“Saturday in the park. I think it was the 4th of July.”

As we take time to remember the birth of the nation this weekend with our July 4 festivities, we’ll also be treated to some quality racing action by virtue of the holiday having landed on a Saturday.  What better way to celebrate the triumph of our colonial forces over tyrannical British rule, or the victory won at Gettysburg by Federal forces over Lee’s infamous Army of Northern Virginia than by taking in some racing action while you sit back and relax in your favorite chair?  No doubt some fireworks will be in store later in the evening as dusk approaches.  Might we also witness some fireworks on the race track earlier in the day?  We’ll take a look at some of the major action going on at Belmont Park, Monmouth Park, and Hollywood Park.

We’ll kick things off in Belmont by looking at the late Pick 4, which begins with the 8th race of the afternoon.  We managed to nail a Pick 4 last week at Belmont, as the Beatles might say “with a little help from our friends.”  We’ll see if this week can bear similar results.

Belmont Race 8 – The Dwyer (G2) – 1 1/16 Miles (4:44 ET)

• #1 Warrior’s Reward (9/5*)
• #5 American Dance (8/1)
• #2 Convocation (5/1)

Only 7 runners are entered for the 92nd running of The Dwyer, but it’s a very interesting race nonetheless.  Most of the attention will rightly be focused on morning line favorite, Warrior’s Reward.  The son of white-hot sire Medaglia d’Oro just missed in the Northern Dancer on 6/13 and has turned in a sharp bullet workout on 6/29 while looking to make amends in the ever crucial 3rd start of his current form cycle.  He’s the one you’ve got to beat to score.

Looking over the rest of the field, #5 American Dance makes quite a bit of sense to me at very generous odds of 8/1.  The son of A.P. Indy has knocked heads with the likes of Dunkirk, Warrior’s Reward, Old Fashioned, and Imperial Council in his young career – fairly good company if you ask me.  He was no match for the favorite last February when the running line denotes that he “faltered.”  If you draw a line through that race, the Todd Pletcher trainee seems to be improving nicely.  At 8/1 it won’t take much for him to be worth of a spot play, and if nothing else he’s a nice horse to consider using underneath in the exotics.

Convocation is another improving runner, this time a son of Pulpit, who took 4 tries to break his maiden.  Trainer James Jerkens seems to have him coming into form nicely and he reunites with jockey Alan Garcia, who rode him in his debut.  It is interesting to note that he was steadied and “boxed in” when losing to Top It two races a back, a horse that was soundly defeated by another of today’s rivals (#4 Masala).  I’m assuming that if not for that trip trouble, Convocation would’ve defeated Top It as well.  Just a hunch.

Obviously then, I’m taking a stand against the 2nd choice on the line, #6 Just Ben (2/1) for all but the bottom of exotic wagers.  My thinking is that being a Speightstown colt, he’s probably better suited for the shorter sprint distances that he’s run effectively at thus far.  I’m not sure a mile and a sixteenth is his game. 

Belmont Race 9 – The Prioress (G1) – 6 Furlongs (5:16 ET)

• #6 Gabby’s Golden Gal (7/2)
• #1 Cat Moves/ #1A Light Green (3/1)
• #8 On the Menu (6/1)

We move into Grade 1 territory for the 62nd running of The Prioress.  This is a very interesting 3-year-old filly race.  One wonders how small this field might’ve turned out if Rachel Alexandra had decided to run here instead of the Mother Goose?  Lucky for these guys, there is no Rachel today.  That being said, they will have their own talented daughter of Medaglia d”Oro to deal with in #6 Gabby’s Golden Gal.  You might remember Gabby from Belmont Stakes day this year, as she got a bit overheated following her dominating victory in the Acorn.  She looked like an absolute beast that day, and has been training like an absolute beast ever since (two bullet workouts on 6/20 and 6/28).  Looking over the competition arrayed against her today, she might well have to be a beast to prevail in the Prioress.  I say this because she’s cutting back drastically to the 6 furlong distance, which might not be her best game.  Additionally, she seems a speedy type, and this race is not without others who will have designs on the lead in the early going.   I’d spread a bit here in the Pick 4 is all I’m saying.

