Strengths: Strong runner-up efforts behind Europe’s top-rated miler Ramonti stamp his class. Pure miler has made all 4 starts this year at the Breeders’ Cup’s trip. Hails from Ballydoyle powerhouse that has raided for a trio of Breeders’ Cup championships since 2001.

Weaknesses: Short on seasoning with only 6 career starts (albeit each in a Group 1 or 2 race). His stablemate, Astronomer Royal, was the more fancied of the two prior to coming to the States and running a lackluster sixth in the G1 Shadwell Mile as the favorite. How will Excellent Art stack up in his domestic debut is a bit more clouded given that result. Status: Following a runner-up finish as the betting favorite in the Mile, Excellent Art made one final start before retirement, finishing eighth in the Hong Kong Mile. He will begin a career at stud for a fee of 50,000 euros (approx. $36,220) at Coolmore in Ireland. In 2008, he shuttles to Coolmore Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

In the Genes: English sire Pivotal best known to American racing fans for producing elite Grade 1 turf mare Megahertz and champion turf mare Golden Apples. Dam, Obsessive, was Group 3-placed and is a daughter of 1988 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Seeking the Gold. Excellent Art hails from the female family of American champion filly/mare Chris Evert.

Bet You Didn’t Know: The last European 3-year-old colt to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile was Royal Academy in 1990. Meanwhile, 1986 winner Last Tycoon is the only other Euro-sophomore to capture this race.