RACE #3.
$2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES (GRADE I)
2 YR OLD FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES.RACE OVERVIEW: While the top two favorites have proven the most to date and might even dominate, this event is filled with plenty of lightly raced youngsters with significant room for improvement. A few will go to the post at sky high prices. A fast early pace likely.
PP Horse. . . . . . . .. . . .Jockey. . . . . . . . . . .My Odds Line. . .Comments.
1 DREAMING OF ANNA. . . Rene Douglas. . . 3-1 . .Won career debut on dirt in May at Arlington Park, then flashed a solid finishing kick in two stakes wins on grass in Canada, including a mile score with a last quarter clocked in 23 flat that earned the field’s best overall Beyer Fig . Excellent Polytrack workouts for this, good post, good rider, very serious contender in a race with plenty cheap speed.
2 SUTRA. . . Mike Luzzi. . . 25-1. . .Just missed when second in the Arlington Lassie and won a slowly run Frizette at Belmont with benefit of an early pace meltdown.
3 CASH INCLUDED. . . Corey Nakatani. . .5-2. . .Solid form in California and improved going this distance in the Oak Leaf stakes to earn the best Beyer Speed Figure on DIRT in the field. Also trained superbly on a Polytrack surface for this and figures to get a good stalking trip without losing ground.
4 OCTAVE. . . Garrett Gomez. . . 6-1. . .Todd Pletcher trainee was good in Graded NY sprints and is bred to get stronger at longer distances. But, she did have a perfect trip while only gaining slowly for her dead-heat second with stablemate Featherbed in the 7 furlong Matron. Needs to improve smartly to win here.
5 SHE'S INCLUDED. . . Victor Espinoza. . .15-1. . .Poor try in the slow Alcibiades in first outing around two turns (on polytrack) ; major improvement needed.
6 BEL AIR BEAUTY. . . Fernando Jara. . .12-1. . .Rallied to win the slow Alcibiades. Recent workouts over the track have not been encouraging. A likely bet against.
7 COTTON BLOSSOM. . . John Velazquez. . .12-1. . .First and second in two Graded sprint stakes at Saratoga, then made a decent move on the turn before weakening in the Alcibiades at this distance, Oct. 6. Pletcher trained, two encouraging Polytrack workouts since raced; guessing improvement, consider carefully.
8 LILLY CARSON. . . Cornelio Velasquez. . . 25-1. . .Got in from the Also Eligible list. Won career debut and was part of the fast pace when third in the sub par Frizette at one mile Oct. 14. Likely to be part of the pace here.
9 ADHRHYTHM. . .Edgar Prado. . . 15-1. . .Won three straight over softer in Florida, including her latest at this distance. Good jockey, can’t eliminate.
10 HER MAJESTY. . . Julien Leparoux. . . 12-1. . .Rallied despite some trouble for third in the Alcibiades on Polytrack at Keeneland. Worked sensationally on the Polytrack with blinkers added for trainer Patrick Biancone and is another useful longshot capable of winning this. May spice up the Exotic wagers.
11 SATULAGI. . .John Egan. . . 20-1. . .European filly with respectable form in active campaign of nine outings might use her edge in experience to pass several in the late going. Unknown rider John Egan comes to Kentucky for the first time with good reports from my British contacts. Still, seems hard to support.
12 APPEALING ZOPHIE. . . Shaun Bridgmohan. . . 15-1. . .Very fast front running type must cross over from the outer post to set the pace. Three works since raced and was hampered somewhat by the anti-speed bias that existed at Keeneland for the first Polytrack meet. Nevertheless, might prefer shorter race.
13 QUICK LITTLE MISS. . . Jon Court. . . 30-1. . .Slow breaking miss won a two turn sprint stakes at Fairplex Park on September 14 and came back two weeks later to finish well for OK third at 37-1 in the Oak Leaf at Santa Anita (won by the morning line favorite in here, Cash Included). Working well, but must overcome tough post to threaten.
