ARCADIA, Calif. – The Breeders’ Cup calling its races “World Championships” often strains belief. But when it comes to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the nomenclature feels just about right.
With Frankel retired, Excelebration, Wise Dan, and Moonlight Cloud probably are the three best turf milers in the world, and they square off Saturday at Santa Anita in a blockbuster edition of the $2,125,000 BC Mile.
ARCADIA, Calif. – At this time last year, St Nicholas Abbey won the richest race of his career, the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs. Point of Entry was racing rather anonymously in optional claimers.
A year later, they are equals. Point of Entry has bloomed into a turf star in New York, winning three consecutive Grade 1 races at Saratoga and Belmont. St Nicholas Abbey has won a Group 1 race this year – the Coronation Stakes at Epsom, England, in June – but has lost his last four starts.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Troy Rankin will come to the paddock at Santa Anita and try to let it all sink in. Regardless of how his stable star, an Indiana-bred longshot named I’m Boundtoscore, fares Saturday in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, it should be the thrill of a lifetime for a farmer and self-proclaimed “good ol’ boy” from the outskirts of Lexington, Ky.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Forty-three seconds. Keep that time firmly in mind as the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint unfolds. If the half-mile sprint in the Turf Sprint comes up a couple of ticks slower than 43, horses on the lead are going to have a chance. Anything faster and the race is likely to fall apart and fall to a closer.
ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s something of a tricky distance, which might partly explain why favorites are winless in the brief history of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Trainer Dale Romans would like to put an end to that talk right here, right now, assuming one of his stable stars, Shackleford, is the favorite Saturday in the sixth running of the $1 million Dirt Mile.
“They’ve never run this race as a two-turn mile on dirt,” Romans said. “I’m thinking it might be right up our alley.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – It is a statistical blip that favorites are 0 for 5 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Groupie Doll, to the rescue.
A blue-collar homebred with stunning raw ability, Groupie Doll will start as the most heavily favored runner of Breeders’ Cup 2012 after romping in four consecutive stakes. Nine others will try to beat her in the $1 million F-M Sprint, and good luck with that.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Together, they have won all 11 of their starts – 10 of them at less than even-money – including eight stakes, six of which are graded.
And they’re only 2-year-olds.
Friday, the terrific trio of Executiveprivilege, Dreaming of Julia, and Kauai Katie will be in the same starting gate when a field of eight goes in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. – More than 5,000 miles from home, The Fugue should be very comfortable in her surroundings for Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
The richest race for turf females in the United States, the BC Filly and Mare Turf has been a goal for The Fugue since she ran a game second to Shareta in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks at York, England, on Aug. 23.
A firm turf course, a brief layoff, and the distance of 1 1/4 miles gives trainer John Gosden ample confidence in The Fugue.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- The $2 million Ladies' Classic will live up to its classic moniker Friday when the Breeders' Cup rolls back into Santa Anita for a two-day event that includes one of the most widely anticipated races of 2012.
Some are calling this year's Ladies' Classic field the strongest ever -- seven Grade 1 winners, including three champions, two of whom are unbeaten.
"There is no shortage of champions in there," Bill Mott said referring to his trainee Royal Delta, and unbeaten fillies My Miss Aurelia and Awesome Feather.
