BC Turf J

Better Talk Now is no stranger to the Breeders’ Cup scene (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

The Graham Motion trainee has shone on this stage before, having taken the
2004 Turf and finished a close second in this 1 1/2-mile event last year. Better
Talk Now boasts four other Grade 1 tallies, including a win over English Channel
in the Manhattan H. (G1) in June, and has the knack for delivering the goods on
the big occasion. Although he hasn’t raced since his third-place finish in the
July 7 United Nations S. (G1) over this course, the classy closer runs very well
fresh. He could get a decent pace to set up his late kick, and we wouldn’t be
surprised if Better Talk Now lands his second Turf prize with Ramon Dominguez.

If the turf had stayed reasonably firm, Dylan Thomas would have rated our top
choice. The six-time Group 1 winner is coming off a game score in the Prix de
l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) for Aidan O’Brien, and he has finished in the top two
in all eight of his 2007 outings. Since the four-year-old bay has shown the
speed to win two runnings of the 1 1/4-mile Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1), we think
that he will cope with the tight course at Monmouth. Dylan Thomas won’t offer
any value, but he’s the most accomplished horse in the field. Johnny Murtagh has
the riding assignment.

Red Rocks will seek to defend his title in the Turf (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) would be a shock winner, but he could add
value to the exotics at 10-1 on the morning line. The four-year-old already
claims an upset win over English Channel in the Sword Dancer Invitational S.
(G1) at Saratoga, and last time out, he was a closing third in the Man o’ War S.
(G1) at a 1 3/8-mile trip that’s a furlong short of his best. Conditioned by
Robert Ribaudo, Grand Couturier will come charging late with Calvin Borel.
Defending champion RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) can’t be left out of the
equation, even though he hasn’t looked good when checking in a distant fourth in
his last two European Group 1 events. Both times, he was left a long way behind
by Dylan Thomas. The return to 1 1/2 miles over a tight course, with some give
in it, could help him to improve quite a bit. We’re not thrilled by his 7-2
morning-line odds, but the Brian Meehan pupil is eligible to make his presence
felt once again.

TRANSDUCTION GOLD (Formal Gold) enters in career-best form, with an
up-in-time rally in the Sycamore S. (G3) last time out at Keeneland. That race
isn’t even in the same galaxy as the Turf, though, and he’ll need to take
another quantum leap forward to be in the hunt. The sophomore SHAMDINAN (Fr) (Dr
Fong) had good form in Europe and made a terrific American debut when capturing
the Secretariat S. (G1). The chestnut hasn’t threatened in two subsequent
starts, however, and it’s difficult to tell whether he’s a victim of the dreaded
Euro-bounce. A well-beaten fifth in the Man o’ War, he didn’t show much when
filling that same spot in the nine-furlong Jamaica H. (G2), beaten 5 1/2 lengths
by Mile (G1) contender Nobiz Like Shobiz (Albert the Great). The Angel Penna Jr.
charge may show more while stretching out in distance, but he doesn’t strike us
as a serious threat versus top-class older rivals here.