14 GATORIZE Mark Guidry 30-1. . .Won first two sprints, then was an even fifth in the 14 horse Alcibiades at Keeneland. Another low profile longshot in a race filled with similar. Not hopeless, but would be big surprise.
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RACE #4.
POST TIME 1:10 pm, EST.
$2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE (GRADE I)
2 YR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS; 1 1/16 MILES
RACE OVERVIEW: A potentially great horse race with a half dozen closely matched young horses, some that may be back here in six months to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
PP Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jockey. . . . . . .Odds. . . . .Comment.
1 STREET SENSE. . . Calvin Borel. . . 20-1. . .Carl Nafzger trained colt is following a positive workout pattern similar to Unbridled, whom Nafzger trained to win the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Belmont stakes. Developing at a slightly faster rate; might surprise; but win or lose must watch his performance here.
2 STORMELLO. . . Kent Desormeaux. . . 10-1. . .Surprise winner of the Norfolk, showed a new dimension winning from off the pace in his first outing beyond 7 furlongs. Good works on Polytrack at Hollywood and galloped well over the Churchill strip. Dangerous longshot from good post and jockey Kent Desormeaux loves him.
3 SCAT DADDY. . . John Velazquez. . . 4-1. . .Somewhat underappreciated multiple Graded stakes winner, trained by Todd Pletcher. Finished strongly to out game the oversized and an extremely promising NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ in the 1-mile Champagne stakes at Belmont. Scat Daddy is a son of (2001 BC Juvenile winner) Johannesburg. Training very well, seems likely to appreciate more distance and is one of the key horses in this field.
4 KING OF THE ROXY. . . Edgar Prado. . .12-1. . .Another trained by the ever present Todd Pletcher, who entered 18 horses in this year’s BCup! This is one of his three in here. Been good in sprint stakes, but this distance may be his absolute limit.
5 C P West. . . Rafael Bejarano. . .15-1. . .Lightly raced Nick Zito trained colt was close to King of the Roxy in the 7 furlong Futurity and has acted more precocious than most 2 yr olds trained by Zito. Should run well from good post but will need very careful rating to handle the distance.
6 PRINCIPLE SECRET. . . Victor Espinoza. . . 5-1. . .Very gritty speed type with a touch of class who just failed to last when caught by longshot STORMELLO in the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita, Oct. 8. . .Did not gallop smoothly over the track first time around, but might simply have been off his game shipping in from California. Anyway, even if he’s 100 percent, he surely will have to overcome serious speed pressure in this field.
7 GREAT HUNTER. . . Corey Nakatani. . . 4-1. . .Trainer won this race last year with Stevie Wonderboy and this one improved on cue to win the Breeders’ Futurity over CIRCULAR QUAY when stretched out in distance. Looked very good galloping over the track and figures right there.
8 TEUFLESBERG. . . Robby Albarado. . . 30-1. . .Speed type thrives on activity. Won a sprint stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 22 and is another who figures to enforce a red hot, perhaps suicidal pace.
9 CIRCULAR QUAY. . . Garrett Gomez. . . 3-1. . .Stretch running winner of three sprints prior to a spotty performance when second to GREAT HUNTER in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile on the Polytrack at Keeneland. Has enormous potential as a Kentucky Derby prospect, but also has a mind of his own and sometimes seems to have no interest in running. Might need blinkers for his best down the road, but even without them at this stage, looms a serious late threat in a great, wide open contest.
10 PEGASUS WIND. . . Mike Luzzi. . .12-1. . .Improving speed type, might not win this, but he sure will make the front runners work extremely hard, which should set the race up for the strongest finishers.
11 GOT THE LAST LAUGH. . . Rene Douglas. . . 25-1. . . Hall of Fame trainer Billy Mott rarely gets a good 2 yr old prospect to work with. Scored dead heat win in the Arlington Washington Futurity on sloppy track then was nowhere in the Champagne at Belmont. Seems slightly overmatched right now.
