JC / Railbird

Breeders’ Cup Archive

Birdstone Out to Defy Odds

“Of all the 101 horses pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Saturday, one horse — and one horse alone — has the potential to light up the skies like a new star in the firmament.
“That horse is Birdstone, Marylou Whitney’s three-year-old giant killer, who stripped Smarty Jones of the Triple Crown in an unforgettable drama, then ran one of the great races of all time to win the Travers off an 84-day layoff.
“Now he’s taking dead aim at the $4 million Classic against older horses off an unimaginable 63-day layoff, a reach breathtaking in its scope. If he can pull it off, it will amount to a near-historic feat for the horse and the man who trains him, Nick Zito.” (New York Post)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 25, 2004

Breeders’ Cup Countdown

– First impression will be lasting (DMN)
– Workout action hot and heavy (BH)
– Singletary namesake tackles BC mile (USAT)
– BC could be a fillies’ affair (MSNBC)
– Lack of Euros owing to lack of quality? (TT)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 25, 2004

Breeders’ Cup Fails

To excite one Brit: “Getting myself into a state about the outcome of the Breeders’ Cup races has become a habit over the past few years but I have to admit that the lack of any kind of Texas scramble of challengers heading from this side of the pond to Lone Star Park on Saturday has dimmed the enthusiasm.” (Sunday Herald)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 24, 2004

Breeders’ Cup News

– Juvenile lacks quantity, quality (LAT)
– Juvenile jinx just a myth (TR)
– Balto Star out of BC with injury (TT)
– Bad turn for one good for another (DMN)
– Birdstone breezes in workout (BH)
– Joy favored to end Euro streak (SFC)
– Nakatani named on eight mounts (TT)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 23, 2004

Breeders’ Cup Roundup

– BC fields are stocked (Globe)
– Eyes of Texas upon them (DRF)
– Now comes the plotting (LHL)
– Leaders head to BC (DMN)
– Ouija in shape for US glory (Guar.)
– Mandella, Whitney unconcerned (BH)
– No place to be favored (LAT)
– Azeri vs. males: Why the fuss? (NYDN)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 21, 2004

Once Upon a Time

A million dollars was a lot of money. But inflation has whittled away at the value of the Breeders’ Cup, and competition from races with fat purses in Hong Kong, Japan, and Dubai have lured away possible entrants, writes Gary West. “If the Breeders’ Cup is going to continue call itself the World Thoroughbred Championships, it clearly must meet the international challenge by increasing purses and trying to decrease costs.” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 20, 2004

Super Fan

Vic Zast has been to all 20 Breeders’ Cups, and he’s had some luck: “I’ve been lucky more than once. My luckiest bets were on Lashkari ($108.80) in the inaugural Turf at Hollywood and Last Tycoon ($73.80) in the 1989 Mile at Santa Anita. Then there were Alphabet Soup ($41.70) in the 1996 Classic at Woodbine, Cat Thief ($41.20) in the 1999 Classic at Gulfstream, and Unbridled Elaine ($26.60) in the Juvenile Fillies at Belmont in 2001.” (MSNBC)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 19, 2004

Big Day Draws Close

And the excitement grows in Texas. “‘To see those horses walk off the van really drives home the reality of it,’ Lone Star assistant general manager Eugene Joyce said. ‘To know that in 12 days those horses are going to be competing in the Breeders’ Cup races puts Lone Star beyond being a part of Texas racing history, it puts us as a part of all of thoroughbred racing history now.'” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
More: “Biancone’s horses arrive at Lone Star” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 19, 2004

Hitching a Ride

The Happy Handicapper does his homework and comes up with five Road Warriors to win at the Breeders’ Cup. (Buffalo News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 16, 2004

The Frankel Factor

“Over the past three years, nowhere have expectations been higher Breeders’ Cup week than at the Frankel barn. Since 2001, 24 Breeders’ Cup championship races have been conducted. Frankel has had the betting favorite in eight of those races, or one-third of the time.” And yet trainer Bobby Frankel has a 2-for-57 record for the Breeders’ Cup. Why that should be so is a true mystery, says Tim Price. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 15, 2004