Horse Racing Odds - An early look at Breeders' Cup contenders (Part 1)
- Who: Thoroughbreds – Ventura, Magical Fantasy, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Zensational, Conduit, etc.
- What: Bet Horses – 2009 Breeders’ Cup preview
- Where: Santa Anita
- When: Friday and Saturday, November 6th and 7th
With a little more than three weeks to go before the 2009 Breeders’ Cup kicks off at Santa Anita (on Friday, November 6th), it’s time to look at some of the contenders to get you ready for horse racing betting: Friday, November 6th 3rd Race – BC Marathon: Gitano Hernando burst on the scene last Saturday with a win in The Goodwood (Grade 1) at odds of 18-1. That field was much saltier than the one he’ll face in the BC Marathon. 4th Race – BC Juvenile Fillies Turf: House of Grace nosed Smart Seattle in The Jessamine Stakes, which was originally carded for the grass but was moved to Keeneland’s poly-track. Both should perform even better on their preferred surface. 5th Race – BC Filly & Mare Sprint: This promises to be a dandy, with last year’s champ Ventura in a re-match with runner-up Indian Blessing. Toss in Informed Decision, who is a perfect 6-for-6 lifetime on poly-track surfaces, and you’ve got the makings of a race for the ages. 6th Race – BC Juvenile Fillies: Blind Luck captured The Oak Leaf at Santa Anita, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 88. Negligee won The Alcibiades at Keeneland, earning a Beyer of 89. They’re difficult to separate at this point. 7th Race – BC Filly & Mare Turf: Last year’s winner Forever Together is not quite as formidable as a 5YO, with a pair of wins from 5 starts. Of the U.S.-based horses, Pure Clan (East Coast) and Magical Fantasy (West Coast) look best. 8th Race – BC Ladies’ Classic: It’s no cinch that undefeated (13-for-13) Zenyatta will be going in this event. Her connections are toying with the idea of taking on the boys in the Classic. Careless Jewel keeps getting better, and has been winning in dominant fashion. She looms as the racebook favorite if Zenyatta defects. Check out Part 2 of this article (soon to follow) for a brief preview of Day 2 of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup. Until then, good luck and happy gambling!
Pete Mitchell is BetOnline.com's horse racing expert.
