It won't be certain until the entries are taken three days before the big races. But everyone has seen enough of the horses to know that Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie will have fields for the Breeders' Cup that are going to be bang-up -- or whatever superlative fits.
And it's also a good thing horse racing has two satellite television channels. Admit it: TVG and HRTV truly are the wave of the future, and this has nothing to do with the fact that the networks offer Internet wagering platforms on horse races for much of the country. People in Texas still can log onto Ameritrade.com to participate in the legalized gambling known as the stock market but can't legally place a bet on a horse over the Internet.
TVG and HRTV now are entering their most appealing time of the year for the horse racing viewer. They're still playing the game in October. Many of the trainers and horses headed to the Breeders' Cup are not.
While the trainers handling some of the more prominent horses headed to the Breeders' Cup confine their animals' activity to workouts in the morning, at least someone carrying a camera for TVG or HRTV can get it on tape so we can have some idea how the horse is looking these days.
October once was the extra helping for horse racing. In other words, the prep races for the Breeders' Cup in October have filled the void on the calendar after the Triple Crown in the spring and the racing seasons at Saratoga and Del Mar in the summer.
There probably wasn't a better example of that than when Cigar was running. His preps for the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1995 included the Woodward Stakes in September and the Jockey Club Gold Cup in October. It helped that those races were at Belmont Park and the Breeders' Cup was held there, too.
Cigar lost the Classic the next year, something that might have been predicted by his performance in October. He lost the Gold Cup to Skip Away. Think about it: Skip Away vs. Cigar.
It would have happened again in the Breeders' Cup if only Sonny Hine, Skip Away's trainer, hadn't been hospitalized with an illness the week of the race. He wasn't the type to let anyone else handle his horse.
That's only one example. Tiznow is another. When he won his first of two Breeders' Cup Classics, he won the Super Derby in the last week of September and the Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita less than three weeks before the big race.
The Breeders' Cup was in November that year, which would be a great date for the future. It allows for the possibility of more horses shipping in from Europe after the traditional first Sunday of October date for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France. And it leaves the door open for more horses in North America to get that final prep in October.
The way it looks this year, the likely top three wagering choices in the Classic -- defending champion Pleasantly Perfect, Ghostzapper and Roses in May-- will come into the Classic without an October race. At least Ghostzapper and Roses in May raced in September, which is better than 2002, when the top two wagering choices hadn't raced since August.
The October racing slate isn't totally blank. Kitten's Joy, one of the favorites for the Turf, is expected to start Saturday in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The defending champ in the Sprint, Cajun Beat, is expected for the Vosburgh Stakes against possible Sprint favorite Speightstown and Met Mile winner Pico Central.
Two horses that had runner-up finishes in Breeders' Cup races last year should be racing at Santa Anita this month. Distaff hopeful Elloluv could go in the Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap, and Sprint runners-up Bluesthestandard could run in the Ancient Title Handicap.
It's no Cigar. It's no Skip Away. But it'll have to do, unless you own a satellite dish and are ready to watch workouts on television.
* * *
Today's sure things
The Breeders' Cup meet begins today at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. General admission is $3 and clubhouse admission is $6. Reserved seating can be purchased in person or by calling (972) 263-PONY. All reserved seats to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships are sold out, and there is no general or clubhouse admission that day. Parking is $2 (except on Breeders' Cup Day).
More than 25 decorated fiberglass horses in the Thoroughbreds by Design exhibit will be judged and awarded prizes today at 5 p.m. at Lone Star Park.
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, a winner of 12 Breeders' Cup races and the event's all-time money-winning jockey with more than $22.9 million, will ride at Lone Star Park tonight and be available for an autograph session before the races at 5 p.m.
