Firestone's Breeders' Cup Picks

[Cruisey]

With the Breeder's Cup less than three weeks away, stables and horses alike are gearing up in ways they have never before. The Eighth Pole caught up with Firestone Racing's head trainer, Carter Leeson, who finally revealed the official list of runners being sent by Firestone. Check them out:

BREEDER'S CUP JUVENILE FILLIES

Hellfire
[Catching Fire x Blood Of The Angel]

This two year old filly could potentially be classified as one of the top juvenile filly milers this season. Racing a total of 22 times thus far, the daughter of Catching Fire has racked up 5 HoTY wins in the 11 HoTY starts that she ran in. Her current race record leading up to the Breeders' Cup is 22-8-7-6, which sets her up nicely to run her best. Hellfire was said to be an 'iffy entry', since Carter Leeson was debating whether to send her or her dirt counterpart, Fire Goddess. "I figured since Fancy is more of a marathon runner, the 10F race wouldn't give her much time to really show the crowd what she does best. Flame is extremely familiar with this distance and we feel that she would be better suited to the race than Fancy." While Hellfire is not scheduled to race between now and the BC, you can catch her practicing on the track as Carter whips her butt into shape.

BREEDER'S CUP JUVENILE

Barely Smokin'
[Barely A Moment x Dash For Cash]

The Y16 Triple Crown hopeful is gearing up for a great run in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. This colt is hot off of a win in the Louisiana Legacy, which ran December Week 1, and he will have the next two weeks to gallop and prepare. While the grade four colt doesn't have the best race record, Harley proved to everyone that he can rally when it counts. He has racked up four HoTY wins this season and is in good shape to get more when the time comes. He's beaten the Juvenile field before, and Carter is sure he can do it again. "He's been extremely consistent this season and this has set him up really nicely for both the BC and next year's Triple Crown. I'm excited to see how he runs."

BREEDER'S CUP JUVENILE SPRINT

Innerstellar
[DT Jupiter x Beltane]

One can say that the dangerous son of DT Jupiter is at the top of the juvenile dirt sprinter ranks, taking the HoTY series by literal storm. Innerstellar is one feisty, hot tempered, and aggressive colt that pours his heart out onto the track. With 8 wins so far, 3/4 of them have been in high-ranked juvenile HoTY races that just set him up extremely well for the sprint. Tyler is scheduled to run the week before the Breeder's Cup in the Arizona Breeders' Futurity, which will determine his running style for the BC. "I don't think he will burn himself out in the [Arizona] Futurity. Tyler is very tactical about his pace and his stride, even being so young he utilizes it to his advantage. Devon is really good about keeping harmony with him, so I have no doubts that racing the week before will tire him out for the BC."

BREEDER'S CUP JUVENILE TURF

Like A Lady
[Sweeto Cheeto x Ebony Gold Lady]

Like A Lady is not unknown to the track, and she is certainly not unknown when it comes to running against the boys. She recently proved her spirit and fight in the Turf Challenge over at Green Horse Fields, where she ran three legs against the best crop of juvenile turf runners. Her disappointing 4th place in the first leg set her up for a fight in the 2nd, where she reigned victorious in the AJC Sires Produce Stakes, before falling 3rd in the last leg. Lady has 6 HoTY points to her name heading into the Breeder's Cup and is scheduled to run December Week 3 in the End Of Year Juvenile Turf. "Again, I'm not too worried about Lady running the week before. I know some barns hate it, but for a horse that has enough energy and fight as her it should be no problem. I think she stands a good shot at the BC."

BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Scintilla
[Foolish Lad x The True Fallen For]

While this black filly had a bad case of 3rd-itis, it didn't stop her from trying her heart out. 3rd place after 3rd place, Tilly kept trucking along until her wins came easy for her. Her victories came within the 11-12F range; Carter knows the BC fillies turf doesn't run that long so he is a bit nervous about how she will fare, but he knows for certain where she will be heading next year. This daughter of Foolish Lad has 4 HoTY wins locked down in her name with various other 2nd and 3rd places, too. "I know this horse has the guts and the heart to win, it's just unfortunate we didn't find enough juvenile HoTY races that were marathon distances for her to run in. The Breeder's Cup is a long shot, but it's worth a try for her."

BREEDER'S CUP CLASSIC

Speak Easy
[Created x Created]

Firestone's first ever horse has made the big leagues and has done it with style. The three year old colt has been absolutely sensational this season and surpassed Carter's expectations of him. Wining the first leg of the Triple Crown, he put in fantastic runs to come 3rd and 2nd in the remaining legs, something Carter would have never expected from a horse with unknown bloodlines. In his most recent win, Sonny had rallied to emerge victorious over a tough field of 4 horses in the December Dirt Stakes. He also managed to clinch his 13th victory, which finally upgrades the 3YO to Grade One. "Entering him in the Classic was one of my risker moves, seeing as he will be competing against older, more proven horses. But I know Sonny has the fight and the class to put in a great run, and Johnny does a great job of piloting him around the track."

BREEDER'S CUP FILLIES & MARE SPRINT

Sophie's Voice
[Cryin' Out Loud x Sophie Might]

The latecomer to the Firestone barns has been making her presence known in the F&M Sprinter category this season. Sophie's Voice hadn't had much HoTY exposure to her name prior to arriving at Firestone, but she quickly changed that starting February Week 4, where she clinched her first HoTY win of the season. While most of her HoTY starts have ended up in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, that didn't stop the 4YO mare from giving it her best effort against horses that had a lot more HoTY exposure. "I don't know Sophie as well as I do some other horses, but I do know that she will be able to keep up, if not place, in her first Breeder's Cup debut. She's a fiery little horse, and while I wish I could race her next season, she already has some dates lined up in the breeding shed."

BREEDER'S CUP FILLIES & MARE TURF SPRINT

Silver Serendipity
[Created x Created]

This gray filly is no stranger to the turf sprinter ranks at both Green Horse and The Wire. With four HoTY wins this season, one of them came against Stride Of Perfection's beast of a stallion, Demonic Desires. Demi has been on a 2nd place streak since November, and that is about to change in her 2nd Breeder's Cup run. Her most recent successes came in the Senior Turf Sprinter series at Green Horse, where she placed 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd respectively. However, both Demi, Carter, and jockey Devon Blackthorn are ready for a victory. "There isn't a doubt that this little horse is fully prepared for whatever horses the Breeder's Cup throws at her. She's on the top of her game, and she's out for revenge this time around."

BREEDER'S CUP SPRINT

Aquatic Addiction
[Shiver Me Timbers x GS Addicted To Love]

If there has been a turnaround in horses, it would be Aquatic Addiction. Before coming to Firestone, Theo already had made a name for himself when he raced under Stride of Perfection silks in Year Thirteen. After being quite unraced in Year Fourteen, Carter picked the horse up and he was extremely out of shape. Workout after workout, Theo regained his speed and stamina and he started pulling off win after win. He has 7 HoTY wins this season, with his most recent in the Damascus Stakes at The Wire. 23 wins to his name is an impressive feat, and he is only looking to pull off one more HoTY win before he hits the breeding shed. "Theo is one of my best sprinters, and there shouldn't be any questions as to why. He's out for a win in the Breeder's Cup, and I already know he's up against Demonic Desires. If Demi can beat the SOPS horse, there isn't a doubt in my mind that the former SOPS horse can beat him, too."