Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Horses for all courses ready to run

Since inception, the Breeders' Cup has billed itself as the day that champions come together to compete on the sport's championship day of racing.

On Saturday afternoon in Arlington Park, Ill., when they contest the 19th Annual World Thoroughbred Championships, it will be a day to crown more champions than any previous Breeders' Cup. And that translates to one of the most wide open eight-race series in history.

This year, every one of the division titles hinges on the Breeders' Cup races. Each of the eight who visit the winners circle on Saturday stand to claim the sport's Oscar -- the Eclipse Award. Moreover, the gold trophy may not be decided in the centerpiece Breeders' Cup Classic. Last year, Tiznow became the only two-time winner of the Classic but his Cup performance was not enough to wrest away Horse of the Year honors from Point Given, who did not compete in the main event.

The European contingent rolls into Chicago with a stronger hand than last year's crop, which scored in the Juvenile with Johannesburg, the Filly & Mare Turf with Banks Hill and the Turf with Fantastic Light.

This year, super Euro star Rock of Gibraltar and Filly & Mare Turf defender Banks Hill are among the 18 over-the-pond entries entered in five of eight events. Rock of Gibraltar heads five in the Mile, Banks Hill is one of six in the Filly & Mare Turf, Hold That Tiger is among three in the Juvenile, High Chaparral tops a trio in the Turf and Hawk Wing is set for the Classic.

Although there is no marquee runner in this Breeders' Cup, there are solid favorites spread across the card.

Storm Flag Flying starts as the even-money choice to duplicate recent domination in the Juvenile Fillies division. The aforementioned Rock of Gibraltar brings a record seven-race Group I win streak into the Mile as the even-money pick and Azeri, set at 6-5 odds, begins the day as the Distaff favorite. After that, the morning line favorites get tentative.

Orientate is 5-2 for the Sprint, Golden Apples is 5-2 for the Filly & Mare Turf, Sky Mesa is 3-1 for the Juvenile, High Chaparral is 8-5 in the Turf and Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem is 3-1 for the Classic.

This Breeders' Cup is a bettors delight. It's a rare opportunity to play the best horses in racing on racing's best day of competition. Spiced by a Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick-6 with a guaranteed pool of at least $3 million, Breeders' Cup 2002 offers just about everything there is to offer in a one-day showdown.

For those taking in America's championship day of racing at a race book, remember that the Arlington Park oval is 1 1/8 miles in circumference. Post position draw is an important element in handicapping; the closer to the inside box, the better.

A look at the Breeders' Cup races, in the order they will be presented:

Traditionally, this race averages the smallest fields and shortest priced winners. Azeri comes here on a six-race win streak and her rider Mike Smith has won this event twice. She will have to be at her best to win. Alabama and Kentucky Oaks winner Farda Amiga, Beldame and Gazelle victress Imperial Gesture along with Ashland and Spinster winner Take Charge Lady are all solid challengers. Although Azeri has won most of her races in gate-to-wire fashion, she did win the Apple Blossom from off the pace.

THE PICKS: Azeri, Imperial Gesture. VALUE PLAY: Starrer.

Storm Flag Flying is one of the program's strongest favorites. The daughter of Storm Cat out of 1995 Juvenile Fillies winner My Flag has reeled off three solid career victories. She can rate off the pace and trainer Shug McGaughey ranks third on the Breeders' Cup money-won trainers list. Bob Baffert sends a trio in Kentucky Cup winner Atlantic Ocean, Oak Leaf winner Composure and Santa Catarina, runner-up to Storm Flag Flying in the recent Frizette. Sea Jewell has a solid jockey and trainer at too-big odds.

THE PICKS: Storm Flag Flying, Composure. VALUE PLAY: Sea Jewell.

This is always an entertaining race. And tough. A full field of 14 dictates a good trip for victory. Rock of Gibraltar is the one to beat here. He has arrived stateside with hoopla as a Euro monster. He has met and beat the best over the pond reaching back to his October 2001 Grand Criterium victory as a two-year-old, stretching out a seven-race Group I win streak. The Bobby Frankel trainee Beat Hollow won the Arlington Million over this course; Landseer, a stablemate of Rock of Gibraltar, won the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland as a prep for this; and Forbidden Apple, who drew the rail post, can figure in the mix. If the Rock likes the course he should be as solid as Gibraltar here.

