Juvenile Turf: The favorite in this race is Interactif. He has done nothing wrong on the turf yet. If speed is still strong on the turf, then Bridgetown could be a live pace player.

Turf Sprint: A wide open event. Again, if speed rules, then California Flag rates a gander, along with Canadian Ballet. The downhill turf course at Santa Anita is a tricky layout, and horses proven down the dip typically fare well.

Zenyatta goes for Classic glory on Saturday

Sprint: Plenty of speed, and Zensational is fleet fav breaking from the rail. Fatal Bullet is also quick early, and he was 2nd in this event last year.

Juvenile: Hot trainer Bob Baffert has the aforementioned Zensational in the Sprint, and he also has favorite Lookin At Lucky in here. The fav is 4 for 4 lifetime and should be tough to beat under Gomez, but he must overcome unlucky post 13.

Mile: The defending champ is back, and if Goldikova fires her best shot they are all running for minor awards. She did lose her last overseas start and must work out a trip from an outer post, but she is more than talented enough to get the job done.

Dirt Mile: Europe has the fav with Mastercraftsman. He has won half of his six starts this year, with his three setbacks coming at the expense of superstar Sea The Stars.

Turf: The overseas contingent typically dominates this event, and the ‘09 renewal should be no exception. Click here for my analysis of the Turf.

Classic: Her stablemate Life Is Sweet won yesterday’s Ladies’ Classic, and let’s see if undefeated mare Zenyatta can down the boys in the Classic. Would be a great story if she could run her record to 14 for 14 with a win here!

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The first two races on BC Friday were non-Cup events, starting with an optional claiming route on Pro-Ride, which was captured by Deal Breaker (Bejarano-Mitchell). The winner stalked the pace, and note that runner-up Mr. Hot Stuff was a Triple Crown series also-ran.

Optional claiming sprint in the 2nd, and Mike Mitchell saddled back-to-back winners. Miss McCall wired the field under Tyler Baze.

2nd running of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon also goes to Europe, but defending champ Muhannak did not win. He was 5th behind Man of Iron (Murtagh/O’Brien). 9yo Cloudy’s Knight did everything but win for Homeister/Sheppard…great effort! Better Than Honour was the dam of the winner, and she has also produced Jazil, Rags To Riches, and Casino Drive. Top two rallied from off the pace, and fav Mastery was a clear 3rd. I tabbed the trifecta in my full card analysis.

2nd running of the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Tapitsfly (Albarado/Romans) wore down a game Rose Catherine. The winner was training extremely well and was my 2nd choice. When I say training well, I mean according to professional clockers such as Bruno DeJulio from Today’s Racing Digest. Do not listen to what the connections of each horse are saying. They all state their horses are doing great. By the way, speed dominated this turf race.

Again, I looked to clocker thoughts to separate my leading contenders, and my top She Be Wild (Leparoux/Catalano) ran to her recent works in the Juvenile Fillies. Beautician held off Blind Luck for the place, and Biofuel was an unlucky 4th. Winner stalked the pace at 8.5f on synthetic.

Informed Decision wins the '09 BC Filly & Mare Sprint

Back to the weeds, and Europe captures another with ground saving stalker Midday (Queally/Henry Cecil). Pure Clan and defending champ Forever Together rallied for minor placings in the Filly & Mare Turf. The winner was my best bet on the Friday card, and I gave her out on Steve Bortstein’s Fast Track Radio Show on Fox Sports 1340 New Mexico.

Informed Decision (Leparoux/Sheppard) sat the right prominent throughout trip in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and that made all the difference in a game tally over rallying defending champ Ventura. I singled the latter, and that knocked out my suggested pick six ticket.

Final Cup race on day one, and Careless Jewel could not be rated and set fast fractions before fading to last. Off the pace runners loved the swift pace, and Zenyatta’s stablemate Life Is Sweet (Gomez/Shirreffs) got her turn to shine in the Ladies’ Classic. Mushka rallied for the place, and last year’s show finisher Music Note took up that spot again.

Grade 2 Las Palmas Handicap completed the card, and the grass route went to pace presser Tuscan Evening (Bejarano/Hollendorfer).

As for any bias info, it seemed as though you needed to be within striking range to win on the turf. As for the Pro-Ride, pace made the race, but it did not hurt to have positional speed either.

I’ll post a Saturday Cup preview shortly.

