San Pasqual Stakes January 1 and his respectable third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Before that was a nice three race win streak - in the G2 Los Alamitos Derby September 24 (his graded stakes debut), the minor Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar and a maiden score by a terrific 8 3/4 lengths at on this track. Accelerate has placed in 11 straight races against pretty good company ahead of this weekend and will be out to keep an respectable run going Friday from gate 8 as the morning line second choice.

Sharp Azteca 9-2

Consistent Jorge Navarro trained colt has seven wins, four seconds and a third-place finish in 14 career starts. He won the G3 Pat Day Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs last May and has been good in nine starts since - a good win last time out in the G2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park September 23 followed a 7 1/4 length win with a 109 BRIS Speed rating in the G3 Monmouth Cup July 30, a respectable second with a 106 Beyer Speed Rating in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap June 10, a third in the G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan March 25 and a nice win in the G2 Gulfstream Park Handicap February 11. Before that was a good second in the G1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita December 26, a win in the minor City of Laurel Stakes November 19 and a second in the minor Super Derby Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs August 6, 2016. Sharp Azteca has been looking good ahead of this weekend, has hit the board in eight straight races, has five wins, a second and a third-place finish in seven starts at a mile and hopes to keep an impressive roll Friday from post 3.

Practical Joke 6-1

Chad Brown trained colt has 10 career starts with five good wins, two seconds and two third-place finishes. He won the 2016 G1 Hopeful Stakes by a game neck on at Saratoga September 5 and posted victory in the 2016 G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park last October 8 and has been good since. Last time out was a nice win in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga August 26 which followed an OK third in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park July 30 and a good two lengths win in the G3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park July 8. Before that was a quality fifth in the Kentucky Derby, a respectable second in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 8, a decent second in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park March 4 and a decent third in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Practical Joke has been a factor in every race so far in his career, has looked sharp in works leading up to this weekend and could be a factor Friday from the outside gate 10.

Cupid 8-1

Bob Baffert trained colt has six wins and a runner-up finish in 12 career starts. He enters off a slightly disappointing fourth in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita September 3 which followed a nice two-race win streak - as favorite in the minor Harry F. Brubaker Stakes here August 23 and by 3 1/4 lengths in the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 27. Before that was eight months away, an uncharacteristic eighth in the G2 Pennsylvania Derby in September of last year and another two-race win streak - the G2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer last August 6 and the 2016 G2 Indiana Derby. He also had a gate-to-wire win in the G2 Rebel Stakes in March, 2016. Cupid has won four of eight graded stakes tries and will chase a strong bounce back Friday from post 7.

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Battle of Midway 10-1

Has placed in eight of nine career starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer - four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was an OK second in the G3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park September 24 which followed a nice eye-opening 6 1/4 length win over Gormley and Klimt in the listed Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar August 26, a disappointing sixth after fading in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park July 30 and a good 4 1/4 length win in the G3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita June 24. Before that was a respectable third at 40-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby on May 6, a second in the G1 Santa Anita Derby April 8 and another one of his wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming March 9. Battle of Midway has been a factor virtually every time out and hopes for a second graded stakes win Friday from post 9.

Awesome Slew 12-1

Mark Casse trained colt has 16 career starts with five nice wins, four seconds and three third place finishes. Last time out was a good win in the G3 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs September 30 after a respectable second in the G1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga August 26, a decent second in the G2 Belmont Sprint Championship at Belmont Park July 8 and a fourth in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park June 10. Before that was a second in the G2 Churchill Downs Stakes May 6 and a good win in the G3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland April 8. Other results include a second in the G2 Gulfstream Park Handicap February 11, a third in the minor Sunshine Millions Classic, another third in the G3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes and a dominating, gate-to-wire seven length win in the G3 Smarty Jones Stakes September 5, 2016. Awesome Slew hasn't been afraid of top company, has placed in eight of his last nine starts ahead of this weekend and will leave from post 5.

Iron Fist 12-1

Has placed in 17 of 22 career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen - eight wins, five seconds and four third place finishes. He enters having placed in his last seven starts overall - a win last time out in the listed Governor's Cup Stakes at Remington Park September 24 followed a second in the listed West Virginia Governor's Stakes August 5, a good win in the G3 Cornhusker Stakes at Prairie Meadows July 8 and another win in the minor Evangeline Mile June 3. Before that was a third in the G3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star May 7, another third in the G2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds April 1 and a nice win in the minor Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston in February. Iron Fist has been a factor in every race this year and will be after a first G1 score Friday from the rail.

Giant Expectations 12-1

Peter Eurton trained colt has placed in seven of 11 career starts - three wins, three seconds and a third-place finish. He made his stakes debut two starts back and posted the impressive upset win in the G2 Pat O'Brien Stakes here August 26 and followed that with a somewhat disappointing fifth in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship October 7. Before that was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming there July 19 and two straight wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park June 8 and a MSW on that track May 29. Giant Expectations has been decent lately and shoots for a second graded stakes start in three starts while bouncing back off a career-worst result from gate 2.

Gato Del Oro 30-1

Richard Baltas trained colt has two wins, a second and a third-place finish in his five career starts. He arrives off an OK third in the G3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park September 24 which followed a decent stakes debut - a runner-up finish behind Battle of Midway in the listed Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar August 20 and two straight wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming July 19 and a MSW at Santa Anita June 10. He was fifth in his debut May 8. Gato Del Oro has looked good in his last four starts overall and tries for his biggest win to date Saturday from gate 4.

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