More Than Looks Looks to Stay on Breeders’ Cup Path in Coolmore Turf Mile
At 0h02, on October 3, 2024 • By KEENELAND
Trainer Cherie DeVaux has two horses on track for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Nov. 1-2, and on Saturday Victory Racing Partners’ More Than Looks will try to solidify his status as a third runner.
Sixth beaten 2 lengths in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF last year, More Than Looks will make his second start of 2024 in the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1).
“The Breeders’ Cup has always been the goal even with his abbreviated campaign,” DeVaux said Tuesday morning.
More Than Looks was scheduled to make his 2024 debut in the restricted Lure Stakes at Saratoga but that race was rained off the turf. Instead of starting there, he came back a week later on Aug. 11 to run second of six in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) behind Saturday rival Carl Spackler (IRE).
“He’s doing really well and he got a lot out of the Fourstardave,” DeVaux said of More Than Looks, who will be ridden Saturday by Jose Ortiz.
DeVaux’s other Breeders’ Cup hopefuls are Pyrenees (Classic) and Vahva (Filly and Mare Sprint).
Pyrenees, an allowance winner here in the spring, has emerged as a major player with a victory in the Pimlico Special (G3) and runner-up finishes in the Stephen Foster (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).
“He gets a lot out of his races, and I wanted to give him time,” DeVaux said of Pyrenees, who worked a half-mile in :49 here Monday. It was his second work since the Sept. 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Vahva, winner of the Lexus Raven Run (G2) here last fall and the Derby City Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, is coming off a third-place finish in the Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
“There were no races for her,” DeVaux said of training up to the Breeders’ Cup. “She is training well, and she runs well fresh.”
