Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Contenders For 2022

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is an interesting race. It was not a part of the original Breeders’ Cup series of races, but was instead added in 2007 after decades of horses who, being eight to nine furlong dirt specialists, were forced out of their comfort zone on Breeders’ Cup day. Dirt milers either had to shorten up for the Sprint, stretch out for the Classic, or switch surfaces for the (turf) Mile. 

With so many important spring and summer races taking place on the dirt at 1 to 1 ⅛ miles, adding a championship race for this division made sense. The race immediately became just as popular as the other Breeders’ Cup races, and has produced a number of winners who have gone on to have successful stud careers. 

Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile: 

Laurel River 

This Baffert trainee is low on experience, but high on talent. The first four starts of his career took place over sprint distances. This resulted in a record of one win and one black-type place, a second in the Grade III Lazaro Barrera Stakes- better than average, for sure, but not Breeders’ Cup quality.

However, after finishing unplaced in two allowance sprints, Laurel River stretched out to a mile on the dirt. He has since won all three starts at the mile distance, including the Grade II Pat O’Brien Stakes over American Theorem and Speaker’s Corner. The son of Into Mischief has never attempted Grade I company, but he looks to be taking a big leap forward in his career.

Cody’s Wish

In his 2021 three-year-old season, Cody’s Wish broke his maiden in his fourth attempt and followed that victory with two allowance wins. In 2022, however, the son of Curlin out of the graded stakes winning Tapit mare Dance Card successfully stepped forward to stakes company. 

He began the year with a second place in the Grade III $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes. In May, he earned his first stakes win in the one mile Grade III Westchester Stakes, galloping to an easy five-length victory. He won the Hanshin Stakes at the same distance in July. His steepest challenge yet, the Grade I Forego Stakes at seven furlongs, was next, and it resulted in Cody’s Wish handing reigning sprint champion Jackie’s Warrior his only loss thus far in 2022, and his only loss ever at the venerated Saratoga track. 

Senor Buscador

Senor Buscador, a son of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, earned his way into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with a win in the Grade III Ack Ack Stakes, which is a Win and You’re In for the Dirt Mile. 

Like Laurel River, Senor Buscador was lightly raced as a two and three-year-old, but has come into his own at four. The Ack Ack is his only graded stakes victory, but he appears to just be hitting his stride as a racehorse. The one-month layoff between the Ack Ack and the Dirt Mile should provide enough time for Senor Buscador to freshen up while still remain in training condition.

Cyberknife 

Cyberknife won the Grade I Haskell Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race for the Classic, but he is also under consideration for the Dirt Mile. The son of Gun Runner is proven at the 1 ⅛ mile distance, having won the Haskell and the Grade I Arkansas Derby at that distance, but the 1 ¼ mile distance of the Classic seems to be a bit beyond his reach, in spite of his sire being Classic winner Gun Runner.

A shorter distance could be the key to this talented colt taking Breeders’ Cup glory, but it must be noted that his only stakes race at 1 1/16 miles, the Grade III Matt Winn Stakes, resulted in a mere nose victory over a mediocre field. A race over top-class mile specialists may be a bit too much for Cyberknife.