Enable by Joaquin Jaime

One of the biggest headliners coming to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup this year will be the two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Enable.  She will only be the eighth Arc winner in history to attempt to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same year.  As it stands right now, Arc winners are 0-for-7 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same season.  An Arc winner running in the Breeders’ Cup is something that has been and always will be a major storyline.  We are talking about a horse that is coming off a win in one of the most prestigious races in the world. 

When I was looking over the past performances of the seven runners before Enable, there is one observation I found drastically different than the other horses that have failed to accomplish what Enable is trying to do on November 3^rd.  The Breeders’ Cup Turf is only going to be Enable’s third race of 2018.  It should be noted the main reason she missed so much time earlier this year was because she did suffer a knee injury.  But now she is back, peaking into her best form and is coming off her second Arc win.  Unlike the horses that attempted this double in the same season prior to Enable, it has not been a taxing season at all for the John Gosden-trained filly. 

Let’s specifically look at what number start the Breeders’ Cup Turf was that season for previous Arc winners trying to claim this impressive double.

Horse                         Breeders’ Cup Turf

Enable                       3^rd start in 2018

Found                         10^th start in 2016

Golden Horn              8^th start in 2015

Dylan Thomas           9^th start in 2007

Suboctica                    6th start in 1992

Saumarez                   8th start in 1990

Trempolino                8th start in 1987

Dancing Brave           8th start in 1986

These horses all had a season where the Breeders’ Cup Turf was between their sixth and tenth race of the year.  Were long taxing racing seasons and international travel too much for these horses?  It very well could be. Of course, there could many other factors as well.  Racing luck, type of ground and competition to name a few.  However, it’s not that big of a sample size and Trempolino and Golden Horn are a combined length away from making the statistic 2-for-7.  It is worth pointing out too that when Found won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2015 (2^nd in the Arc prior), that was her eighth start of the year and third race in 27 days.  So, we have seen horses with demanding campaigns win the Breeders’ Cup Turf before. 

When the topic of discussion comes up about Enable, the biggest difference this year for me is that she has had a very light season compared to other Arc winners trying to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same year.  Okay, it’s not quite like the Apollo curse coming to an end in the Kentucky Derby, but if the Arc/Breeders’ Cup Turf double does not happen this year, it won’t be because Enable came to the U.S. exhausted from a long 2018 campaign.

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