Key Breeders’ Cup Preps This Weekend
Get ready for a weekend of top-class horse racing from across the country, with nine Grade 1 events on Saturday and three more on Sunday. With one eye on the 2009 Breeders’ Cup, scheduled for November 6th and 7th at Santa Anita, I’ll be focusing mostly on this weekend’s Grade 1 turf and polytrack races.
- WHO: Thoroughbreds – Colonel John, Parading, Mine That Bird, Life Is Sweet, Zenyatta
- WHAT: Horse Racing Handicapping – The Goodwood, The Lady’s Secret
- WHERE: Santa Anita
- WHEN: Saturday, October 10th
I'm not arguing a Breeders’ Cup winner won’t come out of Saturday’s Frizette or Champagne, but it will be more difficult to draw conclusions from those Belmont main track tests. Let’s look at a pair of key Breeders’ Cup preps at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Goodwood (Race7) and The Lady’s Secret (Race 8) are both loaded with talent and include participants in last year’s Breeders’ Cup.
The Goodwood is headed by Colonel John, who boasts a record of three wins in five starts at Santa Anita, including The Santa Anita Derby last year as a 3YO. He had a horrible trip last out in The Pacific Classic, but should be tough in here with better racing luck. Tiago has only been postward twice this year after finishing third in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He should move forward in this race, but look for his best effort in this year’s Classic. Reports are that Parading loves the Pro-Ride surface, so don’t be surprised if he turns the tables on Richard’s Kid, who defeated him last out in The Pacific Classic at odds of 24-1.
Then there’s Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who will be tackling his elders for the first time just two months after undergoing throat surgery. He’s training well, and should make his patented late run under regular rider Calvin Borel. I’ll bet on Parading to win at odds of 6-1 or better.
Undefeated Zenyatta heads the Lady’s Secret cast, and she figures to keep her perfect record intact. However, several in here have made her work hard to remain unbeaten, starting with Anabaa’s Creation, who came within a head of the champ last out at 22-1. Then you’ve got Cocoa Beach, second to Zenyatta in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic; Life Is Sweet, second to Zenyatta in The Milady Handicap last May; and Briecat, second to “Big Z” in this year’s Vanity at Hollywood Park.
I’ll bet the 5-4 exacta, using Zenyatta over stablemate Life Is Sweet, who boasts a perfect 3-for-3 record at Santa Anita.
Those are my horse racing handicapping picks for Saturday. Best of luck and enjoy what promises to be a memorable weekend on the road to the 2009 Breeders’ Cup.
Pete Mitchell is BetOnline.com's horse racing expert.
