Billy Loughnane steps in for Flavien Prat as Libertango tops Breeders' Cup market

Billy Loughnane was confirmed as a late replacement for Flavien Prat aboard Libertango in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, after managing to get himself down to 8st 5lb, according to the Guardian.

Prat had been expected to ride George Boughey's filly, but Loughnane, the new champion jockey on the Flat, was passed fit to do the weight and took the ride instead.

Boughey explained the awkward situation to a track reporter, saying: "I feel a little bit guilty as Flavien has ridden a Graded winner for us out here and I had to send him a message apologising. It's a strange scenario but Billy is our retained rider."

Libertango opened as the 2-1 favourite in on-course tote betting for the Grade One contest over 5f 110yd, the Guardian reported, with Brickyard Belle and Harper's Corner next in the market at 4-1, Mussab at 8-1 and Moonrise at 10-1.

Yahoo Sports' morning-line odds, published the day before racing, had Libertango at 5-2 with Flavien Prat still listed as named jockey, trained by George Boughey, while Brickyard Belle, trained by Miguel Clement and ridden by Manny Franco, was priced at 3-1. Mussab, under Oisin Orr for Richard Fahey, was quoted at 15-1, and Andrew Balding's Moonrise, with Oisin Murphy up, at 12-1.

Yahoo Sports noted that Libertango was the only horse to have beaten Sun Goddess this year, having lost the rematch by just a length last time out, a form line it described as making her 'a formidable force' in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Sun Goddess was expected to be among the biggest favourites of the meeting when she lines up later on Friday in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The Guardian's coverage also pointed to the depth of the European challenge, with Moonrise having finished fourth of six in the Cheveley Park Stakes and Mussab arriving off the back of three straight wins, including the Cornwallis Stakes.

Force Noir, representing Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing in the purple silks, was flagged as a danger too, having disappointed as the fancied runner in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot before returning to form with second in the Group One Middle Park Stakes last time out.

Ruiva was added to the field late and was expected to add further pace to what was already shaping as a strongly run race, though the Guardian suggested she would do well to lead at the turn ahead of Harper's Corner, with Libertango more likely to track the principal American hope, Brickyard Belle, in the early stages.

The Juvenile Turf Sprint, worth $1 million and run over five and a half furlongs for two-year-olds according to Yahoo Sports, opened Future Stars Friday at Keeneland, with post time set for 2.55pm local time.

Attention at the meeting was due to turn later on Friday to the Juvenile Fillies Turf, where Sun Goddess, the filly that twice met Libertango this season, was expected to start among the leading fancies.