The Breeders’ Cup World Championships begin a week from today.

The Breeders’ Cup marks the end of long and sometimes challenging season for those elite equine athletes fortunate enough to make it to the gate.

Some horses will show the wear and tear of the campaign and won’t be able to strut their best stuff. For others, everything will come together at the precise moment in time when it is needed most.

Coming into the 2 million dollar BC Mile CARL SPACKLER has not had an easy go of it- including life-saving intestinal surgery due to a severe case of colic.

That said, the Ireland bred, 4-year-old rolls into Del Mar with six Victories in his last seven starts as part of a spree culminating in consecutive Grade 1 triumphs.

CARL SPACKLER offers up a lot of evidence that he is just beginning to show what he can do.

His first go against Grade 1 company was August 11th at Saratoga in the Fourstardave. In that race he sat chilly in 2nd under jockey Tyler Gaffalione before taking command and scoring by 3 ½ lengths.

That Saratoga Win secured him a fees-paid berth in the BC Mile.

His next outing was October 5th at Keeneland where the former greenskeeper displayed versatility by taking an early lead in the Coolmore Mile Turf Stakes and then held off MORE THAN LOOKS by a length.

“He just seems to be getting stronger, more confident in himself, more confident in his ability,” Gaffalione said after that contest. “He just keeps finding more.”

If CARL SPACKLER maintains his form, Gaffalione expects him to be right there in the Mile. “Obviously, he’s coming in off two big performances. He’s run against top horses, so I’m not really too scared of anyone,” he said. “I just hope for a good draw and a clean trip and let him do the rest.”

Here’s hoping this emerging talent gets all the good fortune his rider is asking for, as a Win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile for CARL SPACKLER would truly be a Cinderella Story.