Millionaire and 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford (Forestry — Oatsee, by Unbridled) after the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.  ”Shack” was a fan favorite who disappointed in the Breeders’ Cup with a 7th place finish, but ended his career on a high note by winning the Clark Handicap-G1 at Churchill Downs.  He now goes off to a stud career at Darby Dan Farm.  Win or lose, Shack was one of the most handsome horses to grace the track in the last few years, and he will be missed by his fans.

Related articles

• Shackleford wins at Churchill Downs in final race (nbcsports.msnbc.com)

Day – 2 of this year’s Breeders’ Cup races is now in the books so, below you’ll find all the – “Replays and Results”!

2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic,

Full Results

2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile,

Full Results

2012 Breeders Cup Sprint,

Full Results

2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf,

Full Results

2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile,

Full Results

2012 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint,

Full Results

2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile,

Full Results

2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint,

Full Results

2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf,

Full Results

Juvenile Turf

Lines of Battle
George Vancouver
Balance the Books

The Juvenile Turf looks pretty wide open, and there are a lot of other horses who could jump up and win this. It should be a really fun race.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Groupie Doll
Turbulent Decent
Switch
Dust & Diamonds

This race is all about Groupie Doll, but this wouldn’t be horse racing without surprises. My favorite non-favorite is Switch. She’s an incredibly classy filly who was always at her best sprinting.

Dirt Mile

Delegation
Fed Biz
Shackleford

Delegation is an interesting horse who I feel could like the dirt, so he’s my longshot. Shackleford is always such a class act that he must be included on the list. Fed Biz is an interesting case – the horse Baffert was touting as his best while Bodemeister and Paynter were active in the barn.

Turf Sprint

Starspangled Banner (AUS)
Camp Victory
Mizdirection

This is one of those divisions that I’ve never paid too much attention to. So I’ll pick the Australian, since they seem to do turf sprints better than anyone else. Camp Victory as I just like him, and Mizdirection as my favorite filly in the field.

Juvenile

He’s Had Enough
Monument
Fortify
Power Broker

Shanghai Bobby and Power Broker look like they’ll eat this field for breakfast, but cheering on all favorites is never fun. This feels like a good race for some longshots. If He’s Had Enough moves up in the switch to dirt he could be dangerous. Monument has a win at the distance over the track. I’ve got to give some props to the only horse in the field not having a medication change so Fortify makes the list.

Turf

Point of Entry
Shareta (IRE) / Treasure Beach (IRE)
St. Nicholas Abbey (IRE)
Optimizer

Point of Entry is such an amazing horse, he gives me hope that an American might actually be able to win the turf. St. Nick is still as good as ever and he obviously handles the trip over here. I find Shareta interesting, but will switch her with Treasure Beach if he looks really nice in the paddock. Optimizer is such a fun little underdog. He loves the turf and is bred to handle the distance – who knows, maybe he’ll get a piece of it. I really, really wish Dullahan had gone in the classic. He may surprise us here, but it seems very out of his element.

Sprint

Trinniberg
Amazombie
The Lumber Guy

If Trinniberg is in a race, I will always pick him. He is my favorite. Amazombie is the king of California sprints, and I believe he’s still got it. The Lumber Guy is definitely a fast horse; 6-1 seems like really nice odds for him.

Mile

Wise Dan
Excelebration (IRE)
Obviously (IRE)

Wise Dan is another horse who gives me hope that an American can win the Mile. Excelebration has been Frankel’s punching bag all year, and I am beyond curious to see how he stacks up against Wise Dan. Obviously has been stringing together wins here at Santa Anita, he could really do well here. I still love Animal Kingdom and Willcox Inn, but can’t cheer for them all.

Classic

Nonios
Brilliant Speed
Ron the Greek
Pool Play

This is probably the hardest race to pick. So I’ll just go with my gut in this one. Game on Dude should win this, but I’m going for an upset.

Rail Trip – a determined winner of today’s GII San Diego Handicap at old Del Mar

After a 2-year hiatus, Rail Trip, finally returned to the winner’s circle in today’s Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Mile”- “Win and You’re In” Challenge, the $200,000, GII San Diego Handicap, for 3yo’s and up, going 1 1/16 mile over the Del Mar “All Weather” main track!

