BC Internationals: Mile contender Hit It a Bomb

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) hero looked a doubtful proposition to make the cut for the Mile (G1), buried in 23^rd (!) as the absolute last in the order of preference after the pre-entries. Furthermore, several ranked above him had listed the Mile as their preferred option, implying that there wouldn’t be enough defections to clear the way for him.

But in a Halloween surprise, the others chose to go elsewhere, and Hit It a Bomb sneaked in as the third of Aidan O’Brien’s trio (along with leading fancy Alice Springs and Cougar Mountain). You might call him the stealth bomber.

A year ago, Hit It a Bomb came to Keeneland as an unbeaten prospect, and the War Front colt made good:

 

As his rock-bottom position at the pre-entry stage indicated, Hit It a Bomb doesn’t have nearly the same cache this time around. He got a belated start to his three-year-old season, not resurfacing until the August 11 Desmond (G3) at Leopardstown, where he made a solid comeback. Striking the front before his lack of fitness told, he was an encouraging third.