Breeders’ Cup Update: Belmont Preps Shed Little Light on Breeders’ Cup
Belmont ran some of the biggest Breeders’ Cup prep races of 2009 this past Saturday but because of a fantastic deluge that pretty much swamped both the dirt and turf tracks, not a lot could be gleaned from what happened in the five Grade I races run this past Saturday.
More real information could be gathered from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France over the weekend and the Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup.
In the Prix, Sea the Stars finished up one of the greatest runs in history by winning the Prix as a big favorite. The John Oxx trained son of Cape Cross is undefeated in 2009 and will retire as the best horse of generation. Unfortunately for American racing fans, and the Breeders’ Cup organizers, Sea the Stars, easily the best horse in the world right now, won’t be making a trip across the pond to Santa Anita Park.
Conduit, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Champion, who finished 4 th to Sea the Stars in the Prix, will. Conduit should be a serious threat to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf again in 2009 as he knows the Santa Anita turf course well having won the championship in 2008. He automatically becomes the favorite in this year’s addition of the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
In the Hawthorne Gold Cup, Awesome Gem, who is based out of Santa Anita, splashed his way to a victory over the Todd Pletcher trained Nite Lite. Awesome Gem, a son of Awesome Again, becomes a serious threat to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic as his ability to handle the Pro Ride surface is unquestioned and he obviously loves the Santa Anita track. He will likely be a long shot on Breeders’ Cup Day, but he shouldn’t be overlooked.
Belmont Rain Ruins Preps
The rains in Elmont, NY on Saturday all but ended any drama regarding the Breeders’ Cup prep races. In the Grade I Beldame, Music Note, facing absolutely no other mare as classy as she was, dominated her rivals and paid $2.50 mutual. In the Grade I Vosburgh, going off as the third choice in the wagering, Kodiak Kowboy ran past Fabulous Strike to record the victory. He paid $11.60 to win.
Pure Clan won as one of the favorites in the Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational and paid $7.20 to win. Interpatation led to gate to wire on the lawn in the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, holding off Gio Ponti, to pay an $89.50 mutuel and, as expected, Summer Bird won the Grade I Jockey Gold Cup and paid $4.50 to win.
Out of all of the races, only Kodiak Kowboy showed something different. Kowboy beat Fabulous Strike and Munnings, two of the best sprinters in the world, and has the style to be a serious force on the Pro-Ride.
Interpatation has not shot against the best European grass horses, and, it appears, neither does Gio Ponti. Pure Clan and Summer Bird didn’t beat anybody close to who they will face in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the Breeders’ Cup Classic come the first Saturday in November, respectively, and the field that Music Note beat was laughable.
Mine That Bird Tries the Pro Ride This Saturday
Santa Anita’s big Breeders’ Cup Classic prep race, the Goodwood Stakes, will be held this Saturday at the Oak Tree Meet. Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby winner, will be on hand to show his stuff.
Before being gelded in 2008, Mine That Bird failed twice on the Pro-Ride. Whether or not Mine That Bird can run over the Pro-Ride will be the big story, but another big story is brewing as the Goodwood has come up very tough. Richard’s Kid, the Pacific Classic winner, will try his hand on the Pro-Ride as will Colonel John, 2008’s Travers’ Stakes victor, Chocolate Candy, Parading, and the Pro-Ride loving Tiago.
Is this the year that Tiago wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic? Maybe. Winning the Goodwood and beating down Mine That Bird would be a good start to his quest. In any case, the winner of the Goodwood will automatically be considered one of the favorites to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
