Posted on
10/19/2007 4:29:18 PM
Breeders' Cup Wagering: Menu a Thing of Beauty
By Michael Dempsey
(Wednesday, October 17) Pre-entries were announced on Wednesday for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. There were a total of 160 pre-entries for the eleven races, 16 horses cross entered in more than one race, for a total of 144 individual horses.
Over the course of the two day event at Monmouth Park there will be a total of 21 races. On Friday there is a ten race card that features the three new Breeders' Cup races, the Filly & Mare Turf, Dirt Mile, and Juvenile Turf.
On Saturday, there will is an eleven race card featuring the other eight Breeders' Cup races.
Between the two days of racing there will be plenty of wagering options available, including two Pick 6's, two Pick 5's, four Pick 4's, and rolling Pick 3's.
There also is trifecta and superfecta wagering on all 21 races and six daily doubles. Three of the daily doubles on Friday will be linked to Saturday's races.
Minimums on exactas and trifectas are $1 and there is 10 cent superfecta wagering.
Saturday's Ultra Pick 6 has a mandatory payout and a $3 million guaranteed pool. Saturday's Pick 4's have a guaranteed pool of $2 million.
I almost forgot, there is also win, place, and show wagering.
It's like Christmas Day.
A quick early look at the Breeders' Cup races:
Filly & Mare Sprint: Dream Rush is coming off back to back wins in Grade 1 company and is the likely favorite. 12 fillies and mares were pre-entered, ten are likely to run.
Juvenile Turf: 23 were pre-entered and only 12 can run. There are six European shippers. Trainer Todd Pletcher has three of the U.S contingent: Cowboy Cal (a recent maiden winner), The Leopard (Pilgrim Stakes winner), and Why Tonto (World Appeal Stakes winner).
Dirt Mile: Discreet Cat is the headliner and likely favorite despite misfiring in his last start in the Grade 1 Vosburgh, which was coming off a six month layoff. Eleven were pre-entered, with Commentator and Forefathers likely to go in the Sprint.
Juvenile Fillies: Bob Baffert may have a hammerlock on this race. He will send out Grade 1 Frizette winner Indian Blessing and Grade 1 Oak Leaf winner Cry and Catch Me. A total of 16 were pre-entered.
Juvenile: This is going to be a great betting race. Five of these two year olds are coming off graded stakes wins. Among the major contenders are Grade 1 Norfolk winner Dixie Chatter, Grade 2 Futurity winner Tale of Ekati, Grade 1 Champagne winner War Pass, and Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity winner Wicked Style.
Filly & Mare Turf: European invaders All My Loving, Passage of Time, Simply Perfect, and Timarwa will take on the undefeated Nashoba's Key, who is a perfect 7 for 7 in her career. Simply Perfect is the more accomplished of the invaders coming over from the other side of the pond. The three year old filly is a two time Group 1 winner.
Sprint: As usual, this will be one of the toughest races to handicap. A total of 15 were pre-entered including the filly La Traviata, who apparently will take on the boys instead of going in Friday's Filly & Mare Sprint. She will need a new trainer, as Patrick Biancone was suspended, and as part of the settlement will not be allowed to saddle horses on Breeders' Cup Day.
Mile: Four Europeans were pre-entered, with George Washington more likely to end up in the Classic. This does not look like it is one of the stronger groups that have competed in this race, but Aidan O'Brien is shipping in the brilliant three year old colt Excellent Art.
The colt comes to the U.S. off a pair of solid seconds to the highly regarded Romanti in Group 1 company. Nobiz Like Shobiz may have the best chance among the U.S. contingent. The Barclay Tagg trainee is coming off a sharp looking win in the Grade 2 Jamaica Handicap.
Distaff: There were 15 pre-entered with 13 likely to go. The three year old filly Lear's Princess has not missed landing in the exacta in her six race career and is coming off a sharp win in the Grade 1 Gazelle. Balance, Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Lady Joanne, Octave, Panty Raid, Tough Tiz's Sis, and Unbridled Belle are all Grade 1 winners. It's a deep and talented field, and a great betting race.
Turf: Three Europeans invade including Red Rocks, who was the upset winner in the Turf last year at 11/1. No doubt the favorite will be Dylan Thomas, who has won four Group 1's this year and finished second in three others. The colt shipped to the U.S. last year and ran a distant fourth on the main track in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup behind winner Bernardini. He is a different horse on turf and is the one to beat.
Classic: Only nine were pre-entered and Diamond Stripes is likely to go in the Dirt Mile, so it's likely only eight will go to the starting gate. While the Classic lacks quantity, there is no lack of quality. It's possibly the deepest group of three year olds to ever run in the Classic, and they will have to beat Lawyer Ron, the top older horse. Preakness winner Curlin beat Lawyer Ron in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup by a neck last month at Belmont Park.
Adding to the intrigue is George Washington, who was sixth in this race last year in his dirt debut. The colt is winless in three Group 1 races this year, but will be saddled by one of the all time great trainers in Aidan O'Brien, and for this colt to make the trip again, it might be wise to keep an eye on him for a possible upset.
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