How I See the 14 Races of 25th Breeders’ Cup

Posted on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

SBG Global RacebookBy GREG MELIKOV

Here’s the 2008 Breeders’ Cup in a nutshell.

$2 Million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, 1 1/8 miles: Favorites dominate, as 17 of 24 winners were less than 3-1, which probably accounts for the small fields.

$5 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic, 1 1/4 miles: Only four horses scored from posts 1-3, including Ghostzapper on the rail in ‘04 who was only the second wire-to-wire winner since ‘91 when Black Tie Affair triumphed off the longest layoff — 49 days. Outside is the place to be as nine won from posts 10 through 14, including ‘07 champ Curlin from post 11. The early 7-5 favorite breaks from post 9. The son of Smart Strike wins again.

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Breeders’ Cup Contenders October 25: Curlin Draws Post 9 In The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic

Posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Race horse Curlin drew post position 9 in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic field and was made the 7-5 favorite for the $5-million horse race to be held on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.

With Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown retired and off the Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders list, the Horse of the Year Curlin will defend his title against 11 other race horses hoping to stop Curlin’s bid to be the second consecutive Breeders’ Cup Classic winner.

The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic field of races horses with jockeys, weight and morning line odds:

  1. SBG Global RacebookGo Between under jockey Garrett Gomez carries 126 lbs. with morning line odds of 8-1
  2. Casino Drive under jockey Victor Espinoza, 121 lbs., 10-1
  3. Tiago under jockey Mike Smith, 126 lbs., 15-1
  4. Duke of Marmalade under jockey John Murtagh, 126 lbs., 10-1
  5. Henrythenavigator under jockey John Velazquez, 121 lbs., 10-1
  6. Smooth Air under jockey Manny Cruz, 121 lbs., 50-1
  7. Student Council under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, 126 lbs., 20-1
  8. Raven’s Pass under jockey Frankie Dettori, 121 lbs., 6-1
  9. Curlin under jockey Robby Albarado, 126 lbs., 7-5
  10. Fairbanks under jockey Richard Migliore, 126 lbs., 10-1
  11. Colonel John under jockey Edgar Prado, 121 lbs., 20-1
  12. Champs Elysees under jockey Alan Garcia, 126 lbs., 15-1

The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic is race 9 in Oak Tree at Santa Anita’s October 25 race card. Breeders’ Cup Classic Post time is 3:45 pm Pacific.

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Commentator, Student Council Among Nominees For Massachusetts Handicap

Posted on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

SBG Global RacebookCommentator, 2-time winner of Saratoga’s Whitney Handicap, and Student Council, winner of this year’s Pimlico Special, are among the list of nominees for the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs.

The 66th running of the Massachusetts Handicap or MassCap is one of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Challenge events on Saturday, September 20. Aside from the $300,000 winner’s share, the MassCap winner will also be part of the Breeders’ Cup field for the October 25 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.

Hailing from the barn of Hall of Fame race horse trainer Nick Zito, Commentator has been assigned high weight of 122 pounds in the Massachusetts Handicap. Nick Zito has indicated he will race horse Commentator in the MassCap.

Student Council is one of four nominees for race horse trainer Steve Asmussen. Student Council will be carrying second high weight of 117 pounds in the Massachusetts Handicap which remains under consideration by his connections.

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Colonel John Wins The $1-Million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course

Posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008

SBG Global RacebookWinStar Farm’s Colonel John, making only his 2nd start on dirt, got his nose down at the wire after a head-bobbing late stretch duel with Mambo in Seattle at Saratoga Race Course to win Saturday’s 139th running of the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1).

Colonel John ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.20 and earned $600,000 for WinStar Farm. The Eoin Harty-trained horse paid $10.40, $5.40 and $4.30. Colonel John had not won a race since taking the Santa Anita Derby in April.

Mambo in Seattle, ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, paid $6.30 and $5.10. Pyro, the favorite in the Travers, finished third in the race for 3-year-olds with jockey Shaun Bridgmohan riding and paid $3.70.

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Pyro Installed As Morning Line Favorite In The 2008 Travers Stakes at Saratoga August 23

Posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Online Horse BettingPyro was installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the $1-million Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

The Steve Asmussen trainee, Pyro, will take on 11 other race horses, including Belmont Stakes winner Da’Tara. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Pyro, who will leave from the 11th post.

The entire Travers field from the rail out is Tale of Ekati (20-1), Colonel John (8-1), Da’Tara (8-1), Tizbig (30-1), Macho Again (6-1), Cool Coal Man (15-1), Amped (30-1), Harlem Rocker (4-1), Mambo in Seattle (5-1), Tres Borrachos (15-1), Pyro (7-2) and Court Vision (12-1).

The 2008 Travers Stakes is race 11 of 12 in Saratoga’s August 23 card. Travers post time is 5:45 pm Eastern.

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Travers Could Attract Larger Field Than Usual

Posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

By GREG MELIKOV

The 139th Travers Stakes could boast double-digit runners for the first time in 15 years since 1993 Kentucky Derby champ Sea Hero roared from back of the pack to defeat 10 challengers.

There could be that many 3-year-olds in the $1 million contest on Aug. 23. Winners of Triple Crown races the past 15 years have done well, winning seven times, including four that scored in the Belmont Stakes.

That’s a good omen for Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara, hoping to rebound from a disappointing seventh place finish in the Jim Dandy on July 27. He broke inward, went to the lead, dueled along the rail until the far turn and steadily faded to last, ending up 24 1/4 lengths behind Macho Again after 1 1/8 miles.

While Da’ Tara was capturing the Belmont Stakes, odds-on favorite Big Brown ended up ninth and last. However, he took the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 3 and will go into another race en route to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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Macho Again Wins Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga; Belmont Stakes Winner Da’Tara Finished Last

Posted on Sunday, July 27th, 2008

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again held off a late bid by favored Pyro to win the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) by a half-length on Sunday, July 27, at Saratoga.

The Dallas Stewart trainee ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, Macho Again, who finished second in the Preakness and fifth in the Belmont Stakes before winning what is considered the principal prep for the August 23 Travers Stakes, covered the Jim Dandy Stakes distance of 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.60 and paid $18.40, $5.30 and $3.40. Pyro, under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, returned $3.40 and $2.90. Three-quarters of a length behind, Tiz Now Tiz Then with jockey Miguel Mena paid $4.70 to show.

Read full story: "Macho Again Wins Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga; Belmont Stakes Winner Da’Tara Finished Last"...

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