12 U D GHETTO. . . Mike Smith. . . 50-1. . .Won two of four including the Kentucky Club Juvenile on the Polytrack at Turfway, but must improve his Beyer Speed Figure by about 15 points (seven lengths) to threaten the best in here.
13 MALT MAGIC. . . Jon Court. . . 30-1. . .Was badly outrun in the Norfolk, after winning prior at Santa Anita with front running score. Bad post for a speed type.
14 SKIP CODE. . . Patrick Husbands. . . 30-1. . .Shows an improving form cycle after winning a pair of route races on the Woodbine Polytrack. Also worked well since latest, but is hard to gauge in US debut against much better from such a difficult post.
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RACE #5 POST TIME 1:55 EST
$2.2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF (GI),
FILLIES AND MARES, 3 YR OLDS AND UP, 1 3/8 MILES (TURF)
RACE OVERVIEW: The top two morning line choices seem best of a large pack of stretch running types. But there could be traffic issues to split the favorites.
PP Horse . . . . . . . . . . . .Jockey. . . . . . . . . . .Odds. . . Comment.
1 DANCING EDIE. . . . Corey Nakatani. . . .30-1. . .Speed type should set the pace for more than 7 furlongs, but seems unlikely to hold off the best closers in the field.
2 OUIJA BOARD (GB). . . .Frankie Dettori. . . . 7-5. . . Outstanding European mare with $4.5 million bankroll won this race in 2004 and finished a good second last year. Has had a great 2006 campaign and will take plenty beating in this spot at relatively short odds.
3 MAURALAKANA (FR). . . Julien Leparoux. . . 15-1. . .Rallied somewhat for a pair of in the money finishes in her two US outings at shorter distances; worked strongly over Polytrack since and just might appreciate the extra yardage at generous odds.
4 FILM MAKER. . .. . . . . . .Edgar Prado. . . . . . 8-1. . . Steady stretch runner was right there with HONEY RYDER in her latest. Did well in this race in 2004 and 2005 and recently outworked her male stable mate BETTER TALK NOW to serve notice that she is ready for a top effort.
5 HONEY RYDER. . . . . . .John Velazquez. . . . 6-1. . . Returned to top form in latest narrow score over Film Maker and has won four of six in 2006. Certainly eligible to earn a share.
6 QUIET ROYAL. . . . . . . . Olivier Pesslier. . . .30-1. . .3 yr old Euro import was third, while closing fastest of all right behind MAURALAKANA in the QEII at Keeneland in first start for Todd Pletcher after a disappointing campaign. Another late threat in a field loaded with high class stretch runners.
7 WAIT A WHILE. . . . . . . . .Garrett Gomez. . . . .5-2. . . Extraordinary 3 yr old filly turf ace has won four grass races in four attempts on both coasts very impressively and looms a formidable rival to OUIJA BOARD that may deserve a slim edge on sheer talent and potentially respectable odds.
8 MY TYPHOON (IRE). . . Robby Albarado. . . . .20-1. . . Has respectable early speed for this distance and is sure to press Dancing Edie. Mott trained; rates chance to take it all at big price if the pace is moderate.
9 SATWA QUEEN (FR). . .Thierry Thulliez. . . .. .12-1. . . Good overall form in Europe and is eligible to be a surprise package in here.
10 GERMANCE. . . . . . .Christophe Soumillon. .. .20-1. . .Also closed ground to be fourth when favored in the QEII. That was her US debut. Must improve a lot to win this.
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RACE #6 POST TIME 2:35 PM EST
$2.13 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT (GRADE I)
3 YR OLDS AND UP, SIX FURLONGS
RACE OVERVIEW: Outstanding field of very fast horses. Although one of the speed types might shake loose, the likely pace battle should set the race up for the strongest finishers in the field.
PP Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .Jockey. . . . . . . . .Odds. . . . . Comment.
