2006 Breeders' Cup

UpInClass

Only 16 days until Breeders' Cup @ Churchill Downs...
Good luck to everyone, as it looks to be an excellent day of racing!!!

Across the pond, we are attempting to discern the EUROPEAN runners
and how our AMERICAN runners will fair in competition with some of your finest.
Thought I'd stop by and offer a few links to resources which may be useful
to the players on the BOARDS.IE Horse Racing Forum.

Many of you good folks probably already know about the official BC website...
but just in case, here's the link: http://breederscup.com/bc_index.aspx

PRE-ENTRY PAST PERFORMANCES: http://www.brisnet.com/promo/bcx1104u.pdf

There may be also wisdom in reading what some of the best US. handicappers
have to say about this year's Breeders' Cup races... and it never hurts to share opinions!
That said, I invite you to visit UpInClass Racing Forum (USA)
and find out what the "other side" is saying about this year's BC.

My name is Dell...
I am an actor who just happens to be in love
with the greatest sport on the planet: HORSE RACING!!!
Picture & Resume ~ http://imdb.com/name/nm0950306/
Hey... any Star Trek fans out there? http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Dell_Yount

Anyway, it is very nice to meet you folks
and I hope we can share a little "back and forth" about the BC.
Now... if my post is deemed worthy (not spam. lol.),
then I will look forward to reading your responses
regarding the 2006 Breeders' Cup World Championships!

Dell Yount
UpInClass Racing Forum (USA)
http://www.upinclass.com/

fade2black

Welcome Dell, thanks for posting.

I love Breeders Cup night, it's usually a decent money spinner for me. One of my biggest wins came with the fantastic horse that was Ghostzapper. Nothing in his league running this year but it's still something we'll all look forward to.

UpInClass

Hey, do you guys play any of the free online handicapping challenges?
The Las Vegas Hilton LetItRide: 2006 Breeders' Cup Future Book Challenge
is a nearly impossible contest to win... but that's what makes horse racing so great!
It's the intellectual puzzle... the figuring it all out... the predicting of the future;
That's the fun and challenge of this wonderful sport, isn't it?

Link to the LetItRide Challenge ~ http://letitride.com/lasvegashilton/

I'll take my shot with these... and hope fortune smiles on BC day... Good Luck!

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Breeders' Cup Classic (Submitted: 10/12/2006 09:10:29 AM Pacific Time)

George Washington 80-1
Bernardini 2-1
Lava Man 9-2

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Breeders' Cup Turf (Submitted: 10/22/2006 11:37:53 PM Pacific Time)

Scorpion (New) 12-1
T.H. Approval 6-1
English Channel 4-1

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Breeders' Cup Mile (Submitted: 10/22/2006 11:17:52 PM Pacific Time)

Aussie Rules 7-1
Librettist 10-1
Gorella 6-1

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Breeders' Cup F&M Turf (Submitted: 10/22/2006 11:32:02 PM Pacific Time)

Film Maker 5-1
Magnificent Song 18-1
Ouija Board 3-1

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Breeders' Cup Sprint (Submitted: 10/22/2006 11:16:33 PM Pacific Time)

Siren Lure 7-1
Bordonaro 7-1
Pomeroy 6-1

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Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Submitted: 10/22/2006 11:38:46 PM Pacific Time)

Circular Quay 10-1
Nobiz Like Shobiz 12-1
Holy Roman Emperor (New) 5-1

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Breeders' Cup Juv Fillies (Submitted: 10/22/2006 11:36:03 PM Pacific Time)

Octave 7-1
Shes Included 25-1
Dreaming of Anna 5-1

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Breeders' Cup Distaff (Submitted: 10/23/2006 07:39:15 PM Pacific Time)

Round Pond 12-1
Healthy Addiction 15-1
Hollywood Story 22-1

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The great thing about playing online contests...
no cost to play, and there's always a chance you might win!
It's a heckofa lotta fun to have a faux $100 contest wager on a horse...
and watch him come home a winner!

Of course, there's the inevitable
'AHHH-I SHOULDA HAD $$$ ON THAT RACE' thing to deal with...
and noone suffers and battles the coulda-woulda-shoulda monster
like a Horseplayer does, to be sure!
Same level of excitement, though (or close)
and a losing contest bet doesn't hurt your bankroll.
Contests are an excellent way to keep in shape and sharpen your skills...
besides being just plain fun to play!

