Since his debut in October 2023, the 3-year-old Irish-bred colt Illinois has had a career focused on distance races, so much so that when he makes an expected start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles on Nov. 2 at Del Mar he will race at a shorter distance than his last two starts. Trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, Illinois has been in the top three in all nine of his races. By the late sire Galileo, Illinois won his second Group 2 in the $216,500 Prix Chaudenay at 1 7/8 miles on soft turf by two lengths at 2-5 at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 5. In the $5 million BC Turf, the richest turf race in the United States, Illinois will be a longshot, but he rates as a contender in an expected full field of American-based runners and imports from Europe and Asia. :: BREEDERS’ CUP TURF: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Owned by the Coolmore syndicate, Illinois is one of five pre-entrants in the BC Turf for O’Brien, who is not expected to have that many starters. O’Brien, who has won the BC Turf a record seven times, has pre-entered the 3-year-old fillies Content and Wingspan. Those fillies also are pre-entered with a first preference for the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2. In a media tele-conference on Wednesday, O’Brien said that Content and Wingspan are likely for the Filly and Mare Turf. He stressed that Illinois must pass a veterinary examination in Ireland later this week before he is transported to Del Mar. O’Brien’s other pre-entries are Continuous and Luxembourg, who have not been as sharp in recent races as Illinois. There are 17 pre-entries for the BC Turf, with the American stakes winners Next, Cabo Spirit, and There Goes Harvard relegated to an also-eligible list in that order of preference. They will join the field if Content, Wingspan, or Emily Upjohn, trained in England by John and Thady Gosden, start in the BC Filly and Mare Turf. The BC Turf will have a maximum of 14 starters. Next, winner of seven consecutive long-distance stakes on dirt since June 2023, is pre-entered for the BC Classic, with that race selected as the gelding’s first preference. O’Brien did not pre-enter Auguste Rodin, winner of the 2023 BC Turf at Santa Anita who is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Japan Cup in Tokyo on Nov. 24, or the 3-year-old Los Angeles, who finished ninth in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Ascot last Saturday and was considered a contender for the BC Turf in recent months. The European group is led by Rebel’s Romance, winner of the 2022 BC Turf at Keeneland, and Jayarebe, an improving 3-year-old who won the Group 2 Prix Dollar at 1 3/16 miles at Longchamp on Oct. 5. The American-trained runners include the New York star Far Bridge, winner of two Grade 1 races at Saratoga and Aqueduct in recent months; Gold Phoenix, winner of three consecutive runnings of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap who was fourth in the 2023 BC Turf; and Grand Sonata, who won the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs in September. There are two runners from Japan in Rousham Park, a three-time stakes winner; and Shahryar, who was third in the 2023 BC Turf. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.