The coupled entry of #1 Cat Moves and #1 Light Green forms an interesting duo for owner Edward Evans and trainers Tony Dutrow (Cat Moves) and Todd Pletcher (Light Green). Light Green is the faster of the two and the most likely to be involved in the pace setup that should also involve Gabby’s Golden Gal and Selva.  Cat Moves is an improving but lightly raced daughter of Tale of the Cat who is not without some speed of her own.  It’ll be interesting to see how this race sets up for each of them.

Don’t forget about trainer Larry Jones, who is sitting in a sneaky position on the outside with #8 On the Menu.  This will obviously be a step up in class for the daughter of Canadian Frontier, but the race may come together nicely for her if she can secure a good stalking position just behind the expected pace. I think this horse has a better shot of hitting the board than others with lower odds on the morning line, including #7 Selva (5/1) and #3 Heart Ashley (4/1), who was all out despite an easy lead to hold off the late charging Cinderella’s Wish in the Miss Preakness back in May.   I remember Heart Ashley being a very fine looking filly though, so I will be checking her out in the post parade to try and make a final evaluation.

Belmont Race 10 – The Suburban Handicap (G2) – 1 1/4 Miles (5:49 ET)

• #3 It’s a Bird (2/1*)
• #4 Asiatic Boy (5/2)
• #1 Finallymadeit (20/1)

 We drop back down to the Grade 2 level and stretch back out to a route of ground for the 123rd running of the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap.  This race came up very strong on paper and is perhaps the most difficult to separate of the entire Pick 4 sequence.  I wound up on the chalk, #3 It’s a Bird, for top honors nonetheless.  Back to back 107 Beyer figures and 3 victories in your last 4 races tends to make a runner stick out.   Having proven victories at distances ranging from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/2 miles, I’m not worried about the distance of The Suburban.  He should be in a great spot to receive a strong stalking trip and then look to make his move as the field enters the turn. 

Asiatic Boy is the x-factor of the race, as he returns on short rest from his battle with Einstein for Place honors behind Macho Again in the Stephen Foster (G1) on 6/13.  He’s probably best known as the horse that ran 2nd to Curlin in the 2008 Dubai World Cup.  He wasn’t able to repeat that effort when dusted by Well Armed in the 2009 edition, but then bounced back with a big effort in the Stephen Foster. I’m not sure where to rank this horse as he seems to be a hit or miss type.  I’ll give him a shot like It’s a Bird to sit a nice stalking trip as his past performance lines are filled with comments that begin “tracked” or “rated.” 

A longshot that really intrigues me here is #1 Finallymadeit.  It’s rather hard to believe that we can get anything like 20/1 on a horse like this.  He’s won 16 races lifetime, including 2 this year, for a grand total of over $900,000 in earnings.  Perhaps more impressively, if you like It’s a Bird in this race, do note that Finallymadeit defeated him last November.  He’s probably running into an unfavorable pace setup, as #10 Samhoon and #8 Cool Coal Man figure to be looking for the lead early on as well, but certainly he’s worth factoring into the exotics at least at such odds. 

I also wouldn’t totally sleep on #2 Dry Martini as well.  He’s a notch below the others, but might be the one that benefits the most from the pace setup. 

In the final leg of the Pick 4 (Race 11 – a $44k Maiden Special Weight), I think you can reduce the field down to #1 Wild Entry,  #1A Grassy, and #7 Tawaared.

Belmont Late Pick 4 Ticket ($48)

1,5/ 1,6,8/ 1,2,3,4/ 1,7

Monmouth Park – Race 10 – The United  Nations (G1) – 1 3/8 Miles – Turf (5:20 ET)

• #7 Presious Passion (9/2)
• #1 Banrock (6/1)
• #5 Court Vision (3/1)

We move to Monmouth Park in New Jersey for their feature race of the afternoon, the 56th running of the United Nations (G1) going 1 3/8 miles over the turf course.  Very difficult race to decipher.  I thought the pace setup might favor Presious Passion getting to the lead, and if so he may be very difficult to take down.  This is the kind of runner you’ve got to respect, with 3 wins in his last 5 races (all of them finishes in the exacta).  All things considered, 9/2 is fairly generous value for a runner like this, although I don’t think he’ll be that high come post time (I’m thinking more like 3/1?). 

I wouldn’t sleep on Banrock though either, as this runner almost nailed Presious Passion in the Monmouth Stakes.  He should be right there at the end as well.   Another small move forward and he’s a likely candidate for win honors. 

