With the 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe looming Oct.7 at Longchamp, the entire racing world will be transfixed on Enable as the superstar filly will attempt yet another historic feat.
With the stage set for Enable to become the only three-time winner of perhaps the most prestigious turf race in the world, bettors must essentially choose one of two courses: swallow a short price and root for history, or gamble on longer odds and attempt to score big.
In what could be the understatement of the year: extremely. The champion filly has won 13 of 14 career starts, and you have to go back to April of 2017 to find her lone defeat.
Since then all she's done is reel off 12 consecutive victories, 10 of which were at the group or grade 1 level.
During that span she became the only horse in history to win the Arc and Breeders' Cup Turf in the same year. This is thought to be Enable's final career start and a queen's farewell is in order.
On the other hand, winning an Arc never comes easy. The race is littered with well-fancied favorites who came up short, and longshots have claimed the Arc more than a few times in recent memory.
Considering that Enable has won 4 of her last 5 starts by less than a length, it's not inconceivable to think she's in for another fight. Her primary competition could come in the form of Japan, a three year-old colt trained by Aidan O'Brien.
Japan won the Group 1 Juddmonte International last out and rides a three-race winning streak into the Arc. The rapidly-improving son of Galileo as won 5 of 8 career starts and seemingly has limitless upside. He will likely have to do his best running to date to beat Enable, but don't discredit that happening too quickly. O'Brien last won the Arc in 2016 with Found.
Sottsass is another improving three year-old colt, but will certainly face the class test against the likes of Japan and Enable. To date, the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee has collected 3 wins in 5 starts, with one of those coming at the Group 1 level. He seems the type that will run all day, but may not be able to match strides with the top two.
In this handicapper's judgment, I don't see it. Ghaiyyath brings solid form into the race having won 5 of his last 6 starts, so he wouldn't be a total surprise. After that, things get pretty dicey.
The long story short is that you can throw away a lot of money in this game chasing rainbows. The top-heavy quality of this year's Arc leaves less to uncover among the also-rans.
That said, trainer Andre Fabre knows how to wins this race. In fact, he's done it more than anyone else - a record 7 times.
His combo of Waldgeist and Musis Amica may not strike fear into those backing Enable, but the former runner has been within shouting distance of Enable previously and it's unwise to discount Fabre's knack for coming up large on the biggest stages.
When scanning the bottom half of those Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe odds, don't just accept my dismissal. Like all shocking upsets, it's hard to see these things coming.
If you feel like catching lightening in a bottle, have at it! Just be sure to check the best racebooks and do some price shopping.
Let's not sugarcoat anything here. -135 is a bad price on any horse whether or not they happen to be a complete superstar.
I'm rooting for Enable to get the job done and actually think she will. That being said, I'll take a total flier on Ghaiyyath because he seems like the only horse in the field approaching fair wagering value.
If I get lucky, I'll get 10/1 for my opinion. If I don't, I'll still have witnessed a heck of a horse race, and likely the crowning acheivement of Enable's illustrious career. To pad your bankroll, always check out the bonuses offered at the preferred racebooks.
Quick Facts:
See below the top racebooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
| # | Site | DEPOSIT BONUS AND CASH BACK | SITE LINK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | Click Here To Find Out What Offers Sports Interaction May Have | BET! | |
| #2 |  | Click Here To Find Out What Offers William Hill May Have | BET! |
Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Let's have a look at the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf betting picks and predictions.
Join The Conversation