Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Racing’s biggest day cause for champions

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

America will go to the races again on Saturday when the Sport of Kings presents its World Thoroughbred Championships. The Breeders' Cup will celebrate its 20th such day and is certain to add another chapter of championship performances.

The best of man and beast will take to the track at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., as the Oak Tree Racing Association hosts the pinnacle event in racing for the third time. Each year the Breeders' Cup weaves a tapestry that reflects the highs and lows in the highly competitive rigors of racing and spotlights how special and difficult it is to win a divisional honor on the day they crown the champions.

Ronald Reagan was President when the first Breeders' Cup was presented just down the freeway from this year's host at Hollywood Park in 1984. Chief's Crown will be forever etched as the first Breeders' Cup winner when the Juvenile opened the card on that day.

Through separate Bush administrations and an eight-year run of Clinton, the Breeders' Cup has showcased some unforgettable performances with indelible memories. Personal Ensign's Distaff in 1988, Flanders' Juvenile Fillies of 1994, Miesque's back-to-back wins in the Mile of 1987 and 1988, Precisionist's Sprint of 1985, Banks Hill's win in the 2001 Filly & Mare Turf, Arazi's electrifying Juvenile win in 1991, Manila's Turf in 1986 and the Classics of Ferdinand in 1987, Alysheba of 1988, Sunday Silence in 1989, Cigar in 1995 and Tiznow's back-to-back Classic victories of 2000 and 2001.

And this year, as in each of the 19 Breeders' Cup before, there will be those who have not, for one reason or another, made the big show. The Breeders' Cup, as in the past, will endure. For it is truly the event that makes the participants. It is the World Thoroughbred Championships that is the Breeders' Cup.

So, with $14 million on the line and eight divisional titles hanging in the balance, let's look at this year's Breeders' Cup races:

THE BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF: 1 1/8 Miles, 3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares, $2 Million purse -- This opening event lost its marquee star when defending Distaff winner and reigning Horse Of The Year Azeri was declared out of the race. Suffering from an inflamed leg, Azeri would have had her work cut out in this renewal. Trainer Bobby Frankel sends out his first favorite of the day in Sightseek, who has reeled off four Grade I victories coming into the race. It should be noted that she is 0-for-3 over the Santa Anita track. That is not the case with Got Koko, who is 5-for-7 on the Arcadia oval. The highest money-earner in the race is Take Charge Lady with more than $2.4 million banked. Although the star is gone the race is competitive.

The picks: 1. GOT KOKO 2. SIGHTSEEK. Value play: ELLOLUV

THE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES: 1 1/16th Miles, 2-Year-Old Fillies, $1 Million purse -- Equaling the largest field on the day, 14 first-year damsels will travel two turns. The short morning line favorite winds up with the worst post draw. Halfbridled, undefeated in three lifetime starts that include the Del Mar Debutante and the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita in her most recent start, must overcome post 14. Only Ashado and Be Gentle have as many wins on their card. Forest Music, by 1995 Juvenile winner Unbridled, broke the track record while winning at Laurel Park in her only start. But, Class Above may be just that here. The Bob Baffert trainee won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies by 16 lengths in her last start at a mile. She looks like the goods here.

The picks: 1. CLASS ABOVE 2. HALFBRIDLED. Value play: ASHADO.

THE BREEDERS' CUP MILE: 1 Mile on Turf, 3-Year-Olds & Up, $1.5 Million purse -- A field of fourteen will negotiate the tight turns of the infield turf course here. Ultimately, the trip will be paramount. Riders who know the layout and horses who have run over the course should have an edge. This is one race that the Europeans are usually loaded for bear. Three from over-the-pond ship in for the race but, it is the local contingent that have the post position advantage. Of them, Designed For Luck, Sarafan and Peace Rules should have good trips from inside starts. A lively pace is assured by Peace Rules and Special Ring. Closers such as Touch Of The Blues, Perfect Soul and Oasis Dream will need racing luck. Don't take a short price here. Box or key solid contenders at good prices.

The picks: 1. TOUCH OF THE BLUES 2. DESIGNED FOR LUCK. Value Play: SARAFAN.