Full Race Results

Coming 2nd, by 1/2 length, was the early leader here today in John Scott, 3rd went to Kettle Corn back another half length with the well pedigreed Take Control filling in the super spot here today back just a “Head” further in a tight finish here today!

Payouts and Winning time,

So, Rail Trip, will make that trip up the “5″ this fall to Santa Anita Park to finally take his place in a Breeders’ Cup event as he has just earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Mile” shoot-out this Nov. The Rail Trip, connections must be elated to find themselves again in the “Winner’s Circle” and on their way to a Breeders’ Cup dance at last!

Del Mar hosts a B/C Dirt Mile tilt this Saturday in the GII San Diego Handicap

Although it sounds a bit strange to call this annual $200,000, going 1 1/16 mile, GII San Diego Handicap, a B/C “Dirt Mile” test, as the Del Mar main is after all an “All Weather” surface, a.k.a, poly!

But still it is a “Win and You’re In” tilt for the B/C Dirt Mile this fall, just up the “5″ a few clicks to Santa Anita Park!

Free Past Performances,

The “Probables” coming out here are;

Last Year’s winner in Tres Borrachos, Morning Line, the 2010 B/C Dirt Mile runner-up to Dakota Phone, the 2010 winner of this race, Carla Gaines charge John Scott, Prayer For Relief and Take Control, a pair Bob Baffert pupils, Kettle Corn, Mobilized and Rail Trip all look to be on the card here this Saturday!

So like Jello, “there’s always room for more” in any potential B/C “Win and You’re In” contest and this year’s GII San Diego Hcp probably won’t be any different come race time this Saturday!

This is the start of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.  Not only is this one of my best photos, it is definitely the most lucrative.  I entered it in a Facebook photo contest held by the Breeders’ Cup and won the grand prize: a VIP trip to the 2009 Breeders’ Cup.  After spending two days standing at  the rail in 2008, I got to spend 2009 in the Trophy Lounge and therefore witnessed Zenyatta’s amazing Breeders’ Cup Classic win in style.  So you can see that this photo will always have a special meaning to me.

Not every good horse is cutout for a sprint shootout or the Classic distance either, so the birth of the “Dirt Mile” became a necessity!

So below are this year’s “Contender’s” for this big middle-distance Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile dust-up!

Free Past Performances ←here!

All Names are linked to that horse’s profile and PP’s at bottom of each profile!

1. The Factor - 7/2

2. Shackleford - 7/2

3. Tapizar – 20/1

4. Tres Borrachos - 30/1

5. Wilburn – 4/1

6. Irrefutable – 12/1

7. Jersey Town – 15/1

8. Caleb’s Posse - 5/1

9. Trappe Shot – 3/1

Picks are 2,5,8,9 in ex’s and tri’s and try 7,4 in supers!

So if you follow this “Sport of Kings” at all, then you’ll know that this is an All-American field, no Euro takers in here!

Not every good horse is cutout for a sprint shootout or the Classic distance either. So the birth of the “Dirt Mile” became a necessity!

So below are this year’s “Probables” for this big middle-distance Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile dust-up!

All Names are linked to that horse’s profile and PP’s at bottom of each profile!

Trappe Shot - 10/1

Shackleford - 20/1

Uncle Mo - 9/5 but x- entered in the Classic

Jackson Bend - 5/1

Wilburn – 12/1

Shackleford - 15/1

Caleb’s Posse - 20/1

Jersey Town - 30/1

To Honor and Serve - 10/1

The Factor - 6/1

Rule – 20/1

Aikenite – 20/1

Prayer For Relief - 30/1

Sidney’s Candy - 20/1

Tres Borrachos - 30/1

So if you follow this “Sport of Kings” at all, then you’ll know that this is an All-American field, no Euro takers in here!

This time it’s a B/C “Dirt Mile” test in the GII San Diego Handicap for 3yo’s and up, going just a mile, on the all-weather Del Mar main track, for a $200,000 purse and a spot in the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Mile” tussle on Nov 5th!

Update -  Tres Borrachos wins in a shocker – see Full Results by clicking here!

Race Replay below!