Court Vision will be a popular selection based on name recognition, but we simply don’t know if the distance will be to his liking.  I expect a game effort, just didn’t see enough to pull the trigger and make him the top selection.  I could imagine him having his work cut out for him as he tries to close into Presious Passion’s lead late in the stretch. 

Better Talk Now is a horse that regular readers know I always cover.  He’s simply one of my favorite  horses in the world.  The legendary “black beast” and former turf champion.  I thought he looked excellent running on gamely for show in the Manhattan Handicap (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.  Similar to Court Vision, the pace scenario doesn’t exactly flatter his chances as a late closing type.  In the end I just trust “blackie’s” heart and soul a bit more than many of the other runners.

Another guy I was trying to find a way to make a case for is Wesley.  One of these days, this horse is going to bust out and run a career defining race.  It’s just hard to imagine it being this Saturday. If, however, he looks good in the post parade, I might just be tempted enough to take a flyer on him.

Hollywood Park – Race 8 – The American Handicap (G2) – 1 1/8 Miles (4:30 PT)

• #5 Whatsthescript (8/5)
• #2 Storm Military (5/1)
• #4 Monterey Jazz (5/2)

We’ll keep things simple here as we wind up with the 70th running of the American Handicap (G2) at Hollywood.  Only 6 horses are signed on here, and #5 Whatsthescript appears to be the obvious horse to beat.  Storm Military and Monterey Jazz will likely be the leaders in the early going, and Whatsthescript will be trying to close into whatever those two produce.  It’s important to note that Monterey Jazz did defeat Whatsthescript back in December 0f 2007, but I simply feel Whatsthescript is a much better horse at this point in his career.

So there you have it.  Make sure you enjoy your holiday weekend and hopefully by the time we’re through here you are saddling up to witness a kick ass fireworks display with a few extra dollars in your pocket.  Happy 4th of July everyone!

Race 11: The 141st running of The Belmont (G1) – 1 1/2 Miles

• #1 Chocolate Candy (G. Gomez/ J. Hollendorfer) 10/1
• #2 Dunkirk (J. Velazquez/ T. Pletcher) 4/1
• #3 Mr. Hot Stuff (E. Prado/ E. Harty) 15/1
• #4 Summer Bird (K. Desormeaux/ T. Ice) 12/1
• #5 Luv Gov (M. Mena/ D. W. Lukas) 20/1
• #6 Charitable Man (A. Garcia/ K. McLaughlin) 3/1
• #7 Mine That Bird (C. Borel/ B. Woolley Jr.) 2/1*
• #8 Flying Private (J. Leparoux/ D. W. Lukas) 12/1
• #9 Miner’s Escape (J. Lezcano/ N. Zito) 15/1
• #10  Brave Victory (R. Maragh/ N. Zito) 15/1

And here we are, the climax of the Triple Crown season.  It’s hard to believe we’re already here.  Having already looked at the stakes races comprising the awesome Belmont undercard for Saturday, it’s time to look forward to the 141st running of the Belmont itself.  Has it really been a full year since we gathered to watch Big Brown march towards what appeared to be a certain date with Triple Crown glory, only to have those hopes tossed out like so much trash?  Obviously we don’t have a horse with a Triple Crown on the line this time around, but as we all know jockey Calvin Borel is looking to sweep the 3-year-old classics nonetheless.  

Speaking of his horse, what can anyone say about Mine That Bird that hasn’t already been said?  You’ve got to love “the bird.”  Admittedly, he was not even an afterthought when I first made my Derby selections in early May.  After romping home at 50/1, I learned to respect him, but somehow left him out of place position on my Preakness trifecta.  Big mistake.  He once again thundered home in the stretch and if not for the ability of the super filly Rachel Alexandra may have had his own date with Triple Crown destiny.  For his efforts in those races, I’ve dubbed him “the little colt who could.”  Now he enters the Belmont as the undisputed favorite, with many folks ready to hand the race right to him.  In fact, many of these same people have already expressed angst that Rachel Alexandra then “stole” a potential Triple Crown from us.  I think I’ve said pretty much all I need to say about that subject, so I’ll refrain from going off on yet another Rachel related rant. 

He ought to run away with this one, right? 

It’s a foregone conclusion, right? 