Likely contenders
Star-Telegram horse racing writer Tim Price lists the top contenders in each of the eight Breeders' Cup races:
Distaff
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Society Selection</TD><TD>Big wins at Saratoga</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Ashado</TD><TD>Ky. Oaks winner</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Sightseek</TD><TD>Might not seek Lone Star</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Azeri</TD><TD>Won '02 Distaff</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Stellar Jayne</TD><TD>Big wins at Belmont</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Juvenile Fillies
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Sense of Style</TD><TD>Won all 3 starts</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Balletto</TD><TD>2nd to Sense of Style</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Culinary</TD><TD>Big win at Arlington</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Miss Matched</TD><TD>Also 2nd to "Sense"</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Play With Fire</TD><TD>Another behind "Sense"</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Mile
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Rakti</TD><TD>Big win in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Refuse to Bend</TD><TD>Inconsistent in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Special Ring</TD><TD>Big win at Del Mar</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Six Perfections</TD><TD>Defending champ</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Whipper</TD><TD>Defeated Six Perfections</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Sprint
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Speightstown</TD><TD>4-for-4 this year</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Kela</TD><TD>Lone Star winner blossoming</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Midas Eyes</TD><TD>Making good comeback</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Our New Recruit</TD><TD>Winner in Dubai</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Pohave</TD><TD>Consistent in Calif.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Filly and Mare Turf
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Ouija Board</TD><TD>Dominant in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Crimson Palace</TD><TD>Winner at Arlington</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Musical Chimes</TD><TD>One win this year</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Sweet Stream</TD><TD>Improving in France</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Arvada</TD><TD>Improved in N. America</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Juvenile
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Roman Ruler</TD><TD>Bob Baffert trains</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Diamond Isle</TD><TD>2nd to Bellamy Road</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Afleet Alex</TD><TD>Won all four races</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Proud Accolade</TD><TD>Ready for stakes debut</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Bellamy Road</TD><TD>Winner in Cincinnati</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Turf
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Rule of Law</TD><TD>On a roll in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Sulamani</TD><TD>Tailing off in training</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Powerscourt</TD><TD>DQ'ed Arlington winner</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Magistretti</TD><TD>Euro import wins here</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. North Light</TD><TD>English Derby winner</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Classic
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Pleasantly Perfect</TD><TD>Defending champ</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Ghostzapper</TD><TD>Undefeated this year</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Roses in May</TD><TD>Another undefeated season</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Perfect Drift</TD><TD>Would be his third Classic</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Birdstone</TD><TD>Upset Smarty Jones</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- end body-content -->
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And it's also a good thing horse racing has two satellite television channels. Admit it: TVG and HRTV truly are the wave of the future, and this has nothing to do with the fact that the networks offer Internet wagering platforms on horse races for much of the country. People in Texas still can log onto Ameritrade.com to participate in the legalized gambling known as the stock market but can't legally place a bet on a horse over the Internet.
TVG and HRTV now are entering their most appealing time of the year for the horse racing viewer. They're still playing the game in October. Many of the trainers and horses headed to the Breeders' Cup are not.
While the trainers handling some of the more prominent horses headed to the Breeders' Cup confine their animals' activity to workouts in the morning, at least someone carrying a camera for TVG or HRTV can get it on tape so we can have some idea how the horse is looking these days.
October once was the extra helping for horse racing. In other words, the prep races for the Breeders' Cup in October have filled the void on the calendar after the Triple Crown in the spring and the racing seasons at Saratoga and Del Mar in the summer.
There probably wasn't a better example of that than when Cigar was running. His preps for the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1995 included the Woodward Stakes in September and the Jockey Club Gold Cup in October. It helped that those races were at Belmont Park and the Breeders' Cup was held there, too.
Cigar lost the Classic the next year, something that might have been predicted by his performance in October. He lost the Gold Cup to Skip Away. Think about it: Skip Away vs. Cigar.
It would have happened again in the Breeders' Cup if only Sonny Hine, Skip Away's trainer, hadn't been hospitalized with an illness the week of the race. He wasn't the type to let anyone else handle his horse.
That's only one example. Tiznow is another. When he won his first of two Breeders' Cup Classics, he won the Super Derby in the last week of September and the Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita less than three weeks before the big race.
The Breeders' Cup was in November that year, which would be a great date for the future. It allows for the possibility of more horses shipping in from Europe after the traditional first Sunday of October date for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France. And it leaves the door open for more horses in North America to get that final prep in October.
