HORSE RACING
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Horse Racing's Biggest Day
by Jeff Frank, Contributing Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - For 15 years, Breeders' Cup Day was filled with seven spectacular races, from the Sprint all the way to the Classic. In 1999, the Filly and Mare Turf was added, and a total of eight races stood alone for another eight seasons until three new events last year forced the powers that be to expand the card over two days.
A record nine Breeders' Cup events will be run this Saturday with two of the three new races - the Marathon and the Turf Sprint - opening the card followed by the second running of the Dirt Mile. With a host of betting opportunities ahead, let's take an in-depth look at each of the nine.
MARATHON Even though this race will be run on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface, there are a handful of turf horses that could be in line for the winner's share of the $500,000 purse.
Sixties Icon has won half of his 16 career starts on the grass in Europe, including a pair of Group 3 events in 2008 over 12 panels, while Big Booster took home the San Juan Capistrano Handicap over the weeds back in April.
However, the choice is another grass horse, one that has not raced since mid- July. Cedar Mountain is coming into the race off a three-month layoff, but his trainer, Neil Drysdale, is one of the best in the game at getting a horse ready after sitting on the sidelines.
Cedar Mountain, who ran second in the Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park, also won on Polytrack over in Great Britain. His versatility along with his pension for these types of distance races should bring him into the winner's circle.
The astute play in this race is to bet the "Mountain" on top of Church Service, another five-year-old who might be overlooked in the wagering. The gelded son of Pulpit missed by only a nose in his only race this year on synthetics - the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Handicap - at the same distance of the Marathon.
One long shot to keep an eye on is Booyah. The Jerry Fanning-trained colt could be the lone speed in a race filled with closers, and he also should be able to get the distance as his dam sire, Conquistador Cielo, is a former Belmont Stakes winner.
TURF SPRINT Mr. Nightlinger is carrying a five-race winning streak into the inaugural running of the Turf Sprint. However, he has not raced beyond 5 ? furlongs on the turf in over 18 months, and Post 14 is not the place to be over 6 ?- furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita.
California Flag, another speed demon, dominated a field of 10 in the Morvich Handicap in his last start, and a similar effort could bring him the gold.
It's hard to separate the two foreign-bred fillies, Fleeting Spirit and Only Answer, so both must be respected.
Fleeting Spirit, a two-time Group 2 winner over the boys in Great Britain, finished fifth to Marchand d'Or in the Prix se l'Abbaye earlier this month, while Only Answer, who won a Group 3 event in her last start, should adapt very well to the harder turf surface of Santa Anita.
The top wager in this event is a three-horse exacta box with California Flag, Fleeting Spirit and Only Answer. The number one long shot play is the nine, Desert Code. The son of E Dubai had zero chance in the Morvich (his first start in over two months) as he pressured an amazingly fast pace before faltering to seventh. Look for a better effort in his second race off the layoff.
DIRT MILE Four of the top five expected favorites in the Dirt Mile are here by way of the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita. One has to wonder how this contingent will fare dropping back to one mile from nine furlongs.
The favorite will be Well Armed, winner of the Goodwood, as well as the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in mid-July. In between, he finished second, beaten a neck in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic. Nevertheless, it's tough to side with the betting choice at a flat mile when he's been racing longer distances.
The pick here is Slew's Tiznow. The younger brother to Slew's Tizzy (also in the race) has raced only once in 2008 but it was a smashing victory in the El Cajon at Del Mar. He not only proved victorious by three lengths, he ran his final half-mile in 47 2/5 in his first race in over 10 months.
Another horse that has a huge chance for success is Lewis Michael, who makes his second appearance in the Dirt Mile. The son of Rahy has had just two starts this year, but is coming off a win in the Pat O'Brien Handicap, where he defeated Rebellion by over two lengths.
Speaking of Rebellion, he is the top long shot play in the Dirt Mile. The last time he went turf to dirt he won the Commonwealth at Keeneland, and his race prior to this event was the Morvich Handicap on the grass course at Santa Anita.
MILE Europeans have won five of the six Miles that have been run in California, and a sixth should come their way in 2008.