Where’s that Lee Corso line I like to use in times like this?  

“Not so fast!” 

Lee Corso of ESPN College Gameday

Look, he’s clearly the most accomplished runner and the guy they are going to have to resist in the stretch, but there’s a chance that this race will set up the least to his liking of all the Triple Crown races.  We know he’s a closer, and closers tend to like as solid an early pace as they can get.  The trouble is  (from Mine That Bird’s perspective), where’s the speed in this race?  I’ve no doubt whatsoever that Mine That Bird will run his heart out.  You know he’ll do that much.  He’s also got a fairly explosive turn of foot once he decides to go, meaning I don’t think he’s as susceptible to a slow early pace as your typical dead-late closer might be.  I’m just suggesting that this race might not set up quite as favorably as the first two legs of the Triple Crown…which would seem odd considering he went from the absolute back of the pack in a 19 horse field on Derby day, never an easy accomplishment.  

Jockey Calvin Borel has predicted victory aboard Mine That Bird, and the other jockeys in this race would be foolish to concede the rail to him.  Mine That Bird did prove to us in the Preakness that he doesn’t need the rail to be effective though.  He can launch a dangerous assault in the stretch from the inside or from out wide.  Obviously his chances would increase exponentially if he did find a way through on the rail again.

But if this race isn’t a foregone conclusion, who might the spoiler be?

Let’s start with Charitable Man, who would appear to be the pace, or at a minimum part of whatever pace there is.  The improving son of Lemon Drop Kid should relish the extra distance (Lemon Drops tending to enjoy added ground), and if he can also get away with an early lead he might prove very tough.  It’s worth noting that he’s defeated Friesan Fire and Imperial Council (not to mention today’s rival #10 Brave Victory).  Not bad for having only raced 4 times in his career.  He’s also in the ever-important 3rd start of his current form cycle.  Miner’s Escape could also be a pace factor, but you get the feeling that Charitable Man has it within him to go right past him if he desires. 

One could see this race easily turning into whether the Derby champion can rundown the new challenger in the stretch.  When you close your eyes and think about it like that, this could be a good one.  We might be in for one of those stretch battles that we talk about for years to come.  A couple of years ago we were treated to this when Rags to Riches and Curlin fought it out down the length of the stretch.  That’s the kind of finale you can get when a race turns up rather paceless in the beginning and turns into an all out sprint in the final furlongs.  Of course, there’s always the possibility of a wire-to-wire winner in a race with limited pace. 

Looking over the rest of the field, it wasn’t long ago that Dunkirk was a trendy pick to win the Kentucky Derby.  After an 11th place finish that saw him defeated by 19 lengths, you don’t hear a lot of people talking about this horse anymore.  Is one race enough to totally sour on Dunkirk?  He’s listed at 4/1 on the morning line, which suggests he’s got a respectable chance.  If he were somehow able to repeat his effort in the Florida Derby, he would suddenly become quite scary here.  I think the question most handicappers will be asking is how effectively he’ll be able to handle the 1 1/2 mile distance of the Belmont.  Along those lines, trainer D. Wayne Lukas (who sends out longshots Luv Gov and Flying Private) had perhaps the best quote of the week: “They all can run a mile and a half.  Some just take longer than others.”  My feeling about Dunkirk is that he should easily be able to improve upon his Derby performance.  Just how much is a bit unclear, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy put it all together and ran a strong race.  If he runs anything like the Dunkirk that we thought he was going into the Florida Derby, he ought to be right there at the finish with a big shot.

Of the longer shots in the field, Chocolate Candy is a bit interesting at 10/1, although we still don’t really know how well this horse likes a true dirt surface. What we do know is that he’s a winner, having amassed over half a million dollars in lifetime earnings (2nd only to Mine That Bird in this field).  All things considered, and as awful as many horses had it in the Kentucky Derby, he did run on late for a very respectable 5th.  My concern though is that he may be more of a closer on dirt, in which case it would be hard to boost his chances over a runner like Mine That Bird.  If, however, he can be a bit more forwardly placed (say around midpack or so) in the early going, he could have a chance.  If you toss that Derby performance last out, he’d managed to hit the board in seven straight starts, with 4 of those being outright victories.

