ARCADIA, Calif. - The last time the Breeders' Cup was held in Southern California, jockey Cash Asmussen made his Cup debut a memorable one, guiding Spinning World to victory in the $1 million Mile in 1997 at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, when the Breeders' Cup returns to Southern California, Cash's brother Steve gets three chances to make a first impression in the Cup when he sends out a trio of contenders in the event's 20th renewal at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Wally trains, assisted by his daughter, Aimee, whose brother, Craig, also trains. When their horses get hurt, sister Michele nurses them back to health. Cincy - Wally's wife, and the children's mother - handles the bookkeeping and social obligations. Meet the Dollases, who give rise to the notion that the family that races together, stays together.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Six Perfections has a reputation to uphold in Saturday's $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.
As a top 3-year-old filly in Europe this year, she has earned her status as a leading contender. And as a homebred of the powerful Niarchos family of Europe, she has history on her side.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A force in European racing since the mid-1900's, the Wertheimer family has had its moments in North America, as well.
In 1993, Kotashaan capped a sensational campaign by winning the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita en route to being crowned Horse of the Year. Three years later, Dare and Go was etched in racing lore when he won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar to end Cigar's 16-race winning streak.
ARCADIA, Calif. - When it comes to the horses he trains, Christophe Clement is a man of few words. He needed only one when asked to describe Voodoo Dancer.
"Amazing!"
Clement is hoping Voodoo Dancer will give him his first Breeders' Cup victory when he sends out the 5-year-old daughter of Kingmambo in Saturday's $1 million Filly and Mare Turf.
In the two previous Breeders' Cups at Santa Anita, 31 European runners produced just two victories - yet those two are among the most memorable in Breeders' Cup history.
Last Tycoon, Europe's champion sprinter in 1986, stretched out to win the Mile that year under an unforgettable ride from Yves Saint-Martin in the first Santa Anita Breeders' Cup. In 1993, Arcangues sprang the biggest surprise in Cup history with a 133-1 shocker in the Classic.
Perhaps more than any other year, championship honors are up for grabs in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Silver Wagon (Hopeful Stakes), Birdstone (Champagne Stakes), Eurosilver (Lane's End Futurity), and Ruler's Court (Norfolk Stakes) each won one major stakes, and by skipping the most important race for 2-year-olds, they leave the door wide open to crown the winner of the BC Juvenile as champion.
ARCADIA, Calif. - When the California Aqueduct was extended south to Los Angeles, the driving force behind the project, William Mulholland, turned the final valve, sending fresh water cascading down an incline toward the parched San Fernando Valley. Beholding an engineering marvel that would turn a desert oasis into a thriving metropolis, Mulholland waved his hand toward the minions gathered below and pronounced, "There it is, take it."
A century later, Mulholland's words ring true anew at this year's Breeders' Cup. Horse of the Year is for the taking.