Free Past Performances

A field of 8 good middle-distance runners has been assembled here to take up this B/C  “Dirt Mile” Challenge!

By PP # | Horse | M/L Odds

Highlighted horse’s name is linked to a profile and PP’s of that horse!

1. Kevlar Kid at 4/1

2. Don Tito at 20/1

3. Oilisblackgold at 20/1

4. Spurrier at 7/2

5. Tres Borrachos at 8/1

6. Golden Itiz  at 4/1

7. Aggie Engineer at 3/1

8. Uh Oh Bango  at 9/2

Our Picks are 1,4,6,7 in a boxed exacta!

Remember, Dakota Phone came out of the Poly-world to beat Morning Line in last year’s B/C “Dirt Mile” contest at 38/1 too!

Another Breeders’ Cup contender also returns to action in the Native Diver as Romp runs for the first time since his Breeders’ Cup Marathon fiasco. Romp and jockey Martin Garcia survived what could have been a near-fatal accident on the final turn of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon when Prince Will I am with Javier Castellano up cut the pair off entering the homestretch. Displaying incredible athleticism, Romp fell to his knees and picked himself up all in the same motion while jockey Garcia flew out of the saddle and somehow managed to land back on Romp as the colt struggled to get back in the race.

The 6-year-old gelding had absolutely no shot in the Marathon but he emerged from the incident unscathed and appears ready to run his best. He cuts back in distance from the 1 ¾ miles Marathon distance to 1 1/8 miles in the Native Diver, but considering he was unable to run a competitive race the length of Churchill’s homestretch this could be the perfect move for him.

Soul Candy enters the Native Diver with the best 2010 record in the field. He has won three of his last four starts and

comes in fresh off a victory in the 1 1/8 mile California Cup Classic on October 30^th over the Hollywood Park surface. He ran down Del Mar Mile Handicap (g.3) winner and favored Enriched in the California Cup Classic to win by 1 ¼ lengths in a hand ride. With a victory over the Hollywood surface and at the same distance as the Native Diver, you have to think this 4-year-old son of Birdonthewire is in a good position entering the native Diver and seems to be improving at the right time.

The rest of the field is made up by Philatelist, Aggie Engineer, Achak and Spurrier.

Soul Candy looks the best in this field, especially coming off a win over the surface and at the same the distance as the Native Diver. Soul Candy’s grinding style should prove just as effective in the Native Diver if given a clear running path. His biggest threat could come from Dakota Phone who displays a great turn of foot on his best day. I think Dakota Phone, while having run very competitively over synthetics, is a better runner on the dirt.

Romp is a question mark here. Not having been able to finish his last race properly it’s hard to know where he is right now and how to place him. Instinct says that he will run well and trainer Kristin Mulhall is expecting a big effort from the gelding.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, Enjoy the races this weekend!

Isn’t it a fallacy to call this the “dirt mile?”  Shouldn’t it be the “synthetic mile?”  Or perhaps the “Pro-Ride mile?” Something just feels wrong calling this a “dirt” race when the only dirt in the area will be the familiar black grime that embeds itself under our fingernails after a feverish night of thumbing through the Daily Racing Form – but I digress! 

Is this race as easy to decipher as it appears on paper?  I must confess, after the confusion and uncertainty that abounds in the opening two races, I feel almost like a deer in headlights staring at Well Armed here.  Moreover, it seems all you really need to do is focus on the finish in the Goodwood, which in the irony of ironies this year SHOULD have been a key prep for the Classic and not necessarily the “dirt” mile.  Go figure.

The 2008 Goodwood featured Well Armed, Albertus Maximus, and Surf Cat

We’ve got three of the top finishers from the Goodwood here – Well Armed (winner), Albertus Maximus (3rd), and Surf Cat (4th).  All we’re missing is Tiago.  Might they run in the exact same order?  It certainly seems possible, if not likely.

I really can’t see this one going to anyone else than Well Armed under the strong handling of Aaron “the rider” Gryder.  I think he stalks and pounces. If I’ve got a fear about him, it’s that he hasn’t exactly done his best riding at the mile distance – but I’m still buying.  And since we’ve got 6 more races to cover and this is a “marathon” of an undertaking in covering each one separately, I’ll just leave it at that and move on.