If you’re looking for a real longshot with a chance to score, why not take a good long look at Summer Bird?  He’s the gratuitous “other Birdstone” in this race.   Don’t we see this happen all the time?  Usually it’s with coupled entries, where we focus so much on one horse, and then their less heralded stable mate goes out and  prevails.  All of the focus is on Mine That Bird, and rightfully so.  Would it really be that big a surprise though if the “other Birdstone” runner turned in his best race?  I thought this guy looked fantastic going to post in both the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.  Much like Chocolate Candy, he didn’t run all that badly in the Derby as he found a way to finish 6th.  That means 13 other runners finished behind him.  What’s more, he was a fast improving colt going into that race.  Jockey Kent Desormeaux takes the mount this weekend and will look to make amends for the anti climatic finish of heavily favored Big Brown in the 2008 Belmont.

You also can’t totally count out Nick Zito from any Belmont.  This year he’s got two longshots in the aforementioned Miner’s Escape and Brave Victory.  He shocked us all last year with a well bred longshot in Da’ Tara, so we can’t act totally surprised if he does it again.  I’d view both of his runners as outsiders, but you just never know with this guy.  Miner’s Escape is the Tesio winner, and will probably go off with the longer odds of the two, having only broken his maiden back on March 14. 

Another recent maiden graduate is D. Wayne Lukas’ longshot Luv Gov.  We heard during Preakness week that Luv Gov was “prepping for the Belmont.”  It would be only fitting and proper if he made his biggest splash in New York, as he’s named for disgraced former Governor Elliot  Spitzer.  Of course, Lukas also sends out the closer Flying Private, who was moving well late along with Mine That Bird in the Preakness and wound up finishing 4th with a career high Beyer of 102.  I’d love his chances if the pace were expected to be a bit hotter.  Still, you have to respect anything that “D Wayne” sends out to the track.

Lastly there is Mr. Hot Stuff.  The Tiznow of the field.  Just keep that in mind, as last year we let a Tiznow light up the tote board.  The trouble with this guy is that despite having run in the Derby, we’ve really got no idea how he likes the dirt.  At this point he seems to be more of a synthetic runner, but then again we said that about Colonel John last year and he wound up being pretty good on dirt himself.  I loved how he looked in the post parade for the Santa Anita Derby, although some thought he looked underdeveloped.  You know my thoughts on Tiznow colts.  NEVER underestimate the power of Tiznow!  Now if I could just follow my own advice as not only did I let Da’ Tara beat me last year, but in the past two months I’ve been knocked out of 3 Pick 4 tickets by longshot Tiznows. You’d think I’d have learned by now.  What’s even worse is that I have learned…it’s just that I seem to forget that lesson whenever the same scenario presents itself.  It’s hard to make a case for him on paper, but then again, he does have Edgar Prado aboard, and he does have an excuse for the poor Derby finish (as noted in his running line; ”bumped, squeezed st”)

So whom do we choose?

Man…can I pick a dead heat? 

I definitely think Mine That Bird is the best horse in this field.  No question. It’s just that the “best horse” does not always win the race. If they did than this entire game would be elementary.  I’m going to stick with him though, even with the shorter odds. Truth be told I’m desperately torn between him and Charitable Man. It’s a tough call, and while “Birdie” could prove vastly superior in the stretch, there seems to be enough going Charitable Man’s way to give him a very serious look in the post parade.  It would be incredibly foolish to leave either runner off the exotic wagers, so make sure you’ve got them both covered. 

I’ll probably use Dunkirk, Chocolate Candy, and Summer Bird in my trifecta as well. Depending on how they look in the post parade, I’d also consider using Mr. Hot Stuff and Flying Private on the bottom just in case they find their ways through.  The odds will be long enough that it might be worth the risk. Of course, using Mine That Bird, Flying Private, Chocolate Candy, and Summer Bird would make my ticket awfully heavy on the closers for a race that appears to be on the soft side pace wise.  Hmmmm…it’s probably best to let the paddock impressions decide the final selections for the bottom of the ticket.

Selections:

• #7 Mine That Bird (2/1*)
• #6 Charitable Man (3/1)
• #1 Chocolate Candy (10/1)

Best of luck to everyone, and here’s hoping the weather takes a turn for the best here in the next 24 hours.  It’s been a rainy day all along the eastern seaboard, and Belmont sure could use some sunshine to dry out those track surfaces and help ensure a healthy crowd for Belmont 141.

