LOUISVILLE – The day we’ve been waiting for is finally here. Time to head for Aqueduct, your local OTB, or plunk down on the couch and tune in ESPN (noon to 7 p.m.) for the “Super Bowl of Racing,” the 23rd running of the eightrace, $20 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships live from Churchill Downs.
Post time for the first race, the Juvenile Fillies, is 12:30 p.m., concluding at 5:20 with the $5 million Classic. With 104 top-class thoroughbreds in the mix, betting opportunities abound, including trifectas and superfectas in every race, two pick 4’s and a $1M guaranteed pick 6. If the past is a key to the future, some payoffs will be astronomical.
Here’s a behind-thescenes look at today’s Breeders’ Cup that might unlock the vault.
CLASSIC: Bernardini, even-money on the morning line, faces his toughest challenge versus the likes of California’s Lava Man, 7for-7 this year, and Invasor, beaten once in nine starts.
Both are Horse of the Year contenders.
Because Bernardini won his last six starts so easily without really being tested, you might try to beat him.
But listen to his trainer, Tom Albertrani, who warns: “He’s on the muscle.
I think there is more there that we haven’t seen.” Bobby Frankel, who won the 2004 Breeders’ Cup with Ghostzapper, was asked who would win a showdown between the two. His answer: “It would be close.” If there’s one other Classic horse in Bernardini’s class, it could be Ireland’s standout miler, George Washington. He’s never raced on dirt, or gone a mile-and-a-quarter, but Aidan O’Brien – who trained superstars like Giant’s Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar and Galileo – says he’s the best horse he’s ever had.
JUVENILE FILLIES:
Longshot Her Majesty, who cost $650G, has only raced twice, but she’s been training and racing over the Polytrack at Turfway Park and Keeneland, a synthetic surface that her trainer, Patrick Biancone, believes makes horses fitter than running over dirt. She gets blinkers on, first-time Lasix, and worked for this in a blistering :58.3.
JUVENILE: Can lightning strike twice for trainer Doug O’Neill, who won last year’s Juvenile with Stevie Wonderboy? This year, O’Neill has the stretch-running Great Hunter, winner last out of the Breeders’ Futurity over the Keeneland Polytrack. The backstretch buzz says he’s blossomed this week.
FILLY & MARE TURF: Ouija Board won this race two years ago, then was second last year, both times as the favorite. Some are gambling she’s peaked after a long, hard campaign.
But listen to her trainer, Edward Dunlop: “She’s a freak, you must remember that.” After the Breeders’ Cup, plans are for Ouija Board to race in Japan and Hong Kong, so she’s hardly over the top.
SPRINT: Bordonaro, Attila’s Storm and Henny Hughes promise the usual lightning pace.
But of the five Sprints run at Churchill Downs, only one winner raced on the lead. The other four rallied from eighth, sixth, ninth and fifth. Comefrombehind sprinters in this race include Areyoutalkintome, Nightmare Affair, Pomeroy, Too Much Bling, Silent Lure and Kelly’s Landing.
MILE: Europeans are 9-for-22 overall, 2-for-5 at Churchill. George Washington would have been the heavy favorite, but Aidan O’Brien said the two he is running, Ad Valorem and Aussi Rules, are “both live contenders.” The Euro’s say Araafa is their best chance.
DISTAFF: Someone told trainer Shug McGaughey yesterday he’s been touting his filly, Pine Island.
McGaughey, who’s won this race three times with five seconds, replied: “Keep touting.” TURF: Europeans are 12for-22, 3-for-5 at Churchill.
Scorpion, one of Europe’s top stayers last year, missed most of this season with an injury, but the Breeders’ Cup has been his goal all along. He finished second in his only 2006 start on Oct. 8, which was a prep for this race. Scorpion won last year’s St. Leger at a mileandthree-quarters racing on the lead, and Aidan O’Brien says he will make the pace again today.
WEATHER
High 55 degrees
Partly cloudy, 10 percent chance of rain.
TV: ESPN – Noon – 7 p.m.