1 THOR'S ECHO. . . . . . . .Corey Nakatani. . . .. .15-1. . .. . .Good sprinter was second in the $2 million Dubai sprint in March and was patiently handled to come back to form in time for this. Was second to BARDONARO in the swiftly run Ancient Title last month and his lone workout for this was positive. Can’t eliminate.
2 FRIENDLY ISLAND. . . .. . . .Ramon Dominguez. . . 35-1. . .Pletcher trained 5 yr old with some stalk-n-go races and some from much further back, was second to BORDONARO in his best race at Oaklawn Park in April. Prepped for this in a one mile race on the grass. Best needed to crack the Tirifecta.
3 LEWIS MICHAEL. . . . . . . .Rene Douglas. . . . 75-1. . .Made decent bid in 7 furlong Perryville on Keeneland Polytrack, Oct. 13, but seems overmatched in this spot.
4 HENNY HUGHES. . . . . . . .John Velazquez. . . 2-1. . .Very fast 3 yr old has been well managed to get here with three highly rated, well spaced races, including the Vosburgh at Belmont over some of the better older horses in this field. The betting favorite, but must beat a strong group.
5 AREYOUTALKINTOME. . . Victor Espinoza. . ..35-1. . .Late running sprinter was decent second to KELLY’S LANDING in the Phoenix Handicap on the Keeneland Polytrack, last month. Another who needs to fire best to get into top few.
6 BORDONARO. . . . . . . .Patrick Valenzuela. . . . 3-1. . . Been a win machine this year and his most recent victory in the Ancient Title with a 119 Beyer Speed Figure was the best 2006 Fig earned by any horse in this field. Worked twice since that effort and is the one to beat on the lead or close to it. PVal has never lost on this horse.
7 NIGHTMARE AFFAIR. . . . Edgar Prado. . . . 30-1. . . .Active campaigner has won four of 10 this year, but has never handled this kind. Lifetime best needed to crack the Trifecta.
8 POMEROY. . . . . . . . . . . . Eddie Castro. . . . 8-1. . . . .Good overall form, including a solid win in the 7 furlong Forego at Saratoga. Five steady workouts for this in October and should get good stalk-n-go trip. Upset threat.
9 TOO MUCH BLING. . . . Garrett Gomez. . . .8-1. . .Beautifully managed 3 yr old with solid sprint form and sharp recent works for Bob Baffert, has hot stakes rider and a good post for his stalk-n go style. A serious, somewhat underrated contender.
10 WAR FRONT. . . . . . . . .Jose Santos. . . . .12-1. . .Allen Jerkens trainee will try to break a longstanding jinx for one of the best trainers in racing history. Jerkens’ horses seldom win when they ship out of NY. This one was good second in last two Grade-1 sprints behind HENNY HUGHES and POMEROY. By design, trained extremely fast at Belmont for this. Consider in exotics
11 SIREN LURE. . . . . . . . Alex Solis. . . . . . .10-1. . .Strong stretch running threat might prefer 7 furlongs, but the expected hot early pace should help his chances. The only question I have is the lackluster workout he put in over the track last weekend. Must be at his best to score.
12 MALIBU MINT. . . . . . Kyle Kaenel. . . . . . 30-1. . .4 yr old filly has won three of 10 with good finishing punch and that should help her pass some in here. Seems up against it against these hard knocking male rivals.
13 ATTILA'S STORM. . .Cornelio Velasquez. . .20-1. . . Set a brisk pace when fourth to stretch running Silver Train in this race last year and returned after 10 months on the sidelines to set a quick pace when third in the Vosburgh at Belmont Oct. 7. Training forwardly and may prove to be harder to catch than most expect.
14 KELLY'S LANDING . . . . Rafael Bejarano. . . . .. 15-1. . . Holds the Churchill Downs track record for 6 furlongs, set last year. Was off form most of 2006 until he won the Phoenix on the Polytrack at Keeneland last month. Training very well now, money chance.
