I Have Contest Fever© Greg Melikov
Oct 31, 2000
It's going to be an exciting November for me. That's because of two contests.
First, there's the 17th Breeders' Cup Championship at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Eight races worth $13 million, including the $4 million BC Classic. I'm entering the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's million Breeders' Cup Challenge.
Last year, I'm ashamed to admit, I had one winner, a couple of seconds and a third. Ohhh! But I did hit two exactas that kept me in the black for that exciting afternoon at Gulfstream Park.
I intend to do better this year even though it's the most competitive Breeders' Cup from beginning of the eight races to the end in recent memory. And maybe the toughest to handicap in 17 years.
Several key factors to look for: horses who finished in the money in their last prep, those who have done considerably
well at Churchill Downs and last, but not least, your gut feelings.
Starting from the top: $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up: Riboletta is the best bet of the afternoon for several reasons: 6 for 6 with Chris McCarron
aboard, 3 for 3 at the track and the shortest field of the day, which should ensure a clean trip. Top challenger Beautiful Dancer almost had the same kind of a year in 1999 and cruised to victory at Gulfstream Park. $1 million BC Juvenile Fillies, 1 1/16 miles: Freefourracing has the breeding and the style to go the distance after an impressive prep at six furlongs. Forget wire-to-wire jobs. Pat Day is the jockey in charge.
$1 million BC Mile, on the turf, 3-year-olds and up: Early runners breaking from inside posts have performed the best. Since this is a stalkers race, Ladies Din fits the mold, is 3-3-0 of 9 with Kent Desormeaux up and 5-3-2 of 11 at the
distance.
$1 million BC Sprint, six furlongs, 3-year-olds and up: This is my hunch bet of the afternoon since Trippi drew the No. 2 post. He won't break on top, but will be in contention and
catch a torrid pace. Though he ran out in the 2000 Kentucky
Derby, he posted 1:09 4/5 for the opening six furlongs and is 6-0-1 with Jerry Bailey in the irons.
$1 million BC Filly and Mares Turf, 1 3/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up: I'm not sure what to expect, but the invading Petrushka loves to win, breaks from the inside post and just might nail her fourth in a row.
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