10/24/2012 11:07AM

Breeders' Cup adjusts race order for Saturday card

By Jay Privman
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ARCADIA, Calif. – The Breeders’ Cup on Wednesday tweaked the order of its nine races to be run at Santa Anita on Saturday, Nov. 3, the most significant change moving the Juvenile out of the late pick four and putting the Sprint in its place.

The Juvenile drew 10 pre-entries, but the unbeaten Shanghai Bobby is expected to be a heavy favorite in that race, with Power Broker a clear-cut second choice. The Sprint had an overflow number pre-entries, 16, and though Amazombie is back to defend his title, the race appears to be quite deep, with Capital Account, Coil, Emcee, Gantry, The Lumber Guy, and Trinniberg among the prominent names.

[BREEDERS' CUP 2012: Race-by-race coverage, video, early odds]

“With the Sprint drawing a large and talented field this year, we thought it would be best for our fans to bolster the latter portion of Saturday’s card by placing it in third to last position, preceding the Mile and the Classic,” Bob Elliston, the Breeders’ Cup’s chief operating officer, said in a press release. “Closing Saturday’s card with the Turf, Sprint, Mile, and Classic should reward the sharp handicapper with big-value returns.”

The Juvenile is now the fifth of the nine BC races to be run on Nov. 3.

Friday’s race order remains unchanged from the schedule announced earlier this month. Here are the final race orders and post times for the Friday and Saturday programs:

Friday, Nov. 2
1. Allowance, 11:15
2. Allowance, 11:48
3. Allowance, 12:23
4. $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, 1:06 p.m
5. $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, 1:48 p.m.
6. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, 2:28 p.m.
7. $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, 3:08 p.m.
8. $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare, 3:48 p.m.
9. $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic , 4:30 p.m.
10. Twilight Derby, 5:15 pm

Saturday, Nov. 3
1. Damascus Stakes, 10:05 am
2. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview Stakes, 10:35 a.m.
3. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Sprint Preview Stakes, 11:10 a.m.
4. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, 11:50 a.m.
5. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, 12:35 p.m.
6. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, 1:14 p.m.              
7. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, 1:57 p.m.
8. $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, 2:36 p.m.
9. $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, 3:18 p.m.
10. $1.5million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, 3:58 p.m.
11. $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, 4:40 p.m.
12. $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, 5:30 p.m.

Horse Cents More than 1 year ago
I'm not sure their explanation for the change is the whole story. Handicapping the two year old races is going to be a nightmare and a crapshoot at best with the lasix ban issue. This potentially could cause a dip in handle. Removing the two year old race from the pick four avoids this, leaving only one two year old race in the pick six which won't hurt that handle much if at all. Someone needs to get on the phone and interview every trainer that has a two year old entry. Who trains on lasix and who does not? And if certain workouts were with and others without? Did the horse have a real or serious incident of bleeding that was obvious, or from a vet endescope examination? Obviously the need for this information is to determine if horse truly needs it, and to use some guesswork as to who may or may not run to their best without it. A clockers report of how a horse went using the above information may also give an indication. Although the administration of lasix is banned on race day, does the post race testing remain the same? Or, is the testing modified so that no lasix can be found in the system or a lower threshold allowable? If the testing remains the same, then this one day ban is the silliest thing ever. Maybe you can also find out if any trainers will be giving a dose of lasix the day before.
Mark D More than 1 year ago
@ BWell 6 1/2 Downhill on Turf not as trip dependent you might think. It is very "horse for course" however. I am tossing out all 5 furlong specialists.
Bwell More than 1 year ago
What about 5 1/2 F horses?
David Rose More than 1 year ago
The horses that break from the inside posts are at a disadvantage, becuz the first turn is a right hand turn.
Old timer More than 1 year ago
Juvenile Filly Sprint Preview Stakes??? The expanded Breeder's Cup is getting to be a joke. Why not have a race on turf at 7 furlongs just for 3 year olds who were born in March or April?
Greg Hopper More than 1 year ago
There should be a swimming race too
Bwell More than 1 year ago
I HATE the fact the Turf Sprint is part of the Pick 6. That race is so trip dependent!
Steve Wilson More than 1 year ago
When I think of the BC Turf Sprint, I DON"T think of a race where you go downhill, turn right, then turn left, and then cross the main track for a few strides. Ridiculous.