Major Breeders’ Cup preps at Keeneland & Santa Anita

by TCI 258 days ago

The TCI Boys dig into another huge weekend of major Breeders’ Cup preps from coast-to-coast, including the opening of the Keeneland Fall meet which hosts a number of important preps. They also take a deeper look into this year’s 2-year-old crop and tell you the ones they feel will “make the grade” in the Breeders’ Cup picture — as well as the ones they feel will not. Strap in for 8 minutes of Breeders’ Cup mania!

Watch it. Comment.

TCI Top 5 Classic

Rank Name Comments
1 Game On Dude Never a standout his first few years of racing – now he’s a huge favorite in the $5 million Classic
2 Mucho Macho Man Fresh and dangerous, but he’ll need to step up his game to run by the top one late
3 Royal Delta Filly showed again that she belongs here, and the Ladies’ Classic doesn’t look much easier
4 Nonios He’s the 3-year-old left standing with a chance to make an impact on this year’s Classic
5 Ron the Greek Like ‘Dude’, he emerged late in his career and is a legit contender if he runs back to his Big Cap win

through 10/04/2012


- More posts: 2012 Breeders' Cup, Featured Horse Racing News, Whats Hot in Horse Racing

Discussion

  • Joe Polander

    Hi Joel – BC only 4 weeks away now! I will be betting the Saturday Card on BC day, so those are the races I will concentrate on. BC Juv T Division – Joha looked impressive winning the Dixiana Breeders Futurity, wiring the field. He is By BC Turf Champion Johar, so the distance isn’t a problem for him. I thought Javas War, who was third ran a good race, maybe he prefers turf vs. polytrack, He will be overlooked on BC day and I believe he has a real chance. BC F&M Division – Groupie Doll looks like a “single”, she is awesome, and saved plenty in the tank for 4 wks from now. BC Sprint Division – Amazombie has got some competition. After finishing 4th in his race at SA, he will have his work cut out to be the repeat champ. Coil won the race, and looked good, but I was ultra impressed by Capital Account. He was swung very wide in the stretch and came flying and just missed beating coil. He will be a decent price on BC day and is a real threat. I think Emcee could also be a major player in this race which is now looking to be somewhat wide open. BC T Sprint Division – Nice win by Bridgetown, and good race for third by Chamberlain Bridge. I really like Unbridled Note, who has a win on the SA course at 6 1/2 furlongs. I thought Bourbon Courage ran a good race in the Indiana Derby and I believe he is a live longshot in the BC Dirt Mile. Shackleford appears to be vulnerable favorite. I know you have legitamate concerns about Jersey Town going 2 turns, but I’m going to play him also. BC Juvenile Division – Shanghai Bobby looks like an early contender for the 2013 KY Derby. His connections are mulling over whether to race him in the BC Juvenile. I sure hope he runs. Power Broker likes the SA track and looks like he could be a star. Eager to see uncaptured who runs oct 7 at woodbine. He could also be in the mix. BC Turf Mile – I know you have reservations of Wise Dan running in the Shadwell Turf race, but he continues to impress. I hope he runs in the Mile , he loves the turf. His connections will consider the Classic, as I’m sure he would have a legit shot in that race also. My other single on BC Saturday Card looks to be Game On Dude in the Classic. I think Richards Kid could run on late to get 2nd. But Clearly Game On Dude is in a zone now and loves Sa. BC Turf Division – with the defection of Nathanial, Danedream, and Snow Fairy, the star Euros are falling by the wayside. I will be Watching how Saint Nicholas Abbey and Sea Moon do this weekend in their race. I still feel that Acclamation and especially Point of Entry could take down the Euros.. Finally Joel, I hope that I am not being too longwinded here, I can tell you also love Thouroghbred racing. In your upcoming shows, could you talk about the Juvenile races this year not being allowed to use lasix. I wonder if this is the real reason that a star horse like Shanghai bobby would consider passing up the race. Keep up the good work Joel,Jon, and Ed.

    • Joel Cunningham

      I have always loved Bridgetown and believe he’s going to love the firm going at Santa Anita..his challenge wont be the course or the company, it will be whether or not he can hold up going 6 1/2 furlongs. He’s been at his best from 5- 5 1/2, but he doesn’t get many opportunities at running that far on the East coast obviously. I think he’s very live.

