posted October 30, 2009 at 11:55 EST in Horse Racing Articles
Breeders Cup Rankings - Nov 7th Races Part II
As the Breeders’ Cup fast approaches it’s time to come out with rankings for each race.
We’ll take a look at the races on Nov. 7th, the second day of the Breeders’ Cup. The male juvenile races are on this day as well as the Breeders’ Cup Classic, America’s most important race.
Breeders’ Cup Power Rankings - - Nov. 7th Races
** TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile, Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf, Breeders’ Cup Classic
** Based on Prospective Entrants
TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile
1. Court Vision - - How all of us horseplayers let this guy go off 9 to 2 in the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile is beyond me. He was easily one of the top choices in that race and showed it by winning the Shadwell in his first race since July. That’s the magic of Richard Dutrow who saddled him for the first time in that terrific race at Keeneland.
2. Goldikova - - The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner figures to put in another fantastic run in 2009. Could she win again? Absolutely as she is 9 and 2 out of 11 at the distance and 9 out of 14 overall on the turf. She’s a serious threat to take home the trophy again.
3. Gladiatorous - - His daddy, Silic, won this race in the 1990’s, but that’s not the real reason to love this guy. He’s won over 3 million dollars after being bought for $8,000. That’s what happens when you’re trained by Saeed Bin Suroor. This fella is coming off of a Grade I victory in Italy and no doubt would be tough in this.
4. Cowboy Cal - - Experience at this distance, Garret Gomez, and the ability to take the lead and keep going all adds up to a potential upset by one of the toughest, grittiest horses in America. The Todd Pletcher trainee is tough in a dog fight and might face less speed than he used to in the Mile. That makes him a top contender.
5. Justenuffhumor - - It would be wrong to jump off of this guy’s bandwagon after his awful showing in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. The ground was soft that day, but he figures to get the firm turf that he likes in the Mile and he had won 6 in a row before the Shadwell debacle. He could return to prominence in this.
Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint
1. Kodiak Kowboy - - There’s a ton of speed in this race which means that Todd Pletcher has another top contender for a Breeders’ Cup victory with Kodiak Kowboy. The son of Posse is a closer that could absolutely win the Sprint after what could be a 43 and change mile. He’s coming off of a Grade I victory at 6 furlongs which means that he’s in excellent form.
2. Pyro - - This fell used to run for Asmussen but now runs for Godolphin and trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. He too is a closing sprinter in a race full of speed. The 4 year old is coming off of a Grade I victory at Saratoga and should be ready to roll under Suroor’s care.
3. Gayego - - He looked absolutely sensational when winning the Grade I Ancient Title Stakes, Santa Anita’s prep for this race, in his last. He obviously loves the Pro-Ride and there’s no doubt that he’s much more comfortable as a late running sprinter than a front running router.
4. Zensational - - Bob Baffert’s trainee has won four in a row and should be the speed of the speed but there’s going to be an awful lot of speed in this race. Could he possibly hang on after facing unbelievable fractions? Maybe, but horseplayers had better think twice before dumping on the likely favorite in the sprint.
5. Benny The Bull - - If he shows up, he deserves as much attention from gamblers as Kodiak Kowboy, Pyro and Gayego. The late running winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen finally should get the pace set up he needs in order to be effective.
Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf
1. Jukebox Jury - - It would be a shame if this son of Montjeu didn’t try the Breeders’ Cup Turf because he was pointing towards the Grade I Canadian International. Yes, he lost that race to Champs Elysees, but he ran his eyeballs out to finish 2nd and recorded an incredible, amazing, speed rating. He warrants top consideration should he make the race.
2. Dar Re Mi - - She won three Grade I races in a row before failing in the Prix when facing the best horse in the world, Sea the Stars. The hope is that trainer John Gosden feels that she has a shot in this race because she does. If she can adapt to the SoCal weather, then she will be the top threat to Jury.
3. Spanish Moon - - Michael Stoute is known as one of the most astute grass trainers in the world. If he saddles one of his best horses, the terrific Spanish Moon who has won 50% of his races for close to 1.6 million, then American’s could see Stoute in the winner’s circle. Spanish Moon is that good.
4. Conduit - - He won this race in 2008 and won another Grade I just this past July. The failure in the Prix doesn’t mean much to me as nobody was going to beat Sea the Stars. Could Conduit win the Breeders’ Cup Turf back to back? Sure he could.
5. Gio Ponti - - The best American horse in this race has been brilliant in 2009 but he’s run against horses that couldn’t get within a length to Conduit, Spanish Moon, Dar Re Mi and Jukebox Jury. Also, Ponti lost to an $80 winner in his last. Pass for the win bet but he could offer value in the exotics.
Breeders’ Cup Classic
1. Summer Bird - - Rachel Alexandra isn’t in this race. That makes Summer Bird the best bet, maybe on the card, as he has only lost to Rachel Alexandra since his score in the Belmont Stakes. He’s going to have to transfer his form to the Pro-Ride, a surface he had trouble on in 2008, but if he does, then he’s the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
2. Rip Van Winkle - - Aidan O’Brien finished second in this race last year with Henrythenavigator. He will be looking to win it with Rip Van Winkle, but Rip Van Winkle isn’t as good of a horse as Henrythenavigator was and Summer Bird is doing better than Curlin was doing last year. So, against the best American he might fail, but against everyone else he’s got a big shot.
3. Twice Over - - This fella has won three in a row, two at the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles, and figures to be overlooked in the betting. Raven’s Pass proved that going dirt to Pro-Ride is possible and Twice Over has won 7 out of 15 lifetime. Don’t overlook this long shot should he make the race.
4. Quality Road - - There figures to be very little speed in this race which means the terrific Quality Road, who almost beat Summer Bird in the Travers’ Stakes could be the bet of the day. If he gets away with an easy lead, or is dueling only with Summer Bird, expect him to not give up the lead easily. He and Summer Bird could very well finish one/two in this race.
5. Presvis - - His sire Sakhee almost beat Tiznow in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He will be trying to repeat that feat against Summer Bird. He’s done very well at this distance and finished second to fantastic Gladiatorous in his last. If he’s entered, he warrants serious long shot consideration.
