Arcadia, Calif. — The 14 races of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships are being run over two days at Santa Anita for the second straight year, and once again the five races restricted to fillies and mares will be run today.
It won’t be exclusively “Filly Friday,” however, as the Marathon has been shifted from Saturday, to be run as this afternoon’s first Cup race with a post time of 3:35 p.m. EST. ESPN2 will televise all six events.
Tomorrow’s eight races kick off with the Juvenile Turf at 1:45 p.m. EST. Post time for the $5 million Classic is 6:45 p.m.
Here’s a look at today’s races:
MARATHON: $500,000, 3-year-olds and up, mile-and-three-quarters.
Italian Derby winner Mastery comes off a win in the Group 1 English St. Leger and a mile-and-13/16ths. He’s the favorite, but Father Time, fourth in the St. Leger, has won over Polytrack and could be the spoiler.
Ireland’s Man of Iron, a half-brother to Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches, also has won over Polytrack.
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF: $1,000,000, 2-year-old fillies, mile on turf. Post: 4:08.
Euro-invader Lillie Langtry was the odds-on favorite in her last three starts and stands out in this field.
The rest appear evenly matched, with a slight edge going to Junia Tepzia, House of Grace and Elusive Galaxy.
JUVENILE FILLIES: Grade 1, $2,000,000, 2-year-old fillies, mile-and-a-sixteenth. Post: 4:45.
In a wide-open race, we’ll take a stab at Negligee, winner of the Alcibiades over Polytrack at Keeneland.
Blind Luck, Always a Princess and Bickersons ran 1-2-3 in the Oak Leaf over this track.
Connie and Michael was brilliant winning her debut at Keeneland.
FILLY & MARE TURF: Grade 1, $2,000,000, 3-year-olds and up, mile-and-a-quarter, turf. Post: 5:23.
Midday is a Group 1 winner in Europe going this distance and comes off a solid prep in France.
Forever Together looks to repeat after winning this race last year.
Rutherienne has hit the board in 20 of 22 starts.
FILLY & MARE SPRINT: Grade 1, $1,000,000, 3-year-olds and up, seven furlongs. Post: 6:02.
Last year’s winner, Ventura, is favored to defend her title, but Informed Decision is 5-for-6 at the distance and 6-for-6 over synthetic tracks.
Sara Louise is the last horse to beat Rachel Alexandra.
LADIES’ CLASSIC: Grade 1, $2,000,000, 3-year-olds and up, mile-and-an-eighth. Post: 6:45.
If Careless Jewel shakes loose on the lead from post 1, she’ll be hard to catch.
Godolphin’s Cocoa Beach and Music Note ran 2-3 last year behind Zenyatta; this year, Music Note’s form is the better of the two.
Life Is Sweet is a horse for the course who’s been chasing her stablemate Zenyatta all year.
