Posted on 10/25/2007 8:00:12 PM

Off-Track Betting: Breeders’ Cup Classic Will Live Up to Its Name

By Greg Melikov

This year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic will be a Classic in every sense of the word.

As an adjective, classic means “belonging to the highest rank or class” as well as “having lasting significance or worth.” As a noun, classic means “a superior or unusual example of its kind” and “a traditional event, especially a major sporting event that is held annual.”

In addition, the BC headliner of 2007 might be known as the Year of the 3-year-olds. During the 23 previous races, seven sophomores won the Classic. On two afternoons in ’94 and ’00, they finished 1-2-3-4.

In ’94, Concern defeated Preakness/Belmont winner Tabasco Cat by a neck, followed by Dramatic Gold and Soul of the Matter. Kentucky Derby champ Go for Gin was eighth in the 14-horse field.

However, Holy Bull defeated Concern in the Travers, one of six consecutive victories against all ages being carried wide in the stretch and finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby. He was the top 3-year-old and Horse of the Year.

Another great crop of 3-year-olds emerged in ’00 when Tiznow edged Giant’s Causeway by a neck, followed by Captain Steve and Albert the Great. Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasusm was sixth. Tiznow was top 3-year-old and Horse of the Year.

The 24th Classic shouldn’t disappoint and most likely produce the top 3-year-old and maybe Horse of the Year. It features six Grade 1 winners in the USA. The hottest of six 3-year-olds is Any Given Saturday, who defeated Hard Spun and Preakness winner Curlin in Monmouth’s Haskell.

The top older horse of three starters is Lawyer Ron, who captured two stakes with the highest speed figure before losing by a neck to Curlin in Belmont’s Jockey Gold Cup.

The winner: Kentucky Derby/’06 BC Juvenile winner Street Sense, who captured both stakes after hitting the board in preps on synthetic surfaces. His final prep for the Classic was a second-place finish on another synthetic surface. He just might win top 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors.

Here’s the way I see Friday’s three BC races:

$1 million Filly and Mare Sprint at six furlongs: It should be a battle between 3-year-old fillies La Traviata, 3 for 3 with a win at Monmouth, and Dream Rush, 2 for 3 at the distance. Miss Macy Sue, 9-3-1 of 16 at six furlongs, could surprise in 10-horse field.

$1 million Juvenile Turf at a mile: Probably the most wide-open race with 11 entries. Better hope Luck is a Lady this afternoon. I don’t have a clue. Main contenders, all with grass experience, are: Prussian, undefeated in two routes, boasting the best Brisnet speed figure at the distance; Cherokee Triangle, working well since winning by 10 ¾ lengths at 1 1/16 miles at Louisiana Downs; and The Leopard, impressive winner by nearly three lengths in his turf debut at Belmont.

$1 million Dirt Mile: Monmouth’s track configuration forces this to be staged at a mile and 70 yards. Gottcha Gold, 3-2-0 of 5 in routes at Monmouth, edges Discreet Cat in nine-horse field.

Saturday’s other seven BC races:

$2 million Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles: Spin the guess wheel. Half a dozen of the 14 can win it -- A to the Croft, Cry and Catch Me, Indian Blessing, Proud Spell, Smarty Deb and Zee Zee.

$2 Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles: Champagne winner War Pass is colt to beat. Pyro and Z Humor, second and third in same stakes, could upset, while Wicked Style could hit the board in 13-horse field.

$2 million Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles: Too close to call. The contenders are unbeaten Nashoba’s Key, 7 for 7 and 4 for 4 on grass, Honey Ryder, Danzon, Lauhudood and Wait a While. Longshot possibility: Precious Kitten, 3-3-0 of 6 on the turf.

$2 million Sprint: The deepest field of all the races. Eight of 13 horses have three or more victories at six furlongs and nine have won at least once this year at the distance.

I like Idiot Proof who defeated Greg’s Gold at Santa Anita running the six furlongs in 1:07 2/5 after breaking Monmouth’s 15-year-old track record for the same distance in the same time. Smokey Stover will make the trifecta off all five of his trips at the distance, including a victory at the host track.

$2 million Mile Turf: Foreign invader Excellent Art will do well even if showers fall while After Market, Remarkable News and Trippi’s Storm could complete the superfecta in the 14-horse field.

$2 Million Distaff at 1 1/8 miles: Unbridled Bell and Ginger Punch fight it out with Indian Vale, 6-1-0 of 7 at the distance. Among the dozen horses not out of it: Lady Joanne, Octave and Teammate.

$3 million Turf at 1 ½ miles: English Channel, 2 for 2 on Monmouth’s grass and last year’s runner-up, battles Irish-bred Dylan Thomas, 3 for 4 at the distance and winner of this year’s L’Arc de Triomphe. Don’t count out Better Talk Now, ’04 champ and ’06 runner-up.

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