JC / Railbird

Breeders’ Cup Archive

Azeri “Adds Salsa”

If her connections decide to run her in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, says Bob Neumeier. (MSNBC)
More: “Azeri has a couple of options” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 14, 2004

It’s Like Baseball

Or, rather, like the World Series. “Can there be such a thing as a World Championship in horse racing? And is it something of a pretense on the part of the Breeders’ Cup to describe itself as the World Thoroughbred Championships?” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 13, 2004

Breeders’ Cup Countdown

– Roman Ruler works toward Juvenile (BH)
– Juvenile a road to nowhere? (ESPN)
– Californians primed for Texas (DRF)
– No Breeders’ Cup for Bago (SL)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 12, 2004

Extraordinary

“They have to travel halfway around the world, and then they face circumstances that are unfamiliar. The cost of traveling and racing can be extravagant. And yet European participation in the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships has been nothing less than extraordinary.” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 8, 2004

Handicapping Lone Star

Paul Daley offers advice on handicapping the Breeders’ Cup at Lone Star Park. Things to note: The stretch run is a mere 930 feet, the turf course can be thought of a “mini Santa Anita,” and “don’t ever lose sight of the fact that most times, excepting horrendous racing luck or a poor ride, the best horse usually does win.” (Lowell Sun)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 8, 2004

Juvenile Cup: No Derby Impact

Paul Moran, reliably cranky: “The leading 2-year-olds usually held up at age 3, and being the winter-book favorite to win the Derby meant something. That unofficial title has now become a stigma. Two decades have demonstrated that this was the one original expectation the Breeders’ Cup has failed to fulfill. The first 20 winners of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile have failed to win the Kentucky Derby or any race in the Triple Crown series.” (Newsday)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 8, 2004

Remembering a Perfect Day

“It was nearly a year ago that Richard Mandella had perhaps the greatest training day in Breeders’ Cup history, winning four races at Santa Anita. He was favored to win the Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled…. And she won despite starting from post position 14. But handicappers didn’t give Action This Day (Juvenile), Johar (Turf) and, of course, Pleasantly Perfect (Classic) much of a chance. But they all won. The most impressive was Pleasantly Perfect, who defeated highly acclaimed Congaree, Medaglia d’Oro and Funny Cide.” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 8, 2004

Star Power

Ghostzapper, Pleasantly Perfect, Birdstone — and now Funny Cide. Breeders’ Cup and Lone Star officials are thrilled the “gutsy gelding” will be part of the Classic: “He’ll add even more excitement to an exciting day.” (Dallas Morning News)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 7, 2004

Another Cup Contestant

Bago, winner of the Arc on Sunday, may put in an appearance at the Breeders’ Cup. “‘We always thought he was an exceptional horse,’ Cooper said, adding that the horse might put his credentials on the line at the Breeders’ Cup in Texas on Oct. 30.” (International Herald Tribune)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 4, 2004

The New Thing

Some of the country’s best trainers are trying to prep their horses for the Breeders’ Cup with long layoffs. “That’s the trend. Give them a nice long rest before Breeders’ Cup Day, which will supposedly have them fresh fit and at their most dangerous come time of the big event. There’s just one problem with that strategy: it rarely works.” (ESPN)

Posted in Breeders' Cup on October 1, 2004