$2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES (GRADE I)
2 YR OLD FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES.RACE OVERVIEW: While the top two favorites have proven the most to date and might even dominate, this event is filled with plenty of lightly raced youngsters with significant room for improvement. A few will go to the post at sky high prices. A fast early pace likely.
PP Horse. . . . . . . .. . . .Jockey. . . . . . . . . . .My Odds Line. . .Comments.
1 DREAMING OF ANNA. . . Rene Douglas. . . 3-1 . .Won career debut on dirt in May at Arlington Park, then flashed a solid finishing kick in two stakes wins on grass in Canada, including a mile score with a last quarter clocked in 23 flat that earned the field’s best overall Beyer Fig . Excellent Polytrack workouts for this, good post, good rider, very serious contender in a race with plenty cheap speed.
2 SUTRA. . . Mike Luzzi. . . 25-1. . .Just missed when second in the Arlington Lassie and won a slowly run Frizette at Belmont with benefit of an early pace meltdown.
3 CASH INCLUDED. . . Corey Nakatani. . .5-2. . .Solid form in California and improved going this distance in the Oak Leaf stakes to earn the best Beyer Speed Figure on DIRT in the field. Also trained superbly on a Polytrack surface for this and figures to get a good stalking trip without losing ground.
4 OCTAVE. . . Garrett Gomez. . . 6-1. . .Todd Pletcher trainee was good in Graded NY sprints and is bred to get stronger at longer distances. But, she did have a perfect trip while only gaining slowly for her dead-heat second with stablemate Featherbed in the 7 furlong Matron. Needs to improve smartly to win here.
5 SHE'S INCLUDED. . . Victor Espinoza. . .15-1. . .Poor try in the slow Alcibiades in first outing around two turns (on polytrack) ; major improvement needed.
6 BEL AIR BEAUTY. . . Fernando Jara. . .12-1. . .Rallied to win the slow Alcibiades. Recent workouts over the track have not been encouraging. A likely bet against.
7 COTTON BLOSSOM. . . John Velazquez. . .12-1. . .First and second in two Graded sprint stakes at Saratoga, then made a decent move on the turn before weakening in the Alcibiades at this distance, Oct. 6. Pletcher trained, two encouraging Polytrack workouts since raced; guessing improvement, consider carefully.
8 LILLY CARSON. . . Cornelio Velasquez. . . 25-1. . .Got in from the Also Eligible list. Won career debut and was part of the fast pace when third in the sub par Frizette at one mile Oct. 14. Likely to be part of the pace here.
9 ADHRHYTHM. . .Edgar Prado. . . 15-1. . .Won three straight over softer in Florida, including her latest at this distance. Good jockey, can’t eliminate.
10 HER MAJESTY. . . Julien Leparoux. . . 12-1. . .Rallied despite some trouble for third in the Alcibiades on Polytrack at Keeneland. Worked sensationally on the Polytrack with blinkers added for trainer Patrick Biancone and is another useful longshot capable of winning this. May spice up the Exotic wagers.
11 SATULAGI. . .John Egan. . . 20-1. . .European filly with respectable form in active campaign of nine outings might use her edge in experience to pass several in the late going. Unknown rider John Egan comes to Kentucky for the first time with good reports from my British contacts. Still, seems hard to support.
12 APPEALING ZOPHIE. . . Shaun Bridgmohan. . . 15-1. . .Very fast front running type must cross over from the outer post to set the pace. Three works since raced and was hampered somewhat by the anti-speed bias that existed at Keeneland for the first Polytrack meet. Nevertheless, might prefer shorter race.
13 QUICK LITTLE MISS. . . Jon Court. . . 30-1. . .Slow breaking miss won a two turn sprint stakes at Fairplex Park on September 14 and came back two weeks later to finish well for OK third at 37-1 in the Oak Leaf at Santa Anita (won by the morning line favorite in here, Cash Included). Working well, but must overcome tough post to threaten.