COUNTDOWN TO THE 2006 BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
11 Days until they run...

fade2black

Thanks for that UIC, always good to have a free interest. Great thing about the breeders cup over here is that we can make a night out of it.

Working on any films at the moment mate? I remember ya as that pizza guy in Phone Booth alright.

mdwexford

george washington is 80/1 in the us :eek:

ChuckProphet

mdwexford wrote:

george washington is 80/1 in the us :eek:

yeah what's that about! best priced 10-1 here. what's peoples thoughts on his chance in the classic? bit of a worry with the surface. never run over the trip either. might be worth an e/w

masterK

ChuckProphet wrote:

yeah what's that about! best priced 10-1 here. what's peoples thoughts on his chance in the classic? bit of a worry with the surface. never run over the trip either. might be worth an e/w

I think he'll be fine on the surface, I'm fairly sure he has some strong dirt lines in his breeding, he is also a half brother to Grandera who was a decent middle distance horse.

The biggest problem he faces is himself, how will he handle the crowd and pre-race hype, there'll be no going down to the start early over there.

UpInClass

George Washington won't be anywhere near 80-1 come race time.
I was able to "lock him in" as a Future Book contest play @ LetItRide.
The thought over here is that he'll likely be somewhere between 8-1 & 10-1.

HERE ARE THE 2006 BC PRE-ENTRIES:
http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?type=news&style=purple&id=21053

Startin' to get excited!!! ~Dell.

rag2gar

masterK wrote:

I think he'll be fine on the surface, I'm fairly sure he has some strong dirt lines in his breeding, he is also a half brother to Grandera who was a decent middle distance horse.

The biggest problem he faces is himself, how will he handle the crowd and pre-race hype, there'll be no going down to the start early over there.

Well Danehill has absolutly no form on dirt surfaces, i think he'll struggle, and i know it doesnt take a genius to say it but i think the fav is a good thing

UpInClass

Past Performances Hit the Newsstands... TODAY in the US!
( available online @ http://www.drf.com/bc/advance/bc_adv.html )

Regarding your question,
fade2black...

I've taken some time off from auditioning for film & television
in order to accept a teaching assignment at my alma mater.
The student actors in my old Theatre Department are completing
their mid-term assignments today and tomorrow... leaving the weekend
FREE for Breeders' Cup!

LOL. One of the things I always tell my "baby-actors" is:
If you want a great place to do Character Study... visit the race track!
They're ALL there... every type character one can imagine.
From the posh to the pitiful, they're there... and all in very dramatic fashion!

Good News from the Postman arrived in the mail yesterday.
I received a residual check for PHONE BOOTH... always a nice surprise!
This check was for European Distrbution of the film... so allow me to say,
THANK YOU for watching! The lot of an actor is rarely plush...
so this residual is most welcome. Now I'm feelin' good and ready
to play (and hopefully win) on BC Day!

fade2black... that's a great handle. Do you work in the film industry? ~Dell.

UpInClass

Video Clip from PHONE BOOTH: http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMediaPage.jsp?media_id=1678466&article_id=389266&channel_id=66&page_title=Glimpses+of+the+Glass+Casket&adString=network%3Dign%26site%3Dfilmforce%26pagetype%3Dvideo&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Ffilmforce.ign.com%2Farticles%2F389%2F389266p1.html

Bullensroad

Would Ballydoyle enter him if they thought there was a chance that he would get stuffed. I feel thay think he has a good chance of doing it if he adapts to the surface. They must have tried him on some kind of all weather surface and then made the decision. I dont know does it make a huge difference but the sire of his mother won the Classic on the dirt correct me if i am wrong. If he is settled on the day and can adapt to the surface i think the 10-1 available at Ladbrokes is good value and i will have a few quid on him.

fade2black

UpInClass wrote:

Past Performances Hit the Newsstands... TODAY in the US!
( available online @ http://www.drf.com/bc/advance/bc_adv.html )

Regarding your question,
fade2black...

I've taken some time off from auditioning for film & television
in order to accept a teaching assignment at my alma mater.
The student actors in my old Theatre Department are completing
their mid-term assignments today and tomorrow... leaving the weekend
FREE for Breeders' Cup!