Expert
Breeders Cup Picks for 2009 at Santa Anita Race Track, Friday and Saturday Novemeber 6th and 7th, 2009 & Sunday Picks too Breeders Cup Picks

Breeders Cup Picks We have had a winning year the last 4 years including
($20 win )and a $10 exacta last year.

Breeders Cup Tips

We analyze all of the Breeders Cup Entries, Breeders Cup Contenders, Breeders Cup Favorites,
Long Shots, Sleepers , Preps and more.

We offer full card Breeders Cup Picks laid out and how to bet them for the Entire
Breeders Cup card and feature selections for more tracks like:
Hollywood, Delaware, Woodbine, Pimlico, Calder and more.

Also Churchill Downs picks-

Click the link below to access all of our Breeders Cup Picks:

Guaranteed winners too!
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Todd Pletcher is all of a sudden in the thick of the Breeders Cup picture with a 1-2 finish in the Blue Grass Stakes.

See info below and links to the Top Handicapping and picks and selections
web sites:

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Recommended Breeders Cup Stakes Web Sites:

Breeders Cup Picks | Breeders Cup Tips | Breeders Cup Tip Sheet | Breeders Cup Contenders
2009 Breeders Cup Stakes Picks
In the 2006 Derby we had Barbaro and we hit a $100, $144 and $1,000 exactas at Breeders Cup..we hit Menasha again at 17-1 we alos had 45-1 and 30-1 horses.

Its going to be a great day Breeders Cup 2009 the race this year appears wide open with every horse seemingly having a chance to win..but we have our horse again and we expect to win again with our Breeders Cup Picks ..and we use those winnings to pay or mortgage throughout the year.

We have some live long shots running every Saturday and we hit the Arkansas Derby exacta again ($44) we actually had it 3 times!

So click the links below to win money on Breeders Cup day:

Aqueduct Picks – Santa Anita Tips

triple Crown 2009
_____________________________________

We had a great Breeders Cup last year- a great Derby and Preakness day we had 8 winners in a row!

In the most significant expansion of its racing program since its inception
24 years ago, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will
expand to 11 races and a two-day format in 2007. The addition of three
new Breeders’ Cup World Championships races carrying purses of $1 million
each was approved by the Breeders’ Cup.

The expanded format will take effect with this year’s event to be conducted
on Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27, at Monmouth Park in Oceanport,
N.J. Total purses for the 11 Breeders’ Cup World Championship races will
increase to $23 million. The Breeders’ Cup World Championship races on
Friday and Saturday will be televised by ESPN.

The new Breeders’ Cup World Championships races, which will be run on
Friday, October 26, are as follows:

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile – 1 Mile, 70 yds* – 3-year-olds and
up
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint – 6 furlongs* – 3-year-olds
& up, fillies & mares
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – 1 mile (turf) – 2-year-olds,
colts, geldings and fillies

*In future years, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile will be run at 1 mile and
the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint will be run at seven furlongs.
Monmouth Park track configuration mandates that the races be run at the
above distances in 2007.

In addition to the three new Breeders’ Cup World Championships races,
there will be three other stakes races on the card funded by the Breeders’
Cup and each of the three races will carry a purse of $250,000. They are:
a 1 1/16-miles race for 3-year-old fillies; a 1-mile turf race for 2-year-old
fillies and a six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds. Total purses for the
10-race card on Breeders’ Cup Friday will be $4 million, making it the
second-richest racing day in North America.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships continue on Saturday, October 27,
with the following eight races in the program:
2009 Horse racing tips
Race Distance Age/Sex
$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge 1 1/4 miles 3-year-olds
and up
$3 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf 1 1/2 miles (turf) 3-year-olds
and up
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies 1 1/16 miles 2-year-old fillies
$2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 1 1/16 miles 2-year-old
colts & geldings
$2 million Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf 3/8 miles (turf) 3-and-up,
fillies & mares
$2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile 1 mile (turf) 3-year-olds and up
$2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint 6 furlongs 3-year-olds and up
$2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff 1 1/8 miles 3-year-olds
and up, fillies & mares

Santa Anita Full card

Breeders Cup Picks

Breeders Cup Picks | Breeders Cup Tips
The 2009 world championships of thoroughbred racing will meet on Friday Nov 6 and Sat Nov 7 at Santa Anita Race Track…
Breeders Cup picks | Breeders Cup picks
Complete Breeders Cup picks and Breeders Cup analysis Breeders Cup Tipsand Breeders Cup Information including.. Bereders Cup Odds, Breederes Cup entries, Breeders Cup post positions, Breeders Cup jockeys, Breeders Cup trainers and which horses to bet in the Breeders Cup and who will win the Breeders Cup..

