The Breeders’ Cup Observer
January 22nd, 2006by Jude T. Feld
As much as I love summer, the fall brings football, the World Series, hockey and the Breeders’ Cup. Here are my notes on this year’s races.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) – The best two-year-old racing is in California and Florida. That promotes Cash Included who won the Oak Leaf (G1) and Adrythm who trounced the best Florida-breds in back-to-back stakes scores. Cotton Blossom has the top Eastern form and her pedigree screams distance. She probably needed the Alcibiades (G1).
Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – Stormello won the Norfolk (G2) and Great Hunter finished second in three West Coast stakes before capturing the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1). I think Todd Pletcher wanted to get a two-turn race into Circular Cay before the Breeders’ Cup and wasn’t too worried about winning the Lane’s End. Look for a huge effort. Keep an eye on Street Sense, a son of Street Cry out of a Dixieland Band mare, he figured to improve with age. The Carl Nafzger trainee is developing nicely and might be overlooked in the wagering. D. Wayne Lukas likes his chances with Pegasus Wind. When was the last time you saw Wayne work a horse a mile?
Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) – Ouija Board is one of the all-time great racemares and she is probably in the best form of her life. Wait a While is a freak on the turf and has excellent tactical speed. Mauralakana comes off a corker in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland and came back to work in :58 4/5. This is by far the most contentious race on the Saturday card with every entrant playable.
TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) – Lots of speed lined up as usual, so Siren Lure’s big closing kick looks very good for the long Churchill Downs stretch. He’s run down California’s best sprinters and they have proven to be tops in the world after a one-two-three finish in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). There is a whisper around the backstretch that trainer Wayne Catalano loves Lewis Michael’s chances.
NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) – This race is most often won by the horse with the best trip. Gorella should have won last year and could easily make amends here if French sensation Julien Leparoux can weave her way through traffic. Araafa has multiple Group 1 victories to his credit and hails from the barn of Jeremy Noseda. John Velazquez taking the call gives him a huge chance. Aragorn has been sharp all summer and the Ballygallon silks are some of the prettiest in racing. Has Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel succumbed to owner pressure or does he really think Badge of Silver can win on the lead after a ten-month vacation? Either would be out of character.
Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) – Pine Island’s closing kick reminds me of Forego. He would be a short price in here. Fleet Indian hasn’t lost a race in over a year and she’s started eight times. Hard not to like her. I know “hunches are for idiots, morons and suckers,” but I’ve got one that Pool Land is going to run huge. Pletcher again and again.
John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) – Trainer Tom Amoss has done a great job developing Rush Bay into a marathon horse. Go Deputy ran too good to lose the Canadian International (G1) and runs back on 13 days rest – a very good sign. Gotta love Olivier Peslier riding for the Wertheimers. English Channel is the horse to beat. He wins most of his races and looks tough again Saturday. It would be great to see Eduardo Inda in the winners’ circle with T.H. Approval. How a trainer of his caliber has only three horses in his care is beyond comprehension.
Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (G1) – Bernardini has looked sensational in virtually every start since his debut. He looked magnificent in the flesh, getting off the van at Churchill Downs and will certainly be tough to run by. Invasor has looked great in all three of his North American starts. He was reportedly a tad sick this fall and missed some time. That could take its toll late in the race. Lava Man is the best of the west and the best of the rest.