14 GATORIZE Mark Guidry 30-1. . .Won first two sprints, then was an even fifth in the 14 horse Alcibiades at Keeneland. Another low profile longshot in a race filled with similar. Not hopeless, but would be big surprise.
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RACE #4.
POST TIME 1:10 pm, EST.
$2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE (GRADE I)
2 YR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS; 1 1/16 MILES
RACE OVERVIEW: A potentially great horse race with a half dozen closely matched young horses, some that may be back here in six months to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
PP Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jockey. . . . . . .Odds. . . . .Comment.
1 STREET SENSE. . . Calvin Borel. . . 20-1. . .Carl Nafzger trained colt is following a positive workout pattern similar to Unbridled, whom Nafzger trained to win the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Belmont stakes. Developing at a slightly faster rate; might surprise; but win or lose must watch his performance here.
2 STORMELLO. . . Kent Desormeaux. . . 10-1. . .Surprise winner of the Norfolk, showed a new dimension winning from off the pace in his first outing beyond 7 furlongs. Good works on Polytrack at Hollywood and galloped well over the Churchill strip. Dangerous longshot from good post and jockey Kent Desormeaux loves him.
3 SCAT DADDY. . . John Velazquez. . . 4-1. . .Somewhat underappreciated multiple Graded stakes winner, trained by Todd Pletcher. Finished strongly to out game the oversized and an extremely promising NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ in the 1-mile Champagne stakes at Belmont. Scat Daddy is a son of (2001 BC Juvenile winner) Johannesburg. Training very well, seems likely to appreciate more distance and is one of the key horses in this field.
4 KING OF THE ROXY. . . Edgar Prado. . .12-1. . .Another trained by the ever present Todd Pletcher, who entered 18 horses in this year’s BCup! This is one of his three in here. Been good in sprint stakes, but this distance may be his absolute limit.
5 C P West. . . Rafael Bejarano. . .15-1. . .Lightly raced Nick Zito trained colt was close to King of the Roxy in the 7 furlong Futurity and has acted more precocious than most 2 yr olds trained by Zito. Should run well from good post but will need very careful rating to handle the distance.
6 PRINCIPLE SECRET. . . Victor Espinoza. . . 5-1. . .Very gritty speed type with a touch of class who just failed to last when caught by longshot STORMELLO in the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita, Oct. 8. . .Did not gallop smoothly over the track first time around, but might simply have been off his game shipping in from California. Anyway, even if he’s 100 percent, he surely will have to overcome serious speed pressure in this field.
7 GREAT HUNTER. . . Corey Nakatani. . . 4-1. . .Trainer won this race last year with Stevie Wonderboy and this one improved on cue to win the Breeders’ Futurity over CIRCULAR QUAY when stretched out in distance. Looked very good galloping over the track and figures right there.
8 TEUFLESBERG. . . Robby Albarado. . . 30-1. . .Speed type thrives on activity. Won a sprint stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 22 and is another who figures to enforce a red hot, perhaps suicidal pace.
9 CIRCULAR QUAY. . . Garrett Gomez. . . 3-1. . .Stretch running winner of three sprints prior to a spotty performance when second to GREAT HUNTER in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile on the Polytrack at Keeneland. Has enormous potential as a Kentucky Derby prospect, but also has a mind of his own and sometimes seems to have no interest in running. Might need blinkers for his best down the road, but even without them at this stage, looms a serious late threat in a great, wide open contest.
10 PEGASUS WIND. . . Mike Luzzi. . .12-1. . .Improving speed type, might not win this, but he sure will make the front runners work extremely hard, which should set the race up for the strongest finishers.
11 GOT THE LAST LAUGH. . . Rene Douglas. . . 25-1. . . Hall of Fame trainer Billy Mott rarely gets a good 2 yr old prospect to work with. Scored dead heat win in the Arlington Washington Futurity on sloppy track then was nowhere in the Champagne at Belmont. Seems slightly overmatched right now.
