The impact that the synthetic Pro-Ride surface in place at Santa Anita plays in the Breeders’ Cup is no more evident than in the Classic, where reigning Horse of the Year Curlin is a major question mark to repeat against a field that includes several of Europe’s best turf runners.

Curlin is the type of favorite you are supposed to try to beat. His last race – the Jockey Club Gold Cup – was a major target as he set the earnings record, and he has historically preferred to have a race over the track, hence why he chose the Haskell last summer in advance of the Breeders’ Cup last fall, and why he went to Dubai six weeks early to get a race in prior to the Dubai World Cup.

This afternoon, not only is Curlin visiting Santa Anita for the first time, but also trying a new surface for the first time, a situation similar to his loss when trying turf at Belmont earlier this season.

The major question now looms, if Curlin comes back to the rest of this group, who is capable of taking advantage? The answer may very well be (more…)

While Curlin will be the headliner for the nine Breeders’ Cup races contested on Saturday, the five Cup races today are not without their own star power.

Zenyatta, with a flawless 8-for-8 career record, will lead the way in the Ladies Classic, a race formerly known as the Distaff.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Zenyatta, a 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry, has been nothing short of sensational every time she steps onto the track, and holds the home field advantage here having already won the Lady’s Secret over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface in her latest start.

That Zenyatta is the odds-on favorite in the morning line is a testament to how brilliantly she has won her races considering her competition includes the defending champion – Ginger Punch – and four other Grade 1 winners.

Ginger Punch fought out gutsy victories in both the Go For Wand and Personal Ensign at Saratoga this summer, and will offer odds of greater than 3/5 for the first time since she returned $11 in winning this race last year at Monmouth Park. Yet her campaign has been taxing, and perhaps began to show when she was caught late by Cocoa Beach in the Beldame.

Behind Zenyatta, the remainder of the Ladies Classic field appears wide-open, and a case can even be made for 50-1 bomber Santa Teresita, who finished second to Zenyatta in the Milady.

Ladies Classic Picks: 1st Zenyatta; 2nd Santa Teresita; 3rd Hystericalady; 4th Cocoa Beach.

In the Filly and Mare Sprint, champion Indian Blessing (more…)

With 14 races to get through, it can’t be too soon to start analyzing the Breeders’ Cup races.

Pre-entries were released on Tuesday, and a few initial thoughts on some of the races on Friday (with certainly much more to come):

* The Filly and Mare Sprint will lead things off, with the champ Indian Blessing seemingly the logical favorite. But synthetic surfaces are what drove her to the east coast to start her career, and 7 furlongs may be a bit beyond her best. She will be helped by an outside draw, but is worth taking a shot against with some combination of Tizzy’s Tune, Ventura and Zaftig.

* Next up is the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and presents a nearly impossible affair. Consequence was razor sharp in her career debut at Saratoga, and was outmoved at the head of the lane of the Miss Grillo. She may appreciate the firmer turf and two turns.

Emmy Darling was very sharp in a pair of starts to begin her career, but didn’t show the same explosiveness at Del Mar. Being a daughter of Graeme Hall, the added ground should be to her liking.

Laragh was visually impressive winning the Jessamine last out at Keeneland, a race that will likely earn her favortism.

* The Ladies Classic will offer the shortest priced favorite from the entire two-day program — and for good reason. Zenyatta has been brilliant, and over her home turf, have a hard time envisioning her perfect record gets challenged here. Any number of girls could complete the exotics, although I will take a stand against Carriage Trail, who drifted out very badly in the Spinster last out over a surface she loves.