Cup Chatter: BC Classic (Part 3)
October 29, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Breeders' Cup, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks
Part three of my Breeders’ Cup Classic blog, and below is a look at the next four pre-entrants.
Mine That Bird shocked the world on the first Saturday in May with an improbable late running win in the Kentucky Derby. He had lost three straight before that, and he has dropped four starts since. Sustained runner is always at the mercy of the pace, and the 4-time synthetic winner finished last in the ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He was 6th of 10 when last seen in the Goodwood, the final local prep for the Classic. He drilled a :58 and change five furlong bullet over the Pro-Ride surface on Oct 26th.
Mine That Bird has lost four straight since winning the Ky Derby
Girolamo is an exciting 3yo with an outstanding pedigree. The Godolphin colorbearer has won all three of his starts this year and exits a strong tally in the Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park. He has never tried synthetic ground, but a more pressing matter is his lack of a route foundation. If he opts to go in the Classic, it will be his first start around two turns. He has a ton of raw talent, but he has a tall task confronting him.
Gio Ponti is an interesting prospect for trainer Christophe Clement. He had his four-race grade one win streak snapped in a place finish over boggy ground at twelve furlongs last time. He’s a 3-time winner at ten furlongs and won a graded event over the local synthetic track in Dec. ‘08. Classy colt is worth a look at playable odds.
Einstein is a graded winner on dirt, synthetic, and turf. He lone start over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface resulted in a Big Cap victory in March of this year. Versatile sort worked a strong five furlong bullet at Churchill on Oct 25th in advance of his Cup tilt. He tries to end a 3-race losing streak, and note that he only missed by a neck when last seen in the Pacific Classic.
The ‘09 Classic drew sixteen pre-entries, and I’ll be back tomorrow to look at the final four players.
We have the 2009 Breeders Cup thoroughly covered on Horse Racing Nation. I am pleased to announce that we have launched the BC Dashboard!
Over 100 video replays. Fields and morning lines for all 14 races. Handicapping race outlook. Historical Race Profiles. Find it all at the BC Dashboard.
Results and video from all past Breeders’ Cup Classic races can be found here.
Image: Newscom
