Breeders' Cup 2016 Preview

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held on Nov 4-5 this year at Santa Anita Park, in a suburb of Los Angeles, California. The entries have been drawn and post positions assigned, and today I will show you my top three picks for each race, for the championships begin tomorrow.

On October 4, I made a post of my pre-picks, which were basically my picks to win at that time for these races. Some of my picks here differ from those, and explanations as to why will be given.
These races are displayed with their Central time zone post time, race distance and surface, age and sex restrictions, and purse in millions. If all the horses carry equal weights, the weight is also listed with the race description, as well as the medication each horse has if they have the same medication. They are displayed in the order that they will be run, and the entire field is shown. The horses will be listed with age (if it is not a 2yo-only race), sex, morning line odds, medication if it differs, equipment changes (blinkers, etc), and, if weights vary for horses, the weight they will carry. I am not showing the jockeys, owners, or trainers. My picks will be in bold.

Friday

Juvenile Turf

4:25pm, 1 mile turf, 2yo colts and geldings, $1m, 122 lbs

1. Lancaster Bomber, colt, Lasix 1st time, 6/1

2. Keep Quiet, colt, Lasix, 12/1

3. Channel Maker, gelding, Lasix, 30/1

4. Favorable Outcome, colt, Lasix, 15/1

5. Made You Look, colt, Lasix, 12/1

6. Big Score, colt, Lasix, 8/1

7. J.S. Choice, colt, Lasix, 20/1

8. Intelligence Cross, colt, Lasix 1st time, 6/1

9. Wellabled, colt, 15/1

10. Bowie's Hero, colt, Lasix, 15/1

11. Good Samaritan, colt, Lasix, 9/2

12. Rodaini, colt, Lasix 1st time, 15/1

13. Oscar Performance, colt, 4/1

14. Ticonderoga, colt, Lasix, 15/1

AE-Kitten's Cat, colt, Lasix, 20/1
AE-Harbour Master, colt, Lasix, 20/1

Nobody in the main 14 horse field scratched by Friday morning. Therefore, Kitten's Cat and Harbour Master are program scratches, since the field is restricted to 14 horses and they were the two also-eligibles, able to draw in if one or two horses scratched.

My picks:

A-Intelligence Cross--like him over LB

B-Lancaster Bomber--Always gotta root for an O'Brien horse

Lancaster Bomber (rail)

C-Oscar Performance--outside post could make his wire-to-wire run difficult

Oscar Performance, my Oct 4 pick, is not my A pick here because this field looks to be a bit dense for him. The two Ballydoyle horses come from Europe, where they have run in fields that might make this one look wimpy if they were to compete against each other.

Las Vegas Dirt Mile

5:05pm, 1 mile dirt, 3yos and up, $1m

1. Vyjack, 6yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 10/1

2. Tom's Ready, 3yo colt, Lasix, 123 pounds, 12/1

3. Dortmund, 4yo colt, Lasix, 126 pounds, 6/5

4. Point Piper, 6yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

5. Accelerate, 3yo colt, Lasix, 123 pounds, 20/1

6. Texas Chrome, 3yo colt, Lasix, 123 pounds, 20/1

7. Runhappy, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 3/1

8. Tamarkuz, 6yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 8/1

9. Gun Runner, 3yo colt, Lasix, 123 pounds, 9/2

My picks:

A-Dortmund--he deserves his first win of the year after running into California Chrome and Beholder

B-Runhappy--is the distance and training too much?

C-Gun Runner--he can get the distance, but it's the class of the field I'm worried about

Masochistic is not my pick here because apparently he wasn't even under consideration for this race (he's in the Sprint). Dortmund finally gets out from under California Chrome and goes to what I believe is his best distance for this race.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

5:50pm, 1 mile turf, 2yo fillies, $1m, 122 lbs

1. Hydrangea, 1st time Lasix, 6/1

2. Lull, 15/1

3. New Money Honey, Lasix, 10/1

4. Spain Burg, 1st time Lasix, 5/1

5. Victory to Victory, Lasix, 12/1

6. Coasted, Lasix, 20/1

7. Intricately, 1st time Lasix, 6/1

8. Madam Dancealot, 1st time Lasix, 30/1

9. Cavale Doree, 1st time Lasix, 15/1

10. Happy Mesa, Lasix, 20/1

11. Rymska, 1st time Lasix, 20/1

12. La Force, Lasix, 30/1

13. Roly Poly, 1st time Lasix, 4/1

14. La Coronel, Lasix, 9/2

AE-Con Te Partiro, Lasix, 30/1
16.-Sweeping Paddy, Lasix, 30/1

Victory to Victory was scratched in the nick of time for an also-eligible to get in. Con Te Partiro was also scratched, so Sweeping Paddy,  the second-choice on the AE list, gets in. She will wear saddle cloth #16 and start from Post 14. Victory to Victory had a popped splint.

My picks:

A-Intricately--Joey O'Brien's first G1 winner/BC runner, edged B choice last time they met

B-Hydrangea--very good filly, just hope she doesn't get boxed in on the rail

C-Roly Poly--another top-notch Ballydoyle horse, and outside post shouldn't bother her

Longines Distaff

6:35pm, 1 1/8 miles dirt, 3yos and up fillies and mares, $2m, Lasix

1. Songbird, 3yo filly, 121 pounds, 6/5

2. Land Over Sea, 3yo filly, 121 pounds, 30/1

3. Curalina, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 12/1

4. Corona Del Inca, 5yo mare, 124 pounds, 30/1

5. Stellar Wind, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 5/2

6. Forever Unbridled, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 12/1

7. I'm A Chatterbox, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 12/1

8. Beholder, 6yo mare, 124 pounds, 5/2

My picks:

A-Songbird--can she go 12-for-12, even against older horses?

B-Beholder--time to go out with a bang

C-I'm A Chatterbox--coming into her own at the right time--can she beat Stellar Wind?

Saturday

14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies

2:05pm, 1 1/16 miles dirt, 2yo fillies, $2m, 122 lbs

1. Colorful Charades, Lasix, 30/1

2. With Honors, Lasix, 10/1

3. Valadorna, Lasix, 5/1

4. Yellow Agate, 8/1

5. Sweet Loretta, Lasix, 6/1

6. Champagne Room, Lasix, 20/1

7. Jamyson 'N Ginger, Lasix, 8/1

8. Dancing Rags, Lasix, 12/1

9. Union Strike, Lasix, 6/1

10. Noted and Quoted, Lasix, 9/2

11. Daddy's Lