The annual Breeders’ Cup Seminar at Palace Station came out of the gates strong leading up to today’s 1 p.m. PST time of the two-day horse racing classic at Santa Anita Park.
Ralph Siraco from the Race Day Las Vegas radio show, Paul Truitt from Palace Station who was Mark Guidry’s agent when Mark won the Santa Anita Derby and GamingToday analyst Richard Saber hopefully supplied more treats than tricks on Halloween night for the usual strong turnout.
Here again are the scheduled races leading up to the signature $5 million Classic in prime time on the East Coast. Game On Dude is the consensus horse to beat.
500k Marathon: Blueskiesnrainbows has home field and what looks to be a pace advantage. Cease who looks very sneaky going from a 7 furlong race to this 1-3/4. If Gary Stevens rides Old Time Hockey for his buddy Tom Proctor he will be a must use.
$1M Juvenile Turf: Bashart in four lifetime starts has two wins a second and third. Giovanni Boldini is a classy looking 2yo colt from Ireland who looks to be loaded. Bobby’s Kitten also in top form.
$1M Dirt Mile: Fed Biz is in top form. Pants on Fire has won 4 of 7 going this mile distance.
$1M Juvenile Fillies Turf: Clenor has won all three of her turf starts since arriving from Ireland. My Conquestadory has won both of her turf starts. Ready to Act has been working with a purpose. Testa Rossi won her first start in the U.S. and is on a four race win streak.
$2M Distaff: Beholder has won 5 of 6. Close Hatches will sit off the hot pace. Royal Delta won this race last year.
Breeders’ Cup Saturday
$2M Juvenile Fillies: Artemis Agrotera and Sweet Reason head the field. Secret Compass off a huge win with Rosie Napravnik.
$2M Filly and Mare Turf: Dank is one classy filly, who ran a big WOW race in her first start in the U.S. Emolient has five wins. Marketing Mix is one tough 5yo mare with some home field advantage.
$1M Filly & Mare Sprint: Book Review has never been better. Great Hot had a blistering work over the track. Groupie Doll has won 10 of 20 lifetime starts. Dance to Bristol won seven straight before finishing second at Belmont.
$1M Turf Sprint: Boat Trip made a huge late run only to lose by a nostril to Chips All In. Both look to have a say in here. Unbridled’s Note finished a close third behind Boat Trip and Chips All In. Rock Me Baby could surprise. Box all of them out of the same race.
$2M Juvenile: Tap It Rich has been a hot item in John Avello’s Kentucky Derby future book at Wynn. Havana is the next best horse.
$3M Turf: Little Mike won this race last year at 17/1. Point of Entry is a distance specialist.
$1.5M Xpressbet Sprint: Secret Circle will be sitting right off the hot pace and loves this track. Private Zone finished second in all three starts here.
$2M Mile (on grass): Bright Thought has home field advantage with all three of his wins turf starts on this course. Wise Dan, last year’s horse of the year, was upset at .50 cents on the dollar by Silver Max who went wire to wire. No Jet Lag and He Be Fire N Ice will both be closing.
$5M Classic: All eyes will be on likely favorite Game On Dude who has won 7 of 8 starts on this course. He has reeled off six straight wins. Dude could run the other speed into the ground like Fort Larned who went wire to wire in this race last year. Moreno will get buried on the front end if he attempts to run with the top two. Handicap this race by tossing out all the 3yo and go from there.
Declaration of War makes his first start in the States could be a good price play. Mucho Macho Man is proven on this course. Ron the Greek could surprise.
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Follow Richard on Twitter @SabesBet. Contact Richard at [email protected].