Titans Clash in Coolmore Turf Mile
By: Mary Jo Moncheski, Thorofan Handicapper
Saturday’s $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) drew a field of 12 accomplished 3-year-olds and up set to go one mile over the Keeneland turf. As part of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the prestigious contest has attracted a field worthy of the spotlight.
Carded as Race 10 on a stacked program, the Coolmore Turf Mile goes off at 5:48 p.m. ET. Let’s take a closer look at the contenders.
What a tough race! I really struggled on this one. There are several international horses entered in this race. Trainer Aiden O’Brien brings Irish-bred 4. Diego Velazquez with Frankie Detorri aboard. This horse could be hard to beat.
Juddmonte-owned 12. Jonquil with Trainer Andrew Balding also makes his Keeneland debut with Jockey Dylan Davis.
Tyler Gaffalione rides a French-bred 5. Woodshauna with Trainer Francis-Henri Grafford and Owner Resolute Racing.
Originally, I put Diego Velazquez on top, but I believe he and 8. Program Trading, conditioned by Chad Brown, will be heavy favorites. So let’s go for a superfecta with a little bit of price!
My picks are 10-3-1-4. There are a few horses I really wanted to use; however, I just don’t feel they have the speed for this Grade 1 and/or are a little outmatched. I would still add them to your Pick 3, 4, or 5 if you need to spread: 12-6-7.
Top Pair: 10. Brilliant Berti and 3. Howard Wolowitz
I really think Brilliant Berti has a chance to win. While he is moving up in class, his speed has remained consistent throughout his career, including running a huge race on September 6 at Kentucky Downs where he came from behind to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Mint Million Invitational, on a good turf no less.
With Brian Hernandez out for injury, Jose Ortiz picks up the mount. Ortiz has become Cherie DeVaux’s go-to jockey with a 24% win rate out of 187 starts this year. The biggest sell for me on Brilliant Berti is that he’s the only horse who has won at Keeneland at the same distance and surface. There’s quite a bit of speed in this race, and Brillian Berti is a brilliant closer (and early pace setter).
3. Howard Wolowitz is loaded with four bullet workouts, has an amazing increased speed with a 102 Beyer speed figure, fits my “rested criteria”, and nearly won his first race back from a 6-month layoff. He only lost by a half-length to Bear River in the Kentucky Downs Grade 2 Turf Sprint.
The only reason Howard Wolowitz isn’t my top pick is that he is unraced at a mile on turf. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo and Trainer Jose D’Angelo have a 20% win rate for J/T combo out of 138 starts this year, so that is certainly promising. Can he handle the two turns while bumping back up in class? We shall see.
Bottom Pair: 1. Donegal Momentum and 4. Diego Velazquez
1. Donegal Momentum is not one to leave out. Let’s toss the July 5 race at Saratoga and look at his five starts at this distance. He has won three and placed once. My concern is Dongal Momentum’s post position. He seems not to find enough speed to close when he draws the rail at this distance. He also fits my “rested criteria,” so he has that going for him. He’s also going back up in class. I think if Jockey Johnny Velazquez gets him sitting right off the pacesetters, that could be what he needs to cross the wire in front. If not, then I see him finishing third.
I am hesitant to put 4. Diego Velazquez on top, mostly due to his never having raced at a US track. Aiden O’Brien’s horses usually fare well at Keeneland; however, our turns are tighter than European tracks. That is always a hesitation for me. We’ll see how he does and could very well prove me wrong. After all, he seems to love running a mile on turf, no matter the track. I know he will be a heavy favorite, so this is a bet against for me. Don’t leave him out of your exotics, though.
Bets:
$10 win: 10. Brilliant Berti
$2 exacta box: 10-3 ($4 total)
.50 trifecta box: 10-3-1 ($3 total)
.10 superfecta box: 10-3-1-4 ($2.40)
Best Longshot: 6. Mercante with jockey JD Ramos
Horses to include in a P3, P4, P5: 1-3-4-6-7-10-12
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