The rain continues to fall. Security for this year’s event is more advanced than ever, thanks in large part to the physical set-up at the track.
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The weather this week has been so foul it has obscured the charm of one of the most handsome sporting venues in North America, so foul, too, that it kept American Pharoah and Beholder in their barns Wednesday morning. On the other hand, without all the rain I wouldn’t be able to start a conversation. Airport terminal staff will wear purple, a Breeders’ Cup color, and the flower beds outside will be adorned in purple and gold, also Breeders’ Cup colors.
American Pharoah should sign off his career in style, becoming the first Grand Slam victor in taking the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic – although he is the first horse to attempt this fourth leg, with the Classic not in existence when Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. She beat Untapable and Yahilwa in that race, who were second and third, respectively. The course, no matter what it’s officially called, can’t possibly be as firm as most would like it.
Untapable will not defend her title in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff because of a slight fever.
The race that everyone is waiting on however is the Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday. That means Sheer Drama, the 9-2 second choice who’ll start from post position No. 13, won’t have much time to get closer to the inside rail to avoid a wide trip. She could take the lead and never look back. Wedding Toast might be the fastest of them, and at 4-1, it might be worth testing that hypothesis. Wedding Toast may be toast from that standpoint, and there could be a meltdown.
Circumstances could open the door for an upset. I have no doubt she would have joined Bayakoa and Royal Delta had she run in this year’s edition. “I don’t know for sure if this is her last race, but she has been great for the stable, and it has been great to have the opportunity to train her”. On a surface that was especially kind to early speed, she swung five wide in the second turn and won with authority. He’s got the right pedigree to keep improving.
Selections: Stellar Wind, I’m A Chatterbox, Got Lucky, Stopchargingmaria.
The United States has produced the most Breeders’ Cup winners (221), followed by Ireland (25), Britain (15), France (7), Argentina (5), Canada (5), Germany (1) and Japan (1). This race was created for the Europeans, and they’ve come here with a strong contingent. But the two most highly rated Europeans in the race have drawn far outside. It’s hard to look past the imports Cymric, Shogun, and Birchwood. He’ll also again wear blinkers, which had come off for his last race.
The Melbourne Cup may not feature horses of the same calibre as those competing in the Breeders’ Cup, but this year’s field looks as competitive as any in recent memory.
In the Juvenile, the New York stakes victor Greenpointcrusader must prove his win in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park was not a fluke on a muddy track. After turning in a stellar:59 3/5 five-furlong workout on October 24th at Keeneland, a breeze that pleased trainer Keith Desormeaux, I am very confident that Exaggerator is ready to roll, and he will be a single in my multi-race wagers.
He added: “The first one is a sixteenth back from the main one and is used for the Dirt Mile”.
The Dirt Mile has perhaps the weekend’s heaviest favorite in Liam’s Map, whose owners surprised and disappointed a few fans by entering him here instead of in Saturday’s Classic. She might be better around one turn, but the 98 Beyer she earned in the Beldame puts her in the mix against most of her rivals, and her combination of tactical speed and finishing kick should help her get a good trip. He has trained well here and could challenge in the stretch.
Now 27 years later, Doyle is looking forward to her first experience in the Breeders Cup. A native of Great Britain, Doyle says she was introduced to horses at a very young age. She was beaten just a neck in a quality renewal of the Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-I) over soft turf at Deauville and is unbeaten in her other three starts on soft turf, so she should enjoy the conditions at Keeneland. She definitely looks to be sitting on a big one.
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Harmonize, a victor of consecutive races for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, has also has made a positive impression.