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No bias surprises on opening day. Speed strong in sprints. Turf course favored patient runners.

James Graham, John Jacinto, and ‘Cisco Torres each booted home a pair.

Much Obliged was made the overwhelming fav in the Blushing K D Stakes, and she lived up to advanced billing with a solid off the pace tally under fine grass rider Francisco Torres. The Malcolm Pierce trainee definitely held a class advantage. Never Retreat was a stubborn 2nd, and the ultra-consistent Category Seven held the show.

A solid start on the analysis front. Got a pair of tops home including best bets Cole’s Music ($10.20) and Snow Delicious ($8.40). Note that my day one analysis (view sample) can now be viewed here.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 7th

An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and a pair of juvenile stakes races are on tap. Party cloudy skies with highs in the 70’s, so expect fast and firm conditions.

The fillies go six furlongs in the Pontalba, and synthetic/turf specialist Greeley’s Rocket is favored to handle dirt and get the job done.

The boys get their turn in the Old Hickory. Comedero and Western Smoke (Asmussen) are the speedsters. Note that Asmussen also has stalker Enumerate, and that one ran in a pair of graded races at the Spa.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest, and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Saturday free selection from Fair Grounds.

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The feature race in New Orleans is the $60k Blushing K. D. Stakes for fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Much Obliged is the favorite, and she was only a head behind ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together at Woodbine last time. Note that the latter goes for a Cup repeat later today.

Consistent mare Love To Tell is also a contender in the Blushing K. D. The pace should be lively with Ruling Class, Martin’s Bay, and Sweet Lemonade showing the way. Stalkers and closers fare well over the local weeds.

Steve Asmussen trainee Scenery Change owns the right off the pace style, and her form is darkened because she has not gotten any pace help recently. She rallied for the place versus optional claiming company in her lone local turf outing.

Category Seven always runs her race with exacta finishes in all 11 starts this year.

In the end, Much Obliged is the one to beat, with Scenery Change and Category Seven offering more value.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest, and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Friday free selection from Fair Grounds.

I’ll be back later to recap opening day and preview the Nov 7th card.

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

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Here are the horses that I voted for in the LAD meet champion categories…

Super Derby winner Regal Ransom goes for the Breeders' Cup Classic next

Two Year Old: William’s Kitten – On the Super Derby undercard, the Michael Maker runner competed in the off the turf Sunday Silence Stakes. He was sitting at the back of the pack and unleashed an eye catching move to blow past the field with breathtaking ease. That visually impressive performance carried him to Woodbine for the Grade 3 Grey Stakes, but he ran flat over the Polytrack surface. He is pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

LA Bred and Two Year Old Filly: The Rumor’s True – Trained by low profile conditioner Steven Duke, the daughter of Kafwain tackled open company in the Happy Ticket on the Super Derby undercard, and she was up to the task in a sharp victory over the promising Seasoned.

Three Year Old Filly: Lightlightlight - The Steve Asmussen trainee captured multiple stakes races at Louisiana Downs, including the Louisiana Cup Oaks on Aug 1st.

LA Bred Three Year Old: Takin’ The Bullet - Enjoyed a productive meet on both surfaces. He was 2nd in a turf race in July and 3rd in the Louisiana Cup Derby on Aug 1st. He capped off the meet with a win in the Red Erwin Stakes on Sept 5th.

Category Seven is entered in the Blushing K. D. Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Nov 6th.

Sprinter: Brother Bean – Blistered six furlongs in 1:09.66 on August 1st in the Louisiana Cup Sprint.

Older Mare: Superior Storm – Talented state bred and multiple graded placed miss had to work harder than expected in a game Louisiana Cup Distaff win. Finished 7th in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland in October.

Turf Horse and Older Horse: Mogumbo Cat - Won an optional claiming turf race in May, and he was a sharp winner of the Shishkabob in August. Landed the place on the main in the Unbridled in September.

Turf Mare: Category Seven – Gem of consistency won a pair of optional claimers and placed in the Top Corsage and River Cities. Next up for this one is the Blushing K. D. Stakes at Fair Grounds on Nov 6th.

Older LA bred: Star Guitar – Captured the Dixie Poker Ace at the Fair Grounds on Jan 3rd. Nabbed the off the turf Louisiana Cup Turf Classic at Louisiana Downs on Aug 1st. Came back two weeks later to nab the Evangeline Mile. His most recent start was a victory in the 77th running of the Gold Cup at Delta Downs.