12 U D GHETTO. . . Mike Smith. . . 50-1. . .Won two of four including the Kentucky Club Juvenile on the Polytrack at Turfway, but must improve his Beyer Speed Figure by about 15 points (seven lengths) to threaten the best in here.
13 MALT MAGIC. . . Jon Court. . . 30-1. . .Was badly outrun in the Norfolk, after winning prior at Santa Anita with front running score. Bad post for a speed type.
14 SKIP CODE. . . Patrick Husbands. . . 30-1. . .Shows an improving form cycle after winning a pair of route races on the Woodbine Polytrack. Also worked well since latest, but is hard to gauge in US debut against much better from such a difficult post.
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RACE #5 POST TIME 1:55 EST
$2.2 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF (GI),
FILLIES AND MARES, 3 YR OLDS AND UP, 1 3/8 MILES (TURF)
RACE OVERVIEW: The top two morning line choices seem best of a large pack of stretch running types. But there could be traffic issues to split the favorites.
PP Horse . . . . . . . . . . . .Jockey. . . . . . . . . . .Odds. . . Comment.
1 DANCING EDIE. . . . Corey Nakatani. . . .30-1. . .Speed type should set the pace for more than 7 furlongs, but seems unlikely to hold off the best closers in the field.
2 OUIJA BOARD (GB). . . .Frankie Dettori. . . . 7-5. . . Outstanding European mare with $4.5 million bankroll won this race in 2004 and finished a good second last year. Has had a great 2006 campaign and will take plenty beating in this spot at relatively short odds.
3 MAURALAKANA (FR). . . Julien Leparoux. . . 15-1. . .Rallied somewhat for a pair of in the money finishes in her two US outings at shorter distances; worked strongly over Polytrack since and just might appreciate the extra yardage at generous odds.
4 FILM MAKER. . .. . . . . . .Edgar Prado. . . . . . 8-1. . . Steady stretch runner was right there with HONEY RYDER in her latest. Did well in this race in 2004 and 2005 and recently outworked her male stable mate BETTER TALK NOW to serve notice that she is ready for a top effort.
5 HONEY RYDER. . . . . . .John Velazquez. . . . 6-1. . . Returned to top form in latest narrow score over Film Maker and has won four of six in 2006. Certainly eligible to earn a share.
6 QUIET ROYAL. . . . . . . . Olivier Pesslier. . . .30-1. . .3 yr old Euro import was third, while closing fastest of all right behind MAURALAKANA in the QEII at Keeneland in first start for Todd Pletcher after a disappointing campaign. Another late threat in a field loaded with high class stretch runners.
7 WAIT A WHILE. . . . . . . . .Garrett Gomez. . . . .5-2. . . Extraordinary 3 yr old filly turf ace has won four grass races in four attempts on both coasts very impressively and looms a formidable rival to OUIJA BOARD that may deserve a slim edge on sheer talent and potentially respectable odds.
8 MY TYPHOON (IRE). . . Robby Albarado. . . . .20-1. . . Has respectable early speed for this distance and is sure to press Dancing Edie. Mott trained; rates chance to take it all at big price if the pace is moderate.
9 SATWA QUEEN (FR). . .Thierry Thulliez. . . .. .12-1. . . Good overall form in Europe and is eligible to be a surprise package in here.
10 GERMANCE. . . . . . .Christophe Soumillon. .. .20-1. . .Also closed ground to be fourth when favored in the QEII. That was her US debut. Must improve a lot to win this.
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RACE #6 POST TIME 2:35 PM EST
$2.13 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT (GRADE I)
3 YR OLDS AND UP, SIX FURLONGS
RACE OVERVIEW: Outstanding field of very fast horses. Although one of the speed types might shake loose, the likely pace battle should set the race up for the strongest finishers in the field.
PP Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .Jockey. . . . . . . . .Odds. . . . . Comment.