LOL. One of the things I always tell my "baby-actors" is:
If you want a great place to do Character Study... visit the race track!
They're ALL there... every type character one can imagine.
From the posh to the pitiful, they're there... and all in very dramatic fashion!

Good News from the Postman arrived in the mail yesterday.
I received a residual check for PHONE BOOTH... always a nice surprise!
This check was for European Distrbution of the film... so allow me to say,
THANK YOU for watching! The lot of an actor is rarely plush...
so this residual is most welcome. Now I'm feelin' good and ready
to play (and hopefully win) on BC Day!

fade2black... that's a great handle. Do you work in the film industry? ~Dell.

Hi Dell (apologies to all racing lads as I go off topic for a second)

My day job is writing, I work as a copywriter but have written for Television and the stage as well. Hence the name. Tis great to have ya with us though, keep us informed about your career and feel free to write as much about the US racing as you can, we get it over here on TV everyday so I'm sure some of the lads will appreciate all the info you can provide.

Bluetonic

Agreed, the more about US Racing the better.

oceansize

George Washington has a good strong action. Which is good for dirt. If he's tested on the track before the race then he should go close. He's never really been pushed hard, and in all of his wins he seems to have had more left in him. I think we have a special horse here, and doubting him will probably cost yee a few quid

Crumbs

Bullensroad wrote:

Would Ballydoyle enter him if they thought there was a chance that he would get stuffed.

Yes.

If George was to run in the Mile and win it well, it wouldn't add very much on to his stud value (although the winner's prize of over $1m would be welcome, I'm sure). Similarly, if he was to run in the Classic and get stuffed, it wouldn't affect his value very much either. But if he was to win or place in the Classic, it would greatly increase his stud value.

Coolmore are taking a risk where there's little to lose but a lot to gain.

As you say, GW's grand-sire on his dam's side won the Classic, so even though he's by Danehill, he has some dirt pedigree. Not as much as Giant's Causeway but still a lot more than Galileo, Hawk Wing and Oratorio, who all flopped in the Classic.

I really like this horse but I think he'll struggle to make the first three. I backed Bernardini a few weeks ago at 5/2 and won't be trading off.

UpInClass

Preliminary Thoughts from US.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/326106/thread/1161956110/last-1161998575/Preliminary+Thoughts

I will place a link to this thread @ UpInClass Racing Forum (USA)
for an International Exchange of Handicapping Thoughts & Opinions.
Thank you, Folks... it truly is a pleasure to be able to share the BC with you!

Robin1982

Crumbs wrote:

...he has some dirt pedigree. Not as much as Giant's Causeway but still a lot more than Galileo, Hawk Wing and Oratorio, who all flopped in the Classic....

Hawk Wing would have had a lot more dirt-focus breeding than GW. Galileo had no business in the Classic, Oratorio wasn't good enough anyway.

I have never been as overly-enamoured with George Washington as others have been - mostly because of the massive amount of hype that his stable has generated. I think he's a truly excellent miler but has a thin record compared to the 3yo accomplishments of Rock of Gibraltar or Galileo to name but two.

The mile divisions in both the US and Europe are, IMO, very weak. Who is the top older miler in Europe? Librettist, Court Masterpiece, Proclamation, Echo Of Light - none of these instills much confidence. In the US, the best turf miler is John Oxx-cast off Aragorn. So is there a point in GW going for the BC Mile then? I still say yes.

The fact is Coolmore doesn't have any Danehill sons standing in the US. This decision is pure business. US breeders are just not interested in sons of Danehill - I can' even name one Danehill colt that has won a race on the dirt in the US. So even if GW won the BC Classic, any American breeder breeding their mare to him hoping for a TC winner is taking a gigantic leap of faith.

As for this nonsense of the way horses strides indicating dirt preference - just listen to the comments of AOB before Dylan Thomas' disasterous attempt on the JCGC. The only way of knowing if a horse goes on dirt is to run him on dirt.

Quite frankly IMHO, GW has a remote hope of placing in the BC Classic. This year's race is one of the deepest i can remember. Bernardini has looked unbeatable, in any other year Lava Man would be hailed as HOTY already, Invasor swept the 3 big NY races this year - a huge achievement, last year's 2nd Flower Alley is back and I would rate David Junior as a bigger threat than GW.

