Fly Emirates Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf

The Fly Emirates Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf is usually a race that produces either a huge long-shot winner, like Bobby Frankel’s Starine in 2002, or a chalky favorite winner like Ouija Board in 2004 and 2006.

Rarely does your second or third favorite take down the winner’s purse in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. One of the good things for online racebook fans about this year’s running is that there are no Ouija Boards. Hell, there might not be a Starine.

Let’s get to it!

Race-day: 10/24/2008

Santa Anita - - Race 6

Fly Emirates Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf

$2,000,000

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Up

1 ¼ miles on turf

Mauralakana - - 5/1 fair online odds

No shot, right? I mean, Mauralakana lost her last race to Dynaforce on yielding turf. She won’t be able to handle the Euros in this, right? Wrong! Before that loss Mauralakana ran off four straight victories. Two of those victories were at the Grade II level. Another was at the Grade I level. She has one of the best closing kicks I’ve seen out of a turf mare in years and she gets the services of jockey Julien Leparoux who knows a thing or two about riding turf horses. She should be tracking a decent pace and the online odds will be more than fair. She’s the long shot special in this race.

Halfway to Heaven - - 3/1 fair online odds

This three time Grade I victor for Aiden O’Brien will vie for favoritism with Wait A While. Unlike Wait A While, there’s no questioning that this gal gets tougher depending on who she faces. She has beaten some very good fillies and mares and finished third to Goldikova and Zarkava. Goldikova is so good that she will probably show up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Halfway to Heaven has the necessary tools to dominate this bunch. The only question is what sort of price is online betting fans willing to accept. Is she Ouija Board? I’m not sure yet.

Visit - - 6/1 fair online odds

Visit could be visiting the winner’s circle after this if things go her way. She lost to Halfway to Heaven in her last but the loss wasn’t by a lot and she could definitely turn the tables on her arch rival. She runs for trainer Michael Stoute. That’s enough for me to write that she has a huge chance in this. She is a Grade III winner stepping up in class, but like I wrote in my intro, sometimes a long shot can win this thing. If your playing exotics, then Visit is an absolute must use.

Wait A While - - 8/1 fair online odds

No doubting her talent and class but does it just bother me that when the going gets really tough Wait A While sort of gives up? She won the Grade I American Oaks in 2006. Then she floundered in the Breeders’ Cup that year. Last year she didn’t even run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She’s a good mare, don’t get me wrong, and her record on the Santa Anita lawn, at 3 and 3, is impeccable, but I can’t take low online odds on this gal again. She’ll break my heart again. I just know it!