The
Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship has attracted the best horses in
the United States and many of Europe's best, including last year's Arc de Triomphe
winner - third in the Arc this year - Bago, a winner of some $2,600,000. The
Breeders' Cup is like running eight Kentucky Derbys on one fall afternoon. Let's
have a look at some of the horses who ran at Saratoga over Travers weekend, the
last weekend in August, and who will be running in the Breeders' Cup at Belmont,
on Long Island, on Saturday, October 29th. The
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (2 year olds) - 1 1/16 miles - Purse $1,000,000. 
Adieu,
pictured
at the left won the Spinaway at Saratoga. She is trained by Todd Pletcher. Since
then she has won The Frizette, at a mile, at Belmont. Her career earnings thus
far are
$554, 470. In winning the Spinaway she beat Folklore by a length.
She will be ridden by John Velazquez , who has ridden her in four of her five
starts.
Folklore,
pictured
at the left in the paddock at Saratoga before the Spinaway, ran second in that
race, beaten by Adieu. Since then she has won the Matron at Belmont by
an impressive 14 lengths and is currently the favorite for the Juvenile Fillies.
She is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and has won $376,300. She will be ridden by Edgar
Prado, who rode her for the first time in the Matron. Eight
other fillies are entered for Saturday's Juvenile Fillies. *
* * * * The
Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Colts and Geldings (2 year olds). 1 1/16 miles. Purse
$1,500,000. 
First
Samurai, winner
of the Hopeful at Saratoga, is pictured at the right, in the paddock there. He
was ridden by Jerry Bailey, who has ridden him in three of his four wins and will
ride him on Saturday for trainer Frank Brothers. He won the Hopeful by 2 3/4 lengths
over Hennie Hughes and has earned $507,675 thus far. He is favored in the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile. 
Hennie
Hughes, runner
up in the Hopeful and second choice in the Juvenile, is pictured at the left going
to the post with jockey Gary Stevens. Edgar Prado will ride him for trainer Kiaran
McLaughlin on Saturday. Hennie Hughes has earned $326,820 in five races.
There
are 12 other horses entered in the Juvenile, the two co-third choices are Private
Vow and California's Stevie Wonder Boy. *
* * * * The
Breeders' Cup.Filly
and Mare Turf, 1 1/4 (Turf) 3YO & Up Fillies and Mares, Purse $1,060,000. None
of the 14 fillies and mares, who will run in this race, ran at Saratoga on Travers
Weekend. The favorite, Great Britain's Ouija Board, last years' winner,
will be ridden by Jerry Bailey. Megahertz, bred in Great Britain and raced
in France as a two year old, is now trained by Bobby Frankel and races mainly
in California. She will be ridden by Alex Solis and finished eleventh behind Ouija
Board in this race last year. *
* * * * The
Breeders' Cup Sprint (3YO and UP), 6 Furlongs, Purse $1,060,000. 
Lost
In The Fog, the even money favorite
for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, has won 10 straight races at 6 - 7 furlongs for
trainer Greg Gilchrist. He takes his race track with him, showing no preference
for one over another. He has run and won at 8 different race tracks. He is
shown at the left under his regular rider Russell Baze, winning the King's Bishop
at Saratoga.
*
* * * * The Breeders'
Cup Mile, 1 mile (Turf), 3YO & Up, Purse $2,025,000. None
of the 12 horses, who will run in this race, ran at Saratoga on Travers Weekend.
The favorite, of the 12 entered, is Leroidesanimaux, a winner of $1,253,377,
who is trained by Bobby Frankel. This is a race often won by European runners
such as the following in against Leroidesanimaux: Ad Valoren, trained
by Aiden O'Brien; Funfair, trained by Graham Motion; Gorella, trained
by Patrick Biancone: Majors Cast, trained by Jeremy Noseda: Valixir,
trained by Andre Fabre; and Whipper, trained by Robert Collet. Whipper,
a winner of $1,074,867, cost $4,000 at the Keeneland November sale, in 2001. *
* * * * * The
Breeders' Cup Distaff, 1 1/8 miles, 3 YO & Up, Fillies and Mares, Purse $
2,025,000. 
Ashado,
pictured
at the right running with Island Sand in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Ashado
was last year's winner of the Distaff for trainer Todd Pletcher and is the favorite
for this year's renewal. She is a winner of $3,711,440; however, she could only
manage 4th place at The Spa, last August.
*
* * * * The
Breeders' Cup Turf, 1 1/2 Miles (Turf) 3 YO & Up, Purse
$2,280,000. None
of the 13 horses, who will run in this race, ran at Saratoga on Travers Weekend.
Here is where you can get 5-1 on last year's Arc de Triomphe winner Bago. Other
Europeans entered include Ace, who will be ridden by Kieren Fallon; Azamour,
who will be ridden by Michael Kinane; and Shirraco, who is trained
by Andre Fabre. The unbeaten Shakespeare, trained by Bill Mott (who trained
the great Cigar, now retired at the Kentucky Horse Park) prepped for this spot
by winning The Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont four weeks ago. Shakespeare
beat English Channel by a head on that occasion. The latter is also
entered in this race, *
* * * * The
Breeders' Cup Classic, 1 1/4 Miles, 3 YO & Up, Purse $4,680,000.  Flower
Alley, the winner of the Travers at Saratoga, is pictured at the left with
jockey John Velazquez aboard. The Travers is the last big race in the East restricted
to three year olds. Flower Alley is quoted at 10-1 for the Classic as he
did not distinguish himself in his first race against older horses, The Jockey
Club Gold Cup, four weeks ago at Belmont. He was beated 15 1/4 lengths by Borrego,
Suave and Sun King, all of whom are in against him on Saturday.
Saint
Liam, the winner of The Woodward, on September 5th, is the Morning Line favorite
from California's Rock Hard Ten, second in the Preakness as a three year
old, and recently the winner of the Goodwood, at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
BULLETIN! As of 12 Noon on Friday,
Rock Hard Ten was SCRATCHED due to a problem with his right
front frog. Oratorio, the winner of the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown,
who is trained by Aiden O'Brien, is a good European runner also quoted at
10
- 1. Starcraft, a NewZealand bred, has won Grade 1's in Australia, England,
France and New Zealand. and has won Grade 1's at distances from one mile to a
mile and a half. *
* * * * All
eight races of The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship
will
be shown on NBC on Saturday, October 29th, from 1 PM to 6 PM. Try it, you'll
like it! |