Breeders Cup Tips | Breeders Cup Tips and Picks

Santa Anita is hosting the Breeders cup for the 2nd year in a row..the horses will run on the artificail surface pro ride…
Breeders Cup Picks
Featuring a musical introduction from the Baltimore Based Bagpipe player Paul Cora..playing standard Bag Pipe tunes across the Mid Atlantic region..Amazing Grace..this Bag Piper is well known in the

Maryland Bagpipe Players world.

Breeders Cup Tips | Breeders Cup Tip Sheet

Belmont Stakes betting lines are live in the Bodog Racebook! Also find Davidowitz and Tuley’s faceoff picks on Belmont Stakes winners!
David Tuley’s picks
1. MACHO AGAIN: He finished second to BIG BROWN in the Preakness, even though he never really threatened the winner. He gains the services of top jockey Garrett Gomez, who is still without a Classic victory. At 20-1 on the morning line, MACHO AGAIN should definitely outrun his odds and I give him a better-than-average chance of pulling the upset if he becomes the first to challenge BIG BROWN eye to eye down the stretch.
2. CASINO DRIVE: Casino Drive has been hailed as the one most likely to spoil BIG BROWN’s Triple Crown bid. After winning his maiden race in Japan, he came over here and won over the Belmont track, which is a good sign. Downgraded him a little as his connections have avoided working him on the wet surface earlier this week, so he might need a fast track.
3. BIG BROWN: Big Brown is the class of the field, but he’s still trying to overcome many obstacles, including hoof problems, and trying to win three races over five weeks against horses fresher than he. If he pulls off the feat, he deserves every accolade. But I’m betting against it.

Steve Davidowitz’ picks
1. BIG BROWN: a strong colt with multiple gears, dominated the Derby and Preakness. Yet much training skill was needed to get him through a cracked hoof for this 12-furlong race. Earned benefit of doubt with good workout on Tuesday.
2. DENIS OF CORK: He was third in the Derby despite missing some important preparation. Strong Churchill workouts for this; upset threat.
3. CASINO DRIVE: His Peter Pan win in just his second career start was better than all but very few horses that Big Brown already has beaten.

Post positions were drawn today for the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.  As we all know, the big story is Big Brown’s quest for the Triple Crown.  Nine other horses will contend with the super-colt as he tries to make history as just the 12th horse ever to win the Triple Crown.  The field will be as follows:

1. Big Brown
2. Guadalcanal
3. Macho Again
4. Denis of Cork
5. Casino Drive
6. Da’ Tara
7. Tale of Ekati
8. Anak Nakal
9. Ready’s Echo
10. Icabad Crane

Some of you may not know this, but I’m a bit of a history lover – especially military history  - so the irony that a battle between a U.S. trained colt (Big Brown) and a Japanese trained colt (Casino Drive) that now also includes a horse named Guadalcanal is not lost on me.

For those who don’t know what Guadalcanal was – it was a particularly fierce battle between the U.S. and the Japanese in the early days of World War 2 (early from the U.S. perspective, that is).  The battle raged from August of 1942 to February of 1943.  The U.S. fleet had been significantly weakened during the Pearl Harbor raid, and throughout much of the fighting the Japanese actually enjoyed naval superiority over our troops.  The so-called “Tokyo Express” ferrying fresh troops and supplies to the island while the U.S. troops tried to secure the area inch by inch. 

The U.S. would lose 29 ships, 600+ aircraft, and would lose over 7,000 men during the battle.  The Japanese, fighting to the bitter end, would lose roughly 25,000 men, as well as 38 ships and over 700 aircraft.   The battle itself was a turning point – a significant allied victory – and a hard earned one at that.

Looking ahead to the race, Big Brown certainly has a “significant victory” well within reach – but he may well have to do battle with the Japanese competitor in the stretch.  It could well be a hard earned victory.  A victory that perhaps will seem in doubt at some point during the race -just as the outcome of Guadalcanal seemingly hung in the balance during those dark days of WW2.

