Cup Chatter: BC Classic (Part 4)
October 30, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Breeders' Cup, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks
Part four of my Breeders’ Cup Classic blog, and below is a look at the final four pre-entrants.
Colonel John rates a longshot look in the Classic. 2-time local graded winner just missed in the Goodwood, and he won the Grade 1 Travers at this distance last year. He was my Ky Derby top in ‘08, and I have always had a soft spot for him. He was visually impressive winning the Wickerr on the turf earlier this year, and I would like to see him return to the weeds at some point.
Chocolate Candy's first preference is the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Chocolate Candy is familiar to many because he was on the Triple Crown trail this year. He found trouble in the Ky Derby (5th) and Belmont Stakes (9th). He two starts since comprised of a closing 2nd in the El Cajon and a respectable 5th versus older foes in the Goodwood. His speed ratings are on the upswing, and he should be sitting on a top effort in his 3rd race off a layoff. He clearly does his best work on synthetic ground, and note that the Dirt Mile is his first preference.
Bullsbay has a first preference in the Dirt Mile, and he is enjoying a career year. Go back to February of this year, and was a length behind Richard’s Kid in the Campbell at Laurel. Richard’s Kid won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic this summer at Del Mar, and Bullsbay nabbed the Grade 1 Whitney prior to finishing 3rd behind Rachel Alexandra when last seen in the Woodward at the Spa. The Graham Motion runner handles synthetic but owns stronger speed ratings on regular dirt.
Awesome Gem landed the show in Curlin’s 2007 BC Classic. Versatile late runner is a 2-time graded winner on dirt and exits a sharp tally in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup. A win would surprise but he could rally for a minor award.
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