1 THOR'S ECHO. . . . . . . .Corey Nakatani. . . .. .15-1. . .. . .Good sprinter was second in the $2 million Dubai sprint in March and was patiently handled to come back to form in time for this. Was second to BARDONARO in the swiftly run Ancient Title last month and his lone workout for this was positive. Can’t eliminate.
2 FRIENDLY ISLAND. . . .. . . .Ramon Dominguez. . . 35-1. . .Pletcher trained 5 yr old with some stalk-n-go races and some from much further back, was second to BORDONARO in his best race at Oaklawn Park in April. Prepped for this in a one mile race on the grass. Best needed to crack the Tirifecta.
3 LEWIS MICHAEL. . . . . . . .Rene Douglas. . . . 75-1. . .Made decent bid in 7 furlong Perryville on Keeneland Polytrack, Oct. 13, but seems overmatched in this spot.
4 HENNY HUGHES. . . . . . . .John Velazquez. . . 2-1. . .Very fast 3 yr old has been well managed to get here with three highly rated, well spaced races, including the Vosburgh at Belmont over some of the better older horses in this field. The betting favorite, but must beat a strong group.
5 AREYOUTALKINTOME. . . Victor Espinoza. . ..35-1. . .Late running sprinter was decent second to KELLY’S LANDING in the Phoenix Handicap on the Keeneland Polytrack, last month. Another who needs to fire best to get into top few.
6 BORDONARO. . . . . . . .Patrick Valenzuela. . . . 3-1. . . Been a win machine this year and his most recent victory in the Ancient Title with a 119 Beyer Speed Figure was the best 2006 Fig earned by any horse in this field. Worked twice since that effort and is the one to beat on the lead or close to it. PVal has never lost on this horse.
7 NIGHTMARE AFFAIR. . . . Edgar Prado. . . . 30-1. . . .Active campaigner has won four of 10 this year, but has never handled this kind. Lifetime best needed to crack the Trifecta.
8 POMEROY. . . . . . . . . . . . Eddie Castro. . . . 8-1. . . . .Good overall form, including a solid win in the 7 furlong Forego at Saratoga. Five steady workouts for this in October and should get good stalk-n-go trip. Upset threat.
9 TOO MUCH BLING. . . . Garrett Gomez. . . .8-1. . .Beautifully managed 3 yr old with solid sprint form and sharp recent works for Bob Baffert, has hot stakes rider and a good post for his stalk-n go style. A serious, somewhat underrated contender.
10 WAR FRONT. . . . . . . . .Jose Santos. . . . .12-1. . .Allen Jerkens trainee will try to break a longstanding jinx for one of the best trainers in racing history. Jerkens’ horses seldom win when they ship out of NY. This one was good second in last two Grade-1 sprints behind HENNY HUGHES and POMEROY. By design, trained extremely fast at Belmont for this. Consider in exotics
11 SIREN LURE. . . . . . . . Alex Solis. . . . . . .10-1. . .Strong stretch running threat might prefer 7 furlongs, but the expected hot early pace should help his chances. The only question I have is the lackluster workout he put in over the track last weekend. Must be at his best to score.
12 MALIBU MINT. . . . . . Kyle Kaenel. . . . . . 30-1. . .4 yr old filly has won three of 10 with good finishing punch and that should help her pass some in here. Seems up against it against these hard knocking male rivals.
13 ATTILA'S STORM. . .Cornelio Velasquez. . .20-1. . . Set a brisk pace when fourth to stretch running Silver Train in this race last year and returned after 10 months on the sidelines to set a quick pace when third in the Vosburgh at Belmont Oct. 7. Training forwardly and may prove to be harder to catch than most expect.
14 KELLY'S LANDING . . . . Rafael Bejarano. . . . .. 15-1. . . Holds the Churchill Downs track record for 6 furlongs, set last year. Was off form most of 2006 until he won the Phoenix on the Polytrack at Keeneland last month. Training very well now, money chance.