Posted on 10/2/2007 2:48:49 PM

Horse Racing Betting - Breeders’ Cup Preparation

By DS Williamson

This weekend, the first weekend of October, is the most important weekend for horses, trainers and jockeys getting ready for the Breeders Cup.  After this weekend’s races the Breeders' Cup betting fields will be set, true training will begin, and the greatest day in thoroughbred racing will only be three weeks away!

Get ready for horse betting action. Here is a rundown of the important Breeders Cup prep races this weekend:

Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland:  This might end up being a match-up race between Shakis, winner of the Grade II Bernard Baruch in August and the hard trying, never say die, Silver Tree.  Shakis will go off at low odds, but be careful - - Trainer Kieran McLaughlin may be using the Shadwell Turf Mile as a prep for the Breeders Cup and Shakis is going from 11 furlongs to 8.  It will be quite a battle between these two turf horses!

 

Champagne Stakes at Belmont:  Every year the Champagne Stakes produces one of the favorites, and usually the favorite, in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.  This year will probably be no different as two of the highest rated two-year old colts in the country do battle in the Champagne.  The favorite will be Majestic Warrior and he should be after romping in this past summer’s Hopeful Stakes.  But, the Warrior is not a lock!  Can Ready’s Image, out of the powerful Todd Pletcher barn, bounce back from his horrible Hopeful run?  Can Steve Asmussen trained Kodiak Kowboy take the next step towards Breeders Cup glory?  You won’t want to miss wagering on this one!

Clement L.  Hirsch Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita:  This race lost some luster when trainer John Shireffs decided to send After Market to the East Coast and run him in the Kelso Stakes.  That turned the Clement L. Hirsch from a major prep for After Market into a wide open affair.  What that means is that the horse that wins this race could be a live long-shot come Breeders Cup Day! 

Jerome Handicap at Belmont:  Both EZ Warrior and First Defense decided to take on freakish sprinter, Fabolous Strike,  in the Grade I Vosburgh.  That means the Jerome is much like the Clement L.  Hirsch.  Will an up and coming three-year old make his presence felt in the Jerome?  Will there be a colt that questions the divisional supremacy of Hard Spun, Street Sense, and Curlin? 

Lady’s Secret Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita:  The question going into this race is how good is Fun Logic?  With the best Distaffers showing their stuff on the East Coast, it is up the Bill Currin trained Fun Logic to keep the fire going for the west coast fillies and mares.  Fun Logic has a terrific chance in the Lady’s Secret to stamp herself as a contender in the Breeders Cup Distaff!

Oak Tree Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita: This race gained huge amounts of luster as the great Lava Man, a former $50,000 claimer who has won over 5 million dollars goes back to the grass in this graded event!  But, the Lava isn’t alone as trainer Bruce Headley has confirmed that his sprinting star, Surf Cat, is going to run in this one mile event on the grass.  As for Lava Man, he is Hollywood and the big question will be if he still has it.  If he runs well on the grass, then expect his connections to either put the Lava in the Breeders Cup Mile or the Breeders Cup Turf!

Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland:  The Distaff Division is wide open and trainer Carl Nafzger, who also trains 3-year old Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, will try to get his Distaff hopeful, Lady Joanne, ready to make her presence felt on Breeders Cup Day.  Lady Joanne beat both Octave and Lear’s Princess in her last race and she will try to turn her win into a winning streak by taking this important prep race on the road to the Breeders Cup Championships!

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