The fields for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders’ Cup World Championships actually start to return into focus in summer time and fall and this common characteristic will supply a snapshot profile of one of many earlier weekend’s standout stars.

Cost It took a main step towards the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic with a 4 ¾-length runaway win within the $350,000 Suburban Stakes July 8 at Belmont Park. Though the Suburban was not a “Win and You’re in” qualifying race for the Basic, it ought to function a pleasant springboard for Cost It. The 4-year-old Tapit colt bounced again from an unplaced end within the Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap June 10 and confirmed he may win on the 1 ¼-mile basic distance.

Cost It confirmed vital promise as a 3-year-old in 2022 when ending second within the Curlin Florida Derby Introduced by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa and profitable the Dwyer Stakes by 23 lengths. Sadly, a sequence of minor maladies – beginning within the Dwyer with him grabbing 1 / 4, an damage to the again of a hoof from being stepped on from behind – saved the Todd Pletcher trainee sidelined for seven months.

Cost It’s return as a 4-year-old has been a bit uneven thus far. He received an allowance-optional claiming race in his Feb. 5 season debut at Gulfstream after which ran second because the 3-5 favourite to Endorsed within the Grade 2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes in March.

Following back-to-back unplaced finishes within the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Grade 1 Met Mile, Cost It reminded followers why they have been so intrigued by his potential with a front-running 4 3/4-length win final weekend within the Suburban.

“He ran large. We by no means felt like he had an issue with distance by watching him prepare within the morning, however he has to do it within the afternoon,” mentioned Todd Quast, common supervisor of owner-breeder Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. “He may be just a bit bit quirky. The expertise and uncooked means are each there, and he can do it within the afternoons. When he places all of it collectively, it’s an incredible efficiency.”

When Cost It’s good, he is excellent. He earned a 114 Equibase Velocity Determine and 111 Beyer Velocity Determine for his Dwyer win final summer time and a 108 Equibase determine and 106 Beyer for his Suburban win. Nevertheless, consistency in graded stakes races has not been a power thus far for Cost It.

There are, nevertheless, a couple of causes for vital optimism shifting ahead, each about Cost It’s future normally and his probabilities within the Breeders’ Cup Basic.

• Cost It appears to be at his greatest when setting or urgent the tempo after which making a transfer to take management early within the race. He then is excellent at merely working the opposition off its ft.
• Alongside that line of considering, longer races enable Cost It to make the most of that outstanding early working model extra successfully with a extra modest tempo and fewer competitors within the early phases. Discover within the 1 ¼-mile Suburban, Cost It was in entrance by a half-length after a gap half-mile in a straightforward :48.12 and prolonged the benefit to three ½ lengths by means of a mile in 1:36.15 after settling right into a rhythm.
• Seven of the final 10 Basic winners profiled as racehorses preferring to press or set the tempo and the opposite three have been stalkers, so latest historical past has proven that horses like Cost It with tactical velocity are within the Basic.
• Cost It’s pedigree is solely excellent. He’s by main sire Tapit out of the profitable Indian Charlie mare I’ll Take Cost, a half-sister (identical dam [mother], completely different sire [father]) to 2013 champion older male Will Take Cost, 2012 Florida Derby winner Take Cost Indy, and 2022 Grade 1 winner As Time Goes By. I’ll Take Cost is also a half-sister to Charming, the dam of 2014 champion 2-year-old filly Take Cost Brandi and 2019 Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Seaside.

Whereas there actually is a lot to love when evaluating Cost It as a possible Breeders’ Cup Basic candidate, it’s additionally honest to stay skeptical. He didn’t defeat any superstars within the Suburban because the 0.65-1 favourite in a five-horse subject, and he very possible won’t get that kind of simple front-running journey in opposition to higher competitors. We should always be taught extra in Cost It’s subsequent begin, which is anticipated to return within the $1 million Whitney Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

A win in that 1 1/8-mile, Grade 1 race would cement Cost It’s credentials as a significant contender for the $6 million Basic.