      I also agree on Bourbon Courage, his rally was visually impressive and he really seems to be rounding back into super form after having foot issues this summer. I thought this performance may have been his best yet the way he had trouble and finish fast, albeit in defeat. He is an outside contender in that Dirt Mile. I do believe Shackleford is still the horse to beat at a flat mile, especially now that Coil is going for the Sprint.

      Wise Dan is awesome. That race Saturday was weird in how it play out..he took clear command on the turn and no closers made up any ground over the course. I thought Doubles Partner ran well considering the closers were not effective on that course, and he interests me some going into next month is the pace look fast. I still want to see which Euros commit to the Mile…if Excelebration comes over I think I will like him better than Wise Dan, who has had a hard campaign as of late and will be bet way down.

      Joe, I will see if we can work the topic in. It is a relevant one, especially when you see some 2yos skipping the BC which will happen. Pletcher has come out and said it’s a non-issue for his best 2yos and that they are not bleeders… Thanks for the kind words, man. I am very passionate about this game, and it is really easy to be especially around Breeders’ Cup time. I can tell you’re in that same boat!

  • Joe Polander

    Joel – Impressive win today by Balance the Books in the Bourbon. Brown Almighty ran a solid race, but some bumping in the stretch compromised his chances. Uncaptured flopped in his race. Looks like the clear top 2 in the BC Juvenile are Power Broker and Shanghai Bobby, if he runs. Acclamation is out of the turf with an injury. Sea Moon was 8th and SNA was 11th in their Euro race. Joel I know you have some doubt about Point of Entry, and he will be overbet, maybe 4-1, but I feel that Neither Sea Moon or St. Nicholas Abbey are in form and that Point of Entry has a big shot. Baffert says Coil and Capital Account will be returning for a rematch with Amazombie in the BC Sprint. My top 4 sprinters are: #1 Capital Account, #2 Amazombie, #3 Coil, #4 Emcee. You might get 8-1 on Emcee, a good price for a horse that has loads of talent.

    • Joel Cunningham

      Yeah Joe, I am liking Emcee more and more. I still believe the Californians hold a big home-field advantage, but Amazombie ran a puzzler to be that flat in the stretch in his final prep. Makes you scratch your head now of what to expect from him in his Sprint defense. I like Coil as a horse and think he ran well…but to me he’s not the kind of horse I like in the Sprint. It’s a very quick race and he’s a longer-striding, big-bodied horse. Cap Account is in great form but my concern with him is him getting up at six furlongs…seems to want a little more ground to get there at the wire. This division became wide open when Amazombie fired off the board Saturday…

      I still like St. Nicholas Abbey in the Turf. He’s a Euro with great class who can really handle American pace and left-handed racing, and he can act on firm ground. In my opinion, the Arc has very little value in evaluating BC Turf contenders from the standpoint that Longchamp is always a much different and more trying course with more trying ground than what horses will face at Santa Anita…just a totally different race all around other than distance IMO.

  • Joe Polander

    Joel – Shanghai Bobby is confirmed for BC Juvenile race. Good news for all racing fans. It should be a 2 way battle between Shanghai Bobby and Power Broker in the Juvenile. Impressive win for Noble Tune today in the Pilgrim. He looks like a serious contender for the BC Juv. Turf. I have a top 8 in the Juv. Turf. Hoping to whittle down that list a bit before the Bc.

    • Joel Cunningham

      Noble Tune has a nice way of going and was pretty explosive rallying past that field within a matter of a few strides. I agree he is a contender in that Juv Turf, and I think I like him better than Chad Brown’s other colt Balance the Books at this point.

      Shanghai Bobby was just awesome the way he kicked home the other day. I still believe he’s a one-turn horse, but he’s so good right now that a middle distance like 1 1/16 miles over a fast Santa Anita dirt track and against a relatively subpar group makes him a very live favorite. I really thought that the Champagne would produce the BC Juv. winner, and I still think Archwarrior is a sneaky colt for the Juvenile because I really think he wants two turns.


Take our site on the go!
Scan with your smart phone.