What? No chatter?
Where’s Glimmerglass?
Who’s in the early field at Santa Anita.
Let’s hope those winds will be at bay. Pun intended. 
Zenyetta a sure thing?
MTB…notta. Summer Bird? Eh.
What about the Lemon Drop kid. One big win? Will there be a contender for the girl?
You now have started the official 2009 BC thread 
The central resource for the the two-day event is: http://www.breederscup360.com/
My wife asked if I wanted to go to LA for the BC this year and I have to say I just shrugged and said lets not. I’ll watch it on tv and wager on it but I cannot say I’m psyched for it - at least not yet.
Still we’re going to see Summer Bird and Mine That Bird in the Classic plus plenty of other stars putting on a true show.
Not to go negative, but hopefully the officials will work a bit more on the course itself. Per the Daily Racing Form (10-5-09) week one at Oak Tree (Santa Anita) has not been without breakdowns:
Blackbriar was the second horse to be euthanized in the first week of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, a subject of concern for the track’s president Ron Charles.
“We went five months, and 14,000 workouts without a fatality and then that happened,” Charles said.
The incidents with Blackbriar and Grazen come at a time when the Pro-Ride synthetic surface is being strongly scrutinized by local horsemen who have said the surface has caused minor injuries that have forced horses to the sidelines. The track will play host to the Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 6-7.
Charles said the track will not undergo any significant renovation before the Breeders’ Cup, but will be closely monitored by officials.
One horse I’m looking forward to seeing is in the BC Juvenile on Nov. 7. Bob Baffert trained Lookin at Lucky is:
[Baffert]… “the best 2-year-old I’ve had in the last five years. I can’t remember more than five years.”
On a more serious note, Baffert said, “He’s sort of a different horse than I’ve ever had. I’m becoming a big fan of his now, watching him run.”
And of course the BC Officials are said to be pressing the connections of Sea The Stars to run in the US. Considering his performances are adding up to the big question being asked “is he the greatest?” that would be a coup if he did run in the BC.
We’ll see what happens …
LOL!
If I remember my geography correctly…we are both native NY’ers?
From Rochester area originally.
Yeah. Not surprised about the concern about the surface. Hyperbole? Or reality?
You have the finger on the pulse there more than I.
Baffert needs a win. More Hyperbole?
Gald to be the offical asker of the pick your brain peeps to start this thread.
You always have great advice.
I listen.
sigh Maybe they can prep Sea the Stars for next year so he could meet Rachel Alexandra.
Until/unless his connections announce he’s shipping over, I’m for Summer Bird in the Classic and don’t have any else I’m sold on (though I would not be disappointed if MTB pulled off another upset. I like the Birdstone boys.)
As for the Juvenile…I try to never get attached! 
To the best of my knowledge, these horses are pointing towards the following BC races. I don’t really follow 2yos, so someone can fill in the juve races.
Feel free to correct or add as you see fit.
Classic
Summer Bird
Quality Road
Rip Van Winkle
Mastercraftsman
Einstein
Richard’s Kid
Mine that Bird
Colonel John
Rail Trip
Tiago???
Gio Ponti
Bullsbay
Macho Again???
Turf
Conduit
Fame and Glory
Cavalry Man
Presious Passion
Lauro???
Spanish Moon
Grand Couturier
Just As Well
Telling
Casual Conquest???
Intepratation???
Ask
Take the Points
Brass Hat
Vision d’Etat???
Soldier of Fortune???
Distaff
Zenyatta???
Life is Sweet
Stardom Bound
Careless Jewel
Music Note
Unbridled Belle
Swift Temper
FM Turf
Stacelita
Sariska
Da Ra Mi
Dynaforce
Forever Together
Pure Clan
Criticism
Sprint
Zenzational
Kodiak Kowboy
Fabulous Strike???
Capt Candyman
Munnings
Pyro
Vineyard Haven???
Mile
Goldikova
Delegator
Battle of Hastings???
Zacinto
Ventura
Ferneley
Cowboy Cal
Justennufhumor
Marathon
Nite Light
Septimus
Muhannak
Gitano Hernando
Geordieland
Unusual Suspect
Icon Project was not entered in the Spinster. She supposedly skipped the Beldame to run on the synthetics in Keeneland. I’ll be very interested to read what happened there.
[QUOTE=Zevida;4426171]
Icon Project was not entered in the Spinster. She supposedly skipped the Beldame to run on the synthetics in Keeneland. I’ll be very interested to read what happened there.[/QUOTE]
Yep, and it’s a surprising move as she was the assured favorite for the Spinster. Plenty of time to still be fresh for the BC although maybe the soggy weather forcast played a role. DRF 10-8-09
The $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, to be run Sunday, lost its top contender and likely favorite when trainer Marty Wolfson announced this week that Icon Project will skip the race and head straight to the Nov. 6 BC Ladies’ Classic.
Looks like you can almost forget ‘Icon Project’ in the “Ladies Classic”
… has a “less than 50-50 chance” of running in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Nov. 6 at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting, trainer Marty Wolfson said Wednesday.
According to Wolfson, Icon Project bled during a workout at Calder in preparation for the Spinster. She has been sent to a farm in Ocala, Fla., where she is receiving regular treatments in a hyperbaric chamber.
Also Kodiak Kowboy is likely a skipper too per the DRF:
Among the leading members of the division not likely to make the trip west is the Steve Asmussen-trained Kodiak Kowboy, winner of the Grade 1 Vosburgh earlier this month, whose status for the Sprint remained tenuous at best on Wednesday.
“No definite decision has been made one way or the other, but Steve is concerned how much the last race took out of him,” said Tom Ludt, general manager of Vinery Stables. Vinery owns Kodiak Kowboy in partnership with Fox Hill Farm. “At this point, I’d say it’s more than likely he will not go.”
If Kodiak Kowboy does stay home, it would mean the two fastest horses on the East Coast will be passing the Sprint.
Trainer Todd Beattie has already stated that Vosburgh runner-up Fabulous Strike would skip the Breeders’ Cup because it is being run on the Pro-Ride surface.
We can all thank Greg Avioli for this nonsense. I know the reasons vary, but the if the race was contested on regular dirt the best North American horses would do everything they could to run on the big day. Hopefully the lack of participation and the poor ticket sales will make this Breeders Cup the last one ever contested on used goodyear tires.
I agree - the plastic does appear to be a failed experiment.
All the same - you gotta kinda loff MTB at his current outsider odds of 50-1!
50 to 1 :lol: I might have to take those odds! Seriously, I hope MTB is in the top 4, he doesn’t have to win, but I’d like to see him get a paycheck. That’s what a good gelding is all about imho. Staying sound and making money. 
I think Mine That Bird may surprise people at the Breeders Cup. It’s not like recent form had ANYTHING to do with the results of last year’s Breeders Cup. How soon we all forget…
[QUOTE=Gestalt;4443332]
That’s what a good gelding is all about imho. Staying sound and making money. [/QUOTE]
…And then coming home with ME to be a little dressage pony! :yes::lol:
If I only lived in a state where gambling was legal, and despite my BIGTIME crush on the Little Big Hoss (probably the only person in America still glued to his stallcam!), I think I’d still play Mastercraftsman/Summer Bird/Mine That Bird 1-2-3, with a side bet on MTB to win b/c at those odds you just kinda HAVE to.
You’ll have to go through me first! I have a serious crush on that little horse. I’m just imagining how cute he’d look out in pasture with my little 15 hand leopard appy - he’s a longshot too, and a dressage prospect, haha. I just adore his little face and ears! I’d love to try him as an eventer too = ) I hope he stays sound forever because I love rooting for this horse. And I kind of love Chip Woolley too, haha. It’s just a feel good team.
50-1. Wouldn’t it be great if he randomly decides he loves the “fake” stuff and won at the same odds as when he was in the Derby? Haha, a girl can dream. Do you think his odds will stay that high?
Okay, enough MTB love. I sound like a teenager at a Backstreet Boys concert. Back to the serious race talk.
Disco kid, was a friend of mine…that…bird.
Seriously…wasn’t the polyestertrack Dickinson’s marketing genius?
Double blind study says…back peddle.
The birds probably own the classic.
I wish Zenyatta would run against the boys.
More likely qualified runners but skippers …
Field Commission earned a guaranteed berth Cup Turf Sprint , but [the connections were] leaning toward passing on a trip to California. The $90,000 required payment is the issue.
Etched is expected to bypass the Breeders’ Cup Classic and instead point for the Grade 2, $400,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Mine That Bird worked on the SA surface without much flash on Monday Oct 19:
Mine That Bird’s time was the 35th of 40 recorded works at the distance. Ridden by jockey Joe Talamo, substituting for regular rider Calvin Borel, Mine That Bird worked alone, starting before the half-mile pole and working past the finish line.
Trainer Chip Woolley said he did not intend for Mine That Bird to have a flashy workout.
In the “Year of the girls vs. Boys” we have another female to take on males for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup: Gotta Have Her’s (winner of the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap at Santa Anita on Saturday) has led trainer Jenine Sahadi to plan a more ambitious spot - the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here Nov. 7.
Another - “thanks, but no thanks” - Macho Again will take a pass on the BCC
He’ll likely go to the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in Nov
More skippers: Rail Trip (winner Hollywood Gold Cup) and Gitano Hernando (winner Goodwood Stakes) - both will not appear at the Breeders’ Cup.
Rail Trip is a bit off with foot problems and Gitano Hernando is still a bit exhausted. Gitano will instead go for the bigger brass ring of the Dubai World Cup - which will for the first time in 2010 be on synthetics.
All the more evidence that Zenyatta’s connections should put her in the BCC as it’s getting rather fluffy with proven Grade 1 winners on synthetics not in force. Who knows maybe even MTB will hit the board
I’m excited to see summer bird run, and happy to get a chance to watch so many nice euro horses compete, but… can we change the title of this thread to “The impending lameness of the Breeders Cup”?
I’m actually glad so many owners and trainers are standing their ground on the anti-synthetics hill, even though it means this years cup won’t be as fun to watch (and bet). I’d like to think that’d teach 'em to run it on plastic, especially two years in a row, but BC management haven’t shown themselves to be quick learners. Sigh.
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