Playing the Exotics at the Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup has given us even more opportunity to go after the big ticket cash. In recent years, bettors have become accustomed to being able to place bets in lower wagering increments. Unfortunately, much of these ‘under a dollar bets’ have not been an option at some of our sports' biggest days like the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup. Not so this year. The floodgates have opened and bettors can now bomb away at racing’s more exotic bets. Ten-cent superfectas, along with 50-cent trifectas, pick threes, and pick fours, are now available. While dime supers were available at the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, minimums on trifectas, pick threes, and pick fours were previously $1. These new options allow bettors a greater chance to cover all the horses they like in the large Breeders’ Cup fields. With this in mind, let’s jump right in and take a look at some of my favorite exotic bets of the weekend. Pick 3 - I fully expect either Gio Ponti or Goldikova to win the Mile getting my pick 3 bet off to a good start. I will then include a number of horses in the wide open Dirt Mile, with extra emphasis on Crown of Thorns and Vineyard Haven. The key to hitting this pick 3 will then rest in the final leg where I will single Al Khali in the Turf. He will not be one of the favorites, and if he wins, not only will I cash my bet, but it should ensure a solid payoff. Pick 4 - I will look to the final four races of day 1, for a strong play in the pick 4. Evening Jewel, Awesome Feather, Midday, and Blind Luck will be my base horses, with Midday being the only single. I’ll have a variety of pick 4 tickets using my top picks the most, but I will also be sure to include Champagne D’oro, Sara Louise, Rightly So, and Gabby's Golden Gal in the Filly & Mare Sprint, Theyskens' Theory, Tell a Kelly, A Z Warrior, and Delightful Mary in the Juvenile Fillies, and Life at Ten, Havre de Grace, Acoma, and Acting Happy in the Ladies’ Classic. If Midday and at least one of my other top picks win, I will have a fighting chance at pick 4 glory. Superfecta - Al Khali is my boy in the Turf, and with some juicy odds likely on him, I am looking forward to playing him in a variety of ways, including the superfecta. My superfecta bet will be Al Khali on top, with everyone but Telling boxed for the 2-3-4 positions. If all horses run, this bet will have 120 combinations, meaning a 10-cent wager will cost only $12. Not bad if I can get the winner home as no better than the fourth choice. Trifecta - In the Breeders’ Cup Classic, I expect things to come down to the big 4 of Blame, Zenyatta, Quality Road, and Lookin at Lucky. The trifecta is an attractive play in here, because if I am right and they prove best, I can afford one of the four to have an off day and still hit the triple. No time to back down now, I like Blame to win, so I will key him over the other three favorites. The trifecta key would only cost $3 for a 50-cent wager. I might place more than 50-cents on this one.

Longshots in the Breeders’ Cup? Youbet!

The Breeders' Cup has a long history of producing winners at big odds. Horses like Arcangues, Miss Alleged, Volponi, Lashkari, One Dreamer, Action This Day, Caressing, Miesque’s Approval, Desert Code, Vale of York, and Dancing in Silks have sent some lucky bettors home with smiles on their faces and cash filling their pockets. As approximately 200 quality horses ready to be pre-entered for the 2010 Breeders’ Cup, there is one thing you can count on, and that is great payouts in many of the races. With that in my mind, I have began my search for those horses most likely to light up the tote board on November 5 & 6. CLASSIC - In a race dominated by the big 4 of Zenyatta, Blame, Lookin at Lucky, and Quality Road, the Classic could prove the toughest of any for a longshot to make a dent. If one does though, I believe it will be Musket Man who is as honest as they come. The son of Yonaguska is riding a five race losing streak, which should ensure high odds, but has run well every time. He has good experience over the track and distance coming in last year’s Derby, and with a little racing luck is likely to be right there at the eighth pole. I am not sure if he will win this, but at 20-1 or so, is a great play in the exotics. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

The Breeders’ Cup Scramble is On

You know the old saying, in order to make an omelet, you need to break a few eggs. This past weekend provided the last set of races for Breeders’ Cup hopefuls to turn their connections dreams into reality and be part of the smorgasbord that is the World Championships of Racing. For some though, it proved to be the end of the BC road as hopes were cracked and left to be swept off the kitchen floor. Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup displayed the best performance of the weekend, as Harmonious sizzled home by more than four lengths in the race of the year for three-year-old turf fillies. The win sends the talented daughter of Dynaformer to the BC Filly & Mare Turf on a high note. That is hopefully, as the decision to send her has not yet been made. Meanwhile third place finisher Evening Jewel tired a bit Saturday, but may prove one of the ones to beat in the shorter distance of the Filly & Mare Sprint, and Check the Label, previously thought of as one of the division leaders, likely saw her Breeders’ Cup hopes fizzle after a dull sixth place finish.  ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

