Written by George Pepis
| Tuesday, 03 November 2009 13:10
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Horse Racing News
We are 3 days away from the 26th Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. Preview part four features a look at the Ladies Classic which will not have Zenyatta as she attempts to take down the boys in the Breeders Cup Classic.
We’ll also look at The Marathon. I will go on record as saying there is too many races, and we can do without this one.
The Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile has an interesting collection of contenders.
Culminating things is a closer look at the Breeders’ Cup Classic which as mentioned features the sensational filly Zenyatta tackling the likes of Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.
Marathon-1-mile-and-3/4-pro-ride
The one race which I don’t think should have been added to the slate of races for the Breeders’ Cup features a collective group of lower tier horses trying to claim a title.
The horse that's likely to be your favorite is Godolphin-owned Masteryas who won a Group-1 at Doncaster in taking down the St Light. He looks to come into this race in good form. If he runs to his last, he should be tough to handle.
California-based Awesome Gem is a serious contender coming off a nice win in the Grade-1 Hawthorne Gold Cup. He returns home and is one to watch.
An interesting possibility is the 9 year old gelding Cloudy's Knight who is a versatile animal and seemingly back in good form which suggests that he is a contender.
Father Time is another Euro who must be considered as he is ultra-consistent.
Dirt Mile
Here is a race where I am going to have trouble eliminating horses as the contenders among the list of pre-entries are plentiful.
The one potential lock in here is that Godolphin, which has 4 of the potential entries, may have a vice grip on this race. But which of the 4 can take this down?
One is Super Derby winner Regal Ransom who, if left alone here, may be tough to run down. Girolamo, who has yet to run here in America but brings a good resume to this test.
Midshipman, who won last year's Juvenile under his previous trainer Bob Baffert, is one who got a very late start to his 3-year old campaign but is going to be tough as he has serious talent and upside.
Pyro is having a solid campaign, and this distance will suit him best. If the pace scenario is kooky, look out for this guy.
A wild card entry that will be largely ignored is Chocolate Candy, but I caution you not to ignore him. He showed flashes of top class talent and is much more comfortable at his home base.
Crown of Thorns is another Cali-based animal who has the numbers to be a major player here.
Mastercraftsman is a really stout Euro based animal who merits a long look here.
Ladies Classic-1-mile-and-1/8-pro-ride
With the abscence of Zenyatta, some very interesting possibilities loom.
Music Note is one who I stamp as a serious contender based on her most recent win in the Grade-1 Beldame at Belmont, and she did run 2nd to Zenyatta last year in this race. So you have to think by process of elimination, cant lose, right? To quote ESPN's Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend.”
There are others who have really good chances. Namely the most under-the-radar 3-year old filly is Careless Jewel. Thanks to Rachel Alexandra, few talk about this horse who is incredibly fast yet very good. Careless Jewel is a win machine and potentially the favorite here.
Cocoa Beach ships out here from the east to try to stake her claim in this test. She has however sputtered in easier tests this season and is someone I may just let beat me.
A price player that I give a good chance is Proviso who was DQ'd from a win in the Grade-1 Spinster at Keeneland, but her effort there makes me believe that she has a good chance. It would be an emotional time if this filly wins as her trainer Bobby Frankel is battling illness.
Life is Sweet is the stablemate of Zenyatta (boy, it must be good to not have attention), but her credentials coming in suggest to me that she has a puncher's chance.
Classic-1-mile-and-1/4-pro-ride
The festivities culminate in the richest race of the card. The potential field might be the strongest of the weekend.
All eyes will be on Zenyatta as she attempts to make a little history on 2 fronts. The 1st is that she can eclipse Personal Ensign as the winningest filly of all-time by raking her 15th consecutive races. The 2nd and most obvious is that no filly has ever won the Classic.
With all that said, ask yourself this - if you like Zenyatta, would you take her at potentially even money? I know I wouldn't, but that's not saying she can't win. She definitely can but this could be the ultimate value race as there are others who have just a good a chance.
Summer Bird, who won the Belmont and Travers along with the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is one to defintely fear, but he is tackling the pro-ride for the 1st time.
Gio Ponti has had great success on grass this year and returns to the pro-ride . If he remembers how to run on it, he also merits a look.
Rip Van Winkle is an interesting Euro prospect who also had great success on the turf. If his form translates to the pro-ride then he also has a chance.
Colonel John and Einstein are grizzled veterans who both merit longshot looks. Mine That Bird might be over-bet because of his Derby shocker, but his pro-ride form leaves a lot to be desired.
There you have it. I will have the entries posted on here later Tuesday. Tomorrow, I will have my look at the upcoming season of racing at the Fair Grounds which opens its 138th season on Friday. Later this week, I will have selections for all 14 Breeders Cup races plus my daily selections of the races from the Fair Grounds.
