184 probables to go and "history in the waiting!"

The Breeder’s Cup returns back to the natural “real” dirt surface for the first time in two year’s as racing’s championship day is back at Churchill Downs . It may be the first time also it’s contested on a “fair” racing surface. Because the last time it was on a true dirt surface at Monmouth Park in 2007, the track condition was very sloppy. We have a record amount of 184 horses entered for the two day event on November 5th and 6th. The pre-entries were released this past Wednesday and the fields look pretty interesting.

Friday will be the traditional “Ladies” day with racing for the first time in Breeder’s Cup history, extending into the night time hours. Since Churchill Downs installed lights a few year’s ago, this is the first time that the Cup races have been contested "under the lights". With the exception of the Breeder’s Cup Marathon , the entire Friday schedule will be for the filly and mares. The Friday card starts just after the 4 o’clock hour and finishes with the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic at 7:30pm. It’s very interesting that two of the biggest mares in the world will not be highlighted on Friday’s festivities. The reigning “Horse of the Year” – Zenyatta and European sensation & former Breeder’s Cup winner; Goldikova will race on Saturday and are out to make history. Runners like; Winter Memories, the N.Y. bred; Rightly So, defending BC filly & mare Turf Champion; Midday and Blind Luck, highlight the first day card. Money is to be made this first day with full, competitive fields.

Saturday’s action starts at 1:50pm with the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf. The first three races are wide open and then we come to the Juvenile dirt where the race may come down to Uncle Mo and Boys from Tosconova. We have this year’s Mile (on turf) with a short field because of the presence of the mare; Goldikova. In fact, both the Mile and Turf races have short fields this year. The European presence in the mile & a half Turf have especially limited the number of runners. We wrap things up around dusk once again at 6:50pm with the Breeder’s Cup Classic. The wonder horse; Zenyatta will try to complete a perfect 20 for 20 record and win back-to-back Breeder’s Cup Classic victories. It will be a little different this year since she will be racing on “natural” dirt and versus much tougher company than the past two years at Santa Anita Park.

I was very fortunate the past two years to make some money on the Breeder’s Cup races at Santa Anita. The handicapping on the synthetic surface was easier to separate horses that ran well on it and toss out the east coast and Kentucky based “real” dirt runners. This year it will be a bit harder and the “polytrack” runners may get a closer look going to the natural dirt surface for the first time in some cases. As always, only one score with the Breeder’s Cup full fields is needed to make a lot of cash. I started it off the past two year’s on Friday in the Breeder’s Cup Marathon and I’m two for two in its only two runnings.

I’ll be making selections for both Breeder’s Cup racing days next week in Friday’s and Saturday’s RECORDER and will talking about the races; Friday morning at 8:05 am on 1490 WCSS am on the “Bec and Mike” Show. It’s a much anticipated Breeder’s Cup this year with the return to a traditional racing surface and Zenyatta, trying to make history in her final career start.