Breeders' Cup Betting Info and Updates
by Patricia Woo | Oct 19 2009
With the
Breeders' Cup just a few short weeks away and prep races in short supply, the lineups for each race are beginning to take shape. So get ready to bet on the 2009 Breeders' Cup as Bodog Racebook gets you up to date on which horses are hot and which have fallen out of contention in the Breeders' Cup Mile, Sprint, Turf and Classic events, which will be run on Nov. 6-7, 2009, at Santa Anita Park.
Cowboy Cal is the horse to watch in the
Breeders' Cup Mile division. Fresh off a victory in the $150,000 Gr. 2 Oak Tree Mile on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita Park, this Todd Pletcher trainee seems to have left his mid-season slump behind him. With his affinity for the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park, Cowboy Cal looks to be ready for another impressive outing in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Two early frontrunners in this division, Goldikova and Justenuffhumor, had less-than-stellar races in their final preps and will be aiming to bounce back on Nov. 7.
The Sprint division had a surprising defection earlier this month when the connections of top Eastern sprinter Fabulous Strike announced they would be skipping the Breeders' Cup; trainer Todd Beattie cited the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita as the reason. Indeed, Fabulous Strike finished fifth in this race last year, and will instead be pointed to conventional dirt tracks to close out his season. And the surprises don't stop there - Ancient Title Stakes winner Gayego won an automatic berth to the
Breeders' Cup Sprint with his unexpected victory on Oct. 10 and will line up as a serious contender on Nov. 7.
From the early dominance of Gio Ponti (the 4-year-old Christophe Clement trainee had a five-race win streak snapped in the Gr. 1 $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 3) to the news that he would be jumping divisions to the Classic; from European invader Sea the Stars' brilliant season to rumors that he would be instead racing in the Classic to the news of his retirement, the Turf division has seen its share of turbulence. Adding to the excitement is the reemergence of 6-year-old Presious Passion, with his gate-to-wire win in the $300,000 Gr. 2 Clement Hirsch Turf at Santa Anita Park Oct. 11.
The richest race of the Breeders' Cup, the Classic, has been the most intriguing division to watch. Despite the absence of Rachel Alexandra, the nation's top 3-year-old filly and a top contender for Horse of the Year, the Classic still boasts a star-studded roster. Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Summer Bird tested the Santa Anita Park track for the first time on Oct. 17, breezing 5 furlongs in 1:02; trainer Tim Ice is confident his charge will be comfortable with the surface in time for the race. And the John Shirreffs-trained Zenyatta, one of the best older mares racing today and winner of 13 consecutive races, could look to better last year's victory against females in the
Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic with a cross-divisional leap into a battle against males for the first time.
The Breeders' Cup is coming! Bet on
horse racing at Santa Anita Park with the Bodog Racebook!