The way it looks this year, the likely top three wagering choices in the Classic -- defending champion Pleasantly Perfect, Ghostzapper and Roses in May-- will come into the Classic without an October race. At least Ghostzapper and Roses in May raced in September, which is better than 2002, when the top two wagering choices hadn't raced since August.
The October racing slate isn't totally blank. Kitten's Joy, one of the favorites for the Turf, is expected to start Saturday in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The defending champ in the Sprint, Cajun Beat, is expected for the Vosburgh Stakes against possible Sprint favorite Speightstown and Met Mile winner Pico Central.
Two horses that had runner-up finishes in Breeders' Cup races last year should be racing at Santa Anita this month. Distaff hopeful Elloluv could go in the Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap, and Sprint runners-up Bluesthestandard could run in the Ancient Title Handicap.
It's no Cigar. It's no Skip Away. But it'll have to do, unless you own a satellite dish and are ready to watch workouts on television.
* * *
Today's sure things
The Breeders' Cup meet begins today at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. General admission is $3 and clubhouse admission is $6. Reserved seating can be purchased in person or by calling (972) 263-PONY. All reserved seats to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships are sold out, and there is no general or clubhouse admission that day. Parking is $2 (except on Breeders' Cup Day).
More than 25 decorated fiberglass horses in the Thoroughbreds by Design exhibit will be judged and awarded prizes today at 5 p.m. at Lone Star Park.
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, a winner of 12 Breeders' Cup races and the event's all-time money-winning jockey with more than $22.9 million, will ride at Lone Star Park tonight and be available for an autograph session before the races at 5 p.m.
Likely contenders
Star-Telegram horse racing writer Tim Price lists the top contenders in each of the eight Breeders' Cup races:
Distaff
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Society Selection</TD><TD>Big wins at Saratoga</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Ashado</TD><TD>Ky. Oaks winner</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Sightseek</TD><TD>Might not seek Lone Star</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Azeri</TD><TD>Won '02 Distaff</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Stellar Jayne</TD><TD>Big wins at Belmont</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Juvenile Fillies
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Sense of Style</TD><TD>Won all 3 starts</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Balletto</TD><TD>2nd to Sense of Style</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Culinary</TD><TD>Big win at Arlington</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Miss Matched</TD><TD>Also 2nd to "Sense"</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Play With Fire</TD><TD>Another behind "Sense"</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Mile
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Rakti</TD><TD>Big win in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Refuse to Bend</TD><TD>Inconsistent in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Special Ring</TD><TD>Big win at Del Mar</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Six Perfections</TD><TD>Defending champ</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Whipper</TD><TD>Defeated Six Perfections</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Sprint
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Speightstown</TD><TD>4-for-4 this year</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Kela</TD><TD>Lone Star winner blossoming</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Midas Eyes</TD><TD>Making good comeback</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Our New Recruit</TD><TD>Winner in Dubai</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Pohave</TD><TD>Consistent in Calif.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Filly and Mare Turf
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Ouija Board</TD><TD>Dominant in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Crimson Palace</TD><TD>Winner at Arlington</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Musical Chimes</TD><TD>One win this year</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Sweet Stream</TD><TD>Improving in France</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Arvada</TD><TD>Improved in N. America</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Juvenile
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Roman Ruler</TD><TD>Bob Baffert trains</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Diamond Isle</TD><TD>2nd to Bellamy Road</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Afleet Alex</TD><TD>Won all four races</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Proud Accolade</TD><TD>Ready for stakes debut</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Bellamy Road</TD><TD>Winner in Cincinnati</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Turf
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Rule of Law</TD><TD>On a roll in Europe</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Sulamani</TD><TD>Tailing off in training</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Powerscourt</TD><TD>DQ'ed Arlington winner</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Magistretti</TD><TD>Euro import wins here</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. North Light</TD><TD>English Derby winner</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Classic
<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Rank, horse</TD><TD>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>1. Pleasantly Perfect</TD><TD>Defending champ</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>2. Ghostzapper</TD><TD>Undefeated this year</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>3. Roses in May</TD><TD>Another undefeated season</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>4. Perfect Drift</TD><TD>Would be his third Classic</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>5. Birdstone</TD><TD>Upset Smarty Jones</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- end body-content -->
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