International Day Gives N. America a Chance to Defend Home Turf

The match-up is set ... It’s North America versus Europe Saturday at Woodbine. Three grade 1 turf races represent the last major chance to impress before the Breeders’ Cup.  The big day also offers another turf gauge between the respective talents of grass runners on both sides of the big pond.  The day’s biggest prize is the $2 million Canadian International over a mile and a half on Woodbine’s excellent turf course. Team Europe is represented with a four strong contingent, in Redwood, Chinchon, Joshua Tree, and Mores Wells. While the home side counters with Marsh Side, Al Khali, Fifty Proof, Simmard, and Memorial Maniac.   Redwood and Chinchon have already raided our side of the Atlantic successfully and deserve great respect, but there is one colt in the field who I feel is on the verge of something special.  His name is Al Khali, and if I am right, he is ready to make a lot of noise, not only Saturday, but also three weeks later in the Breeders' Cup Turf.  His Bowling Green performance was the tip-off, now let's see what the son of Medaglia D'oro can do with clear sailing. For the distaff turfers, the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes is a race dominated by the girls from across the pond. Shalanaya, Lahaleeb, Silver Grey, Reggane, Contredanse, Gallic Star, Pachattack, Akarlina form the formidable eight-prong cast of invaders. Only trainer Roger Attfield stands alone to defend the honor of North America with his pair of Mekong Melody and Miss Keller.  With 80% of the field belonging to the Europeans, I would have to be crazy to pick against them, right?  Crazy like a fox!  Miss Keller has quickly become one of my favorite turf horses.  I always knew the four-year-old daughter of Montjeu was a consistent performer on the lawn, but with her recent performances, I am ready to call her one of the top turf fillies out there.  Come Saturday, she will be a grade 1 winner. In the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes, North America has the advantage with nine of the twelve entries representing the home team. The locals have Fatal Bullet, Field Commission, Grand Adventure, Bridgetown, Bogue Chitto, Towzee, Signature Red, Sneaking Uponyou, and Woodbourne. The Euros counter with Amico Fritz, Serious Attitude, and Balthazaar's Gift.  My pick?  You guessed it, I am all over the home side once again.  This is the time of year when good three-year-olds can step up and defeat their elders.  That is exactly what I will be looking for in this grade 1 sprint, with the talented and lightly raced youngster Bridgetown getting the job done and proving he belongs with the top turf sprinters in the world as he runs down the speedy Fatal Bullet in the late stages. Call me a homer, but those are my picks, and I’m sticking with them.

Finally … That’s the Al Khali I’ve been Waiting For

Blocked completely for much of the stretch, the task seemed absolutely hopeless for Al Khali and new rider Alan Garcia. Leader Strike a Deal was resilient on the lead, and recent grade 1 winner Winchester was bearing down on him on the outside. Al Khali was clearly full of run, but desperately seeking racing room until Garcia found the opportunity to yank him to the outside. Within an instant of altering course, Al Khali’s rally was launched like only the folks at Cape Canaveral could appreciate, carrying him to a sudden and measured neck victory over favored Winchester. In typical understated fashion, trainer Bill Mott said, “At the eighth pole, I didn’t think we had any chance, but he came with a good run.” ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

The Rachel Diaries - Day 6

Today is labor day and our Rachel Alexandra vacation is winding down. Yesterday we spent half the day at beautiful Lake George and then caught the second half of the day’s races. At the track, I won a few dollars and saw some impressive horseflesh. In the Grade 3 Saranac, Bill Mott added yet another stakes winner on the lawn to his resume. Al Khali, a Kentucky bred son of Medaglia d’Oro, raced at two in Peru and has now become a force on grass in America at three. He won by only 1 ¾ lengths, but it was an effortless rally off a moderate pace and was geared down late. I will look for him to run long and against older soon. The Spinaway was predictably won by the precocious Hot Dixie Chick. She is the most impressive 2-year-old filly in the country so far and she ran very fast again yesterday. I was quite taken by the 2nd place filly Beautician. The gray daughter of Dehere has a beautiful long stride and ran a huge race yesterday. I am predicting big things in her future. One vital part of our trip that I have not mentioned yet is the food. Yesterday we visited a traditional stop for me, PJ’s Barbecue. This favorite of many is just a few minutes south of the track and serves the best barbecue chicken that I have ever tasted. It is slow roasted and constantly basted over an open pit with oil, cider vinegar and spices. It is succulent, unique and delicious. Unfortunately, this meal at PJ’s was bittersweet, as word is this will be their final Summer. Say it ain’t so PJ’s! Chicken was definitely a culinary highlight for us on this trip as back in Buffalo we visited a national landmark in the Anchor Bar. They originated the Buffalo chicken wing and today they still make the best that you can get. Our other meals were good but those two meals stood out. I would also be remiss in not mentioning something that I have been eating all of my life … a shout-out goes to the racetrack clam chowder, as good as it has ever been. Speaking of as good as she has ever been. I am still on a Rachel Alexandra high. The thrill of the stretch run, my great fondness for her, and the raw emotion of the uproarious crowd all made this one of the most exciting races I have ever seen. Despite the narrowness of her victory, I have the utmost respect for what she accomplished in making history by winning the Woodward. As outlined in my previous column, Rachel overcame a lot that would have cooked the goose of a mere mortal horse. I understand that Rachel will almost certainly not run another race this year and the slight, selfish sadness I feel is more than overshadowed by a sense of accomplishment and doing what is best for her. Not since Spectacular Bid in his 4-year-old season of 1980 has there been a horse with truly nothing left to prove, but that is how I feel about the 2009 campaign of Rachel Alexandra. I snicker at those who suggest that she can not get a distance. Do they not realize that she is 8 for 8 around two turns? Her nine race winning streak is compromised of races from one mile to a mile and 3/16. She has beaten the boys and she has beaten the men, she has won five consecutive Grade 1 races. Rachel has run brilliantly fast and won by record distances. She has showed the courage of a lion after battling on suicidal fractions. Rachel has won at seven different tracks this year. She has captured the hearts of millions of devoted fans. You have done enough great one. Take your rest. For next year will bring a whole new set of challenges to test your grandeur. I, for one, can not wait to see you run again. Thank you for 2009.