THE BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT: 6-Fulongs, 3-Year-Olds & Up, $1.18 million purse -- Baker's dozen set to go hell-bent-for-leather. Shake You Down and Private Horde have six wins each this year as the most productive runners in the field. Shake You Down is 6-for-his-most-recent-7 starts, while Private Horde has 6 wins and a pair of seconds from his past 8 starts. Frankel trainee Aldebaran with 5 victories is the highest earner this year with more than $1.1 million banked. Yankee Gentleman is the X-factor here. If there is a meltdown pace, then closers such as Aldebaran, Posse and Private Horde can pick up the pieces.

The picks: 1. SHAKE YOU DOWN 2. ALDEBARAN. Value play: POSSE.

THE BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE TURF: 1 1/4 Miles on Turf, 3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares, $1.06 Million purse -- Twelve answer the starter in this. A deep competitive field of turf distaffers are highlighted by European stars. Yesterday, Mezzo Soprano, L'Ancresse, Musical Chimes and favorite Islington head the European contingent. Southern California is experiencing Indian summer weather which does not bode well for the Europeans. However, Musical Chimes arrived stateside early and had a race over the course while finishing a fast-closing runner up in the Grade I Yellow Ribbon. Americans Heat Haze and Megahertz, both from the Frankel barn, and the gutty Voodoo Dancer are deserved entrants. European Dimitrova has had three American races with a pair of victories. Tough heat.

The picks: 1. MUSICAL CHIMES 2. HEAT HAZE. Value play: MEGAHERTZ.

THE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE: 1 1/16th Miles, 2-Year-Olds, $1.5 million purse -- All the major players in this division aren't in the race. Connections of major prep race winners have decided to pass here and prepare for the Kentucky Derby next May. An overblown Juvenile-Derby double jinx has added fuel to the exodus. Early favorite Catus Ridge was declared with an injury the other day, furthering the wide open status of the race. Seven of the 12 in the field have done no more than break their maiden. The most accomplished runners in the field are Chapel Royal with 3 wins and a pair of seconds in 5 lifetime starts and favorite Cuvee, who is 4-for-5 lifetime, but, must overcome the outside post draw. Relaxed Gesture represents the Europeans. Wide open uninspiring renewal.

The picks: 1. CHAPEL ROYAL 2. CUVEE. Value play: ACTION THIS DAY.

THE BREEDERS' CUP TURF: 1 1/2 Miles on Turf, 3-Year-Olds & Up, $2.12 Million purse -- Solid marathon field highlighted by the Europeans. Defending champion High Chaparral, two-time American Grade I winner Sulamani, Bright Sky and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Falbrav head up the over-the-pond group. Americans Storming Home, Johar and The Tin Man carry the home banner. On CNN's Larry King Live show, jockey Gary Stevens said that his spectacular spill from Storming Home -- resulting in vertebrae damage and a collapsed lung -- gave him pause for retirement. But, he returned to the saddle just to ride Storming Home in the Breeders' Cup. That's good enough for me.

The picks: 1. STORMING HOME 2. FALBRAV. Value play: JOHAR.

THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC: 1 1/4 Miles, 3-Year-Olds & Up, $4 Million purse -- With the defections of leading Horse Of The Year candidate Mineshaft, Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker and Candy Ride, this year's Classic lost some showdown luster. However, with the re-entry of Perfect Drift along with Medaglia d'Oro, Congaree, defending champion Volponi, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide and improving multi-stakes winner Ten Most Wanted, this Classic is at least competitive. European Hold That Tiger and returning Pleasantly Perfect add to the wagering value of the race. Congaree is 4-for-5, Medaglia d'Oro 2-for-2, Pleasantly Perfect 3-for-7 and Ten Most Wanted 1-for-2 over the Santa Anita main track. If anyone but Perfect Drift, who has beaten Mineshaft, wins this Classic then Mineshaft is certain to get the Horse Of The Year troph y without ever showing up on championship day.

The picks: 1. PERFECT DRIFT 2. MEDAGLIA d'ORO. Value play: PLEASANTLY PERFECT.

The Breeders' Cup begins early on Saturday with the 4 1/2 hour live NBC telecast starting at 10 a.m. With an Ultra Pick Six guarantee pool of $3 million and a multitude of exotics wagering opportunities, this Breeders' Cup Day is as much for the bettors as the horses.

archive