Left to right: Nick Tammaro, Travis Stone, Jarrod Horak, and Pat Cummings during Super Derby Handicapping Seminar at Louisiana Downs

Claimer: Officer Jo Ann – Enjoyed a fantastic meet with five wins and two place finishes in the claiming ranks.

Three Year Old and Horse of the Meet: Regal Ransom – Came back blazing while making his first start since the Kentucky Derby. In the 30th running of the Grade 2 Super Derby, the Godolphin trainee made all the running in a sharp wire job win. Runner-up Blame came back to capture the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland. Regal Ransom goes next in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov 7th.

On Super Derby Day, I was joined by Nick Tammaro, Pat Cummings, and Travis Stone for the Handicapping Seminar. Track Photographer Lou Hodges snapped a pic (photo above), and track announcer Travis Stone added the captions. The dream team had a great time and gave out a few winners along the way.

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One of the changes to the new meet is the Louisiana Derby. Formerly run at a mile and a sixteenth seven weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby, it will now be contested at nine furlongs five weeks before the first Saturday in May.

Fair Grounds meet begins on November 6th

Exotic bettors should be happy to hear that a $1 Super High 5 will be offered on the final race of every card.

The opening day feature is the $60k Blushing K. D. for fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Much Obliged is the 8-5 morning line favorite is the 10-horse field.

Some of the new faces in New Orleans will be Hall of Fame trainer Wayne Lukas, who will have a 30-horse string. General Quarters, last seen finishing 9th in the Preakness, is also on the grounds.

I will be following the Fair Grounds closely here, similar to my recap/preview blogs from Louisiana Downs.

For fans of Today’s Racing Digest, I will be posting daily free selections from Fair Grounds on their site, and my full card analysis will also be available to their customers. Click here to view my Digest Handicapper page.

I will be back later this week to preview the Nov 6th card, and note that the opening day card falls on the first day of the 2-day Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

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The undefeated miss breezed an effortless six furlongs in 1:12.40, and her morning jaunt was reportedly better than her final Cup move in ‘08. Earlier this year she did not seem to be quite as sharp as she was last season, but all of that has changed now, and she appears poised to deliver the goods in the Cup.

Zenyatta is approaching the Breeders' Cup on top of her game

In other Classic works, Summer Bird went five furlongs in :59.28 at Santa Anita. In his final work, he went fast early and slow late, and he might be worth trying to beat over a surface he might not particularly enjoy.

Gio Ponti worked four furlongs in :52.59 over a soft turf course at Belmont Park. He is enjoying a fine year and should be rolling late in the Classic.

Quality Road also drilled at Big Sandy, but he did his work on the main track, getting five panels 1:00.81. He should be a pace factor in the Cup, but his ability to handle synthetic ground is a major question.

2007 Classic show finisher Awesome Gem, coming off a win in the Hawthorne Gold Cup, went six furlongs in 1:13, and I would not be shocked if his late rally netted him another minor award.

Ky Derby winner Mine That Bird galloped a couple of miles on Oct 31st, and he will have his final Cup work on Monday.

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Results and video from all past Breeders’ Cup Classic races can be found here.

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Blame was my Super Derby top, and he ran a big race to land the place behind lone speedster Regal Ransom that day. He was facing quality older horses in Lexington, including multiple graded winner Parading. The latter had the lead in the lane on Oct 31st, but Blame wore him down for his first graded tally. Hats off winning trainer Al Stall Jr. and jockey Jamie Theriot.

Super Derby runner-up Blame captures the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland

Churchill Downs kicks off their fall meet on Nov. 1st, and the opening day Stars of Tomorrow card features a pair of graded juvenile races.

First up is the Grade 3 Pocahontas for 2yo fillies, and they will be traveling a flat mile on the main track. Click here for my Pocahontas analysis.

The 2yo males get their turn in the Grade 3 Iroquois, and from the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it file comes likely fav Dublin. He reeled off two good looking wins at the Spa under Jamie Theriot, but the owners wanted a rider change for the Champagne. They got Ramon Dominguez, and he finished a flat 5th in that event. The Wayne Lukas trainee will now be ridden by Rajiv Maragh, and blinkers are added for this.

Speaking of Theriot, he will ride Comedero. The fleet colt easily captured both of his six furlong starts at Louisiana Downs, and the waters get deeper today.

For my free analysis of the Iroquois, click here.

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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.

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