Although its a sporting decision to run GW in the Classic, and to be honest, adds even more interest to the race, I fully expect to see him well beaten - which is not a nice way to watch a champion finish his career.

As for the BC Mile, I think Echo Of Light would be the most profitable play.

triple edge

The favorite for the Breeders Cup classic Bernardini is a very powerful favorite. He has been galloping past his rivals in each of his races and winning stylishly in hand. Bernie is an exceptional colt and perhaps the best American horse of the decade. The only horse to impress like Bernie in the states this year is Discreet Cat who is being pointed to the Dubai Word Cup.

A special word about George Washington who I feel is horribly overmatched. AOB has not won a single dirt race in the US since 2001. That is five years of up the track. GW has never raced beyond 8 furlongs, and now he is to race 10 furlongs with the additional challenge of racing first time dirt in the toughest BC classic in 8 years? AOB has a terrible recent record with his yearly dirt experiments with 15 starters over the last 5 years nil winners and only 1 who hit the board and that was Hold That Tiger in a 4 horse race at Belmont 2003.

In Contrast to AOB Brian Meehan means biz when he ships over to the states. Meehan has started five horses in the states in the last 5 years and has won once, placed 3 times and 4th once. His two dirt starters have run very well. Buy The Sport shipped over for the GI gazelle @ Belmont 2003 and scored at 48-1 in a huge coup. His other dirt started 2YO Master David ran a respectable 2nd to Read The Footnotes @ 12-1 in the 2003 Remsen at Aqueduct. I am taking David Jr. very seriously at the BC based on the trainers record and the horses pedigree.

The other formidable favorite on the card is Henny Hughes who is entered in the breeder’s cup sprint. This is a very fast sprinter who is loaded with class. There are three things that set Henny Hughes apart from his rivals. Henny has the boss speed in the race he can run with any horse entered and gallop them into defeat while running in hand. Henny has the class to rate off the pace without being rank or compromised by the kickback. Henny Hughes KO punch is in the 5th furlong, when other sprinters are spent Henny has tremendous turn of foot and quickly changes leads at the top of the lane. This move using discourages any horses on the pace and provides tremendous separation from the closers. The only thing that can stop Henny is race luck as that is an important factor in the BC sprint.

Whatever you do in this race avoid Bordonero. This horse runs on the pace on the extremely speed favoring tracks of California. The pace today will be an absolute inferno and the surface will work against him. Bordonero will be up the track as the 2nd choice on the board. Look for off the pace types to complete exacta and trifecta.

The BC mile is a very wide open race, on paper over a half dozen have a good shot at the winners share. Post position and trip will be vital here as this race will be contested over a narrow course with tight turns. Any horse that draws post positions 11-14 will be at a disadvantage. They will lose tremendous ground on the turns and will likely be shuffled back. It will not be a fairly run race on the Churchill Downs turf bullring.

The horse I am leaning towards backing is Silent Name. Trained by Mandella who starts this colt 2nd off the layoff. Mandela’s pop used this angle in 2003 when he swept 4 of the 8 races of the meet. This colt has won on both sides of the pond and will be a huge price off a form darkening effort at Keeneland. He is listed at 30-1 ML. This colt will appreciate the move from the pool table like turf courses of California to the softer turf of Kentucky while being used to the tight turns.

The Distaff is another wide open race. The favorite Fleet Indian puts a 7 race in steak on the line. She had all of the breaks go here way all year but did pass a tremendous test last out. The only knock on her is that the pace will be a bit hotter and the filly she held off last time Balletto is a notorious hanger.

Take a look at Pine Island. This is filly is from the class Phipps stable and they have a way with fillies. Pine Island handled all of her challenges with style and improved with each and every race this year. The trainer is an absolute master with fillies and the pace sets up well for Pine Island. Trainer won this race last year with Pleasant Home at 30-1.

UpInClass

Ya'll have got some great handicappers on this site!
I just wanted to stop in and say HAPPY BREEDER'S CUP!
You should know that several of our players @ UpInClass
have e-mailed me to say "thanks for the link" to your excellent forum.
The opportunity to read your thoughts on this year's BC is really wonderful!

Good Luck, Everyone!

Dell Yount
UpInClass Racing Forum (USA)
www.upinclass.com