During the battle  the fierce fighting around Henderson field became something of a focal point. The Japanese wanted to knock it out to prevent aerial resupply of U.S. forces.  The U.S. wanted desperately to hang on.  At times the fighting was close-quarters.  Grim, bloody stuff – with bayonet charges against machine gun positions, night attacks, and even concentrated bombardment of the field from Japanese battleships just offshore.

Might Big Brown find himself in a similar predicament?  Might the quarter pole, or perhaps the length of the Belmont stretch be Big Brown’s version of Henderson Field?  I don’t mean to make light of the sacrifices of those who fought there by drawing too many comparisons between an actual battle for life and death and a horse race, but surely there are some interesting story lines amd ironies to consider here.

In the end, Guadalcanal was a U.S. victory.  The Japanese defenders were vanquished, and the long campaign of “island hopping” in the Pacific soon began, culminating with the Japanese surrender aboard the “Mighty Mo” (USS Missouri – BB 63) in 1945.

The obvious contender that everyone is buzzing about with a chance to knock off Big Brown is the Japanese trained Casino Drive.  The eastern invader is talented son of Mineshaft that is undefeated thus far racing in Japan, as well as at Belmont Park in the Peter Pan. 

Several other familiar faces return to take on Big Brown, including the 3rd and 4th place finishers from the Kentucky Derby – Denis of Cork and Tale of Ekati.   They will join the 2nd and 3rd place finishers from the Preakness – Macho Again and Icabad Crane.

Rounding out the field are the likely longshots Anak Nakal, Da’ Tara, Ready’s Echo, and the Guadalcanal.  Of those longer shots, we last saw Da’ Tara battling it out with Roman Emperor in the stretch at Pimlico in the Barbaro Stakes.  Ready’s Echo has chased Casino Drive in the Peter Pan and could pose a chance to get into the money.  Anak Nakal is probably the better bred of these guys for the distance, being a son of Victory Gallop.

I see this race as having a chance to play out a bit similarly to the historical fight on Guadalcanal.  I’ve posted before that I do think Big Brown will be tested by Casino Drive, perhaps more than he’s been tested before in the Derby and Preakness.  On Guadalcanal the Japanese Army was seemingly ahead of the U.S. at the time in terms of jungle fighting capabilities – they were some of the finest light infantry in the world.  Similarly, Casino Drive seems bred for the fight on Saturday, with his kinship to Jazil and Rags to Riches, Belmont winners both. Being some of the finest light infantry in the world couldn’t save the Japanese on Guadalcanal – and I doubt pedigree alone will save Casino Drive in the Belmont.  I see Big Brown looking him straight in the eye and running right past him, with Casino Drive putting up a brave challenge, but falling short in the end. 

Breaking from the inside post would usually mean Big Brown would have to gun it out of the gate, and he may well do so, but with his patented cruising speed, one gets the feeling he may hold off quite a bit on Saturday before unleashing  his main run. 

Casino Drive looks like the obvious play in the exacta.  When filling out the trifecta I think you could make a case for Denis of Cork, Icabad Crane, Macho Again, and Tale of Ekati to all wind up in the money.  The key is going to be using those guys along with Casino Drive in the right position.  Ready’s Echo I have ranked just a tad outside of these guys, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if he or Anak Nakal found there way into show.

Denis of Cork is likely going to be the third choice on the line, and would be my straight up prediction for third.  That being said, I’ve got to use Icabad Crane.  I’ve followed this guy since Tesio day  at  Pimlico andhe looked to be moving well along the rail late in the Preakness.  The distance of the Belmont is my biggest concern with him.  That same concern applies to Macho Again – the horse that many have to thank for whatever winnings they were able to scrape up on Preakness day. 

Tale of Ekati is a horse I’m not quite as fond of, but he did run on for 4th in the Derby, and he did get past War Pass at a time when many thought War Pass was headed for a Triple Crown season (not me, but others did – even if they don’t want to admit it now).

We’ve only got a few days away before it’s time to finalize predictions.  I’ll be headed out to Belmont on Friday afternoon and won’t return until Sunday.  By then we’ll know if history has been made or if we’ve been teased once again.