THE PICKS: Rock Of Gibraltar, Beat Hollow. VALUE PLAY: Forbidden Apple.

This is the Americans' game. There is plenty of speed here and that means there will be breakneck fractions from start to finish. Returning are Xtra Heat, one of two damsels in the field, who finished a gutty runner-up in 2001; Swept Overboard, third in this event last year; and 2000 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Kona Gold, making his fifth consecutive Sprint start. Orientate, who finished 12th in last year's Classic, has reeled off four sprint stakes victories and has had an eight-week rest coming into this. Bonapaw is certainly the horse-for-course here, having won twice in two outings over the track in easy fashion. California speedster Disturbingthepeace is sitting on a six-race win streak. A suicide meltdown could produce boxcar payoffs here.

THE PICKS: Orientate, Kona Gold. VALUE PLAY: Swept Overboard.

This could be the most competitive contest of the day from top to bottom. In just its fourth renewal as the newest addition to the championship day agenda, this event is loaded with talent. Banks Hill returns to defend her 2000 victory but will have to face a much deeper field than last year. Half of this dozen are European invaders, all with solid credentials. Irish-bred Islington was recently fifth in the 'Arc de Triomphe; German-bred Kazzia is fresh off a victory in the Flower Bowl; French-bred Turtle Bow was runner-up in the Flower Bowl; British-bred Gossamer won the Irish 1000 Guineas; and British-bred Zenda showed the way in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in her last.

THE PICKS: Banks Hill, Islington. VALUE PLAY: Gossamer.

Looking to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, this race burns eternal for the next champion. However, no winner here has parlayed a Kentucky Derby victory the following year. So remember that when you go hustling off to the future book window. Sky Mesa earned favoritism by winning all three of his career races but withdrew today. Trainer Bob Baffert, who knows what it takes to win Triple Crown races, brings a trio of hopefuls in Norfolk winner Kafwain and runner-up Bull Market with Kentucky Cup victor Vindication. Mix in Euro flare Hold That Tiger, who won this year's Grand Criterium at Longchamp and Van Nistelrooy and Tomahawk from the Aidan O'Brien stables, and you have a promising contest. An interesting long shot here is the Richard Mandella trainee Listen Indy, who is a son of 1992 Classic winner and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.

THE PICKS: Vindication, Hold That Tiger. VALUE PLAY: Listen Indy

Equaling the smallest field of the day at eight, half of the 18 previous editions have been won by Europeans. This is their game. They have won the last three renewals and are represented by a trio of Irish-bred contenders. Golan won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot before an August runner-up effort in the Juddmonte International at York. Ballingarry comes here off a Canadian International score at Woodbine but High Chaparral is the big gun. The Epsom and Irish Derbies winner tuned up with a solid third in the 'Arc de Triomphe. Turf Classic winner Denon, multiple stakes winner With Anticipation and Arlington Handicap winner Falcon Flight are the Americans' best hope. A Euro four-peat forthcoming?

THE PICKS: High Chaparral, Ballingarry. VALUE PLAY: Falcon Flight.

Although this will not go down as a vintage Classic, it should go down as a competitive renewal. Of the dozen lining up, the sophomore class is six strong and represents the top three betting favorites. Trainer Bob Baffert brings Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational winner War Emblem for a swan song appearance, and based on his Triple Crown profile, is the 3-1 favorite. Trainer Bobby Frankel sends San Felipe, Jim Dandy and Travers winner Medaglia d'Oro as the second choice at 7-2. But it's the Pacific Classic winner Came Home who is the only three-year-old to beat older horses who boasts a 6-for-7 record this year. Of the handicap division, Evening Attire enters this fray off back-to-back victories in the Saratoga Handicap and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Sophomore invader Hawk Wing, runner-up four times with a victory in the Eclipse Stakes in five starts this year, is the solo hope for the Europeans.

THE PICKS: Came Home, Medaglia d'Oro. VALUE PLAY: Milwaukee Brew.

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