Fred Head won this race in consecutive years aboard the brilliant filly Miesque, and he's back once again this time as the trainer of Goldikova. The three-year-old filly has won three straight, including a pair of Group 1 events over older males. If she takes to the Santa Anita turf course, it could be lights out for the rest of the field.
The top United States threat is Whatsthescript. Since joining the John Sadler barn, the four-year-old colt has reeled off three straight huge efforts, including powerful victories in the Del Mar Mile and the American Handicap. Post 11 is not an ideal spot, but he did win from the 10 hole at Santa Anita early last year.
These two horses should cross the wire first and second, with the nod going to Goldikova. For those not sold on either, grab one of the top two closers in the field, long shots Shakis and Awesome Gem.
JUVENILE This could be the weakest Juvenile in years. Even though the track favors the hometown California contingent, the quality of those horses leaves a lot to be desired.
The best of the bunch is Midshipman, who won the Del Mar Futurity on September 3. Regardless of how good he could be, the pick here is the lone European-bred horse in the race, Bushranger. If the bay colt can handle the Pro-Ride synthetic, the two-time Group 1 winner should romp to victory.
Pioneer of the Nile is the long shot to watch out for, as the son of Empire Maker made a huge move in the Breeders' Futurity only to hang like a chandelier through the stretch. With a clean break, he could surprise at a huge price.
JUVENILE TURF This race is by far the most contentious of the nine Breeders' Cup events scheduled on Saturday. However, one horse clearly has shown the most potential, and that's Grand Adventure.
Post 12 could be a negative factor, but if he gets caught wide around the first turn, he already has had the experience to handle it since he was seven wide through the stretch in winning the Summer Stakes at Woodbine earlier this month.
The Irish-bred Westphalia is the choice to run second. Aiden O'Brien's charge is coming off a win in the Group 2 Champagne, and has finished first or second in five of his six lifetime starts.
A long shot to keep an eye on is Orthodox, who could end up being the controlling speed in a race devoid of real early foot.
SPRINT Midnight Lute looks to defend his title, but a 10th place finish in his only 2008 start could be cause for concern. A hot pace should help his chances, as almost half the field will be winging it on the front end, but it's hard to back a horse with such a light schedule coming into the Sprint.
The pick here is First Defense. Robert Frankel's colt gave way rather easily in the Vosburgh to finish seventh. However, that race was in the slop. He has already taken a liking to the Pro-Ride surface in his morning workouts, and if he puts forth a similar effort to his two races from Saratoga this summer, he could be sitting on a victory at a very big price.
Street Boss has the home-track advantage after a solid second place finish in the Ancient Title last month. His off-the-pace style should suit him well in a race loaded with early speed, so play him with First Defense in the exacta.
TURF This is the race in which to go hot and heavy with the Europeans, and the best of the bunch is Soldier of Fortune. Many Turf winners have come out of the Arc de Triomphe, and his third-place finish in that race shows how classy he is.
Conduit, one of two three-year-olds on the field, has won his last two, including the Group 1 St. Leger, and is coming into the race in as good a shape as he's been all year.
Eagle Mountain has raced just one time in 2008, a Group 3 one-mile event at Newmarket. If the pace is slow, look for him to be close-up early and get the jump on his foreign rivals.
The bet in the Turf is an exacta box using all three - Soldier of Fortune, Conduit and Eagle Mountain.
CLASSIC Curlin is the 7-5 morning line favorite after compiling seven straight victories on dirt. This will be his first experience on Pro-Ride, which makes it extremely tough to be 100% confident he will get the job done. Heck, even Cigar lost the Breeders' Cup Classic as the heavy favorite in 1996, so anything is possible.
The choice here is Colonel John. It's well known that horses sired by Tiznow improve as the year moves along, and the "Colonel" should be sitting on the race of his life on his home track. His efforts in the Travers, Santa Anita Derby, and even the Kentucky Derby have shown how versatile he is and a victory here will solidify his greatness.
A long shot to keep an eye on is Champs Elysees. Robert Frankel is as confident as can be with a horse that has raced only one time (in 19 tries) on dirt, a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap. Blinkers have been added to this stout closer so look for a big finish with Alan Garcia in the saddle.
10/24 15:26:04 ET