Steve Davidowitz has published two highly acclaimed books on Thoroughbred racing and is a regular contributor to Daily Racing Form's Simulcast Weekly and DRF Plus.
Dave Tuley was the Daily Racing Form's full-time Las Vegas correspondent from 2000 through May 2007 and now writes a weekly column for DRF and owns a new website called ViewFromVegas.com.
In addition to my top two choices, MUHANNAK is a logical long shot candidate based on winning the Marathon over this course last year. He hasn't won since, but we've often seen former winners peak again in the BC as their connections know how to prepare them and this is where they want to peak.
LA NEZ won the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies over the main track here as the 2-1 favorite and if she translates that form to the turf, she's dangerous at 20-1.
MS VANENEZZA's rallying win at Delaware suggests that she might be the one to benefit most if a duel develops for control of the pace. That said, she is only one of several stretch runners to consider if there is a pace meltdown.
SHE BE WILD is only the sixth choice on the morning line at 8-1, but she was winning the Alcibiades before getting caught and beaten by a half-length by NEGLIGEE or else she’d be one of the faves. But that means we're getting value.
VISIT actually holds a tactical advantage over these and is the logical front running potential upset threat. She was fourth in this race last year and has finished close to Magical Fantasy in three separate races.
RUTHERIENNE is just 8-1 in this small field and is another late runner with a big shot at the upset off scoring a victory by a nose in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont.
Aside from the value that SEVENTH STREET might offer in her first try on a synthetic track, her Godolphin owned stablemate SARA LOUISE has speed to consider in a race that has very few realistic win contenders. EVITA ARGENTINA is a deep closer who might figure in the trifecta.
GAME FACE appears a notch below the top choices, but she's only been out-earned by VENTURA and INFORMED DECISION and she's won 2-of-3 starts at this distance. She's worth a look at anything around her morning-line odds of 10-1.
PROVISO, at 8-1 in the morning line and narrowly out of my top selection, showed a good late kick in the Spinster and was also 3rd to star miler Goldikova in August to demonstrate her class. A legit upset threat.
COCOA BEACH finished second to Zenyatta in this race last year, and again there's no shame in that. She also finished third to her in her last race, so she's got a shot here in a wide-open race without the division champ running.
CODOY, listed at 15-1, rallied right behind INTERACTIF when ridden by low profile jockey in Grade 3 turf stakes at Keeneland and now gets Garrett Gomez, who won four Breeders' Cup races last year.
After taking four chances to break his maiden, CODOY closed to finish second to INTERACTIF in the Grade 3 Bourbon at Keeneland at odds of 57-1. A repeat is definitely a threat to light up the toteboard.
This is another race for the Ouija board and if you're looking for a real bomb, SQUARE EDDIE, 20-1 in the morning line, won a turf sprint in England last year and has fought off nagging injuries in '09. Recent prep on Pro Ride helped; may improve sharply in his return to grass. Last year's 36-1 winner DESERT CODE woke up in final work for this and loves the course.
SQUARE EDDIE runs a race on the turf for the first time since July of his 2-year-old campaign. Trainer Doug O'Neill says he ready for this, and he gets Frankie Dettori. That, and a 20-1 price, is a square price for me (and Eddie).
FLEETING SPIRIT, the European 4 yr old filly needs an alert break from the gate to be in the mix. Otherwise, her excellent overall record in top level Euro sprints say she has the class to threaten America's best on the Pro Ride.
CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN has finished second in three straight races, though one of those saw him put up to first via disqualification. His only out-of-the-money performance this year was back in February in the Fountain of Youth. He should outrun his odds of 15-1.
RADIOHEAD, 15-1 on the morning line, has shown so much courage in tight quarters that he has to be given a chance to upset these in his first try beyond six furlongs and first ever on a synthetic surface.
RADIOHEAD probably benefits the most from a torrid pace as he's used to being held back at the rear of the pack and them making one big move (like Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby).
JUSTENUFFHUMOR looked like a world beater until he floundered on the soft Keeneland turf course. Classy sort, just might recover his top form on this billiard table grass course.
COURT VISION might have finally found his niche with his Grade 1 victory at a mile on the turf his last time out, yet he’s still being overlooked at 20-1 on the morning line.
NEKO BAY, a lightly raced 6 year old, has four wins and five 2NDs in 10 career races and did win his prep over this track at this distance.
MAMBO MEISTER might be the least-accomplished in the field, but every year there are these types that light up the tote. He had been running on turf but won his last on the Calder dirt course in the Grade 3 Spend a Buck. He could be primed for a career best.
PRESIOUS PASSION might get lucky if the riders on the principal European contenders all take a nap on the backstretch.
MONZANTE has fallen off since winning the Grade 1 Eddie Read at Del Mar in July, but that's why we're seeing morning-line odds of 30-1. He has fired his best shots the last three times he's been on turf.
QUALITY ROAD, a classy sort, nevertheless is a question mark on Pro Ride. But he's finally over his hoof problems and now seems fit to fire his best effort at good odds. Likewise, with RIP VAN WINKLE's hoof issues, the low profile Euro, TWICE OVER might prove to be the fittest Euro in here.
QUALITY ROAD is my backup in case REGAL RANSOM doesn't get the lead as expected. If QUALITY ROAD inherits the lead, he fits the same mold. I'm not a big Beyer Speed Figure guy but it's interesting to note that out of the races of all the runners in this Classic field, there are only six 110+ figures that have been posted. ZENYATTA has none. SUMMER BIRD has two of them. The other four all belong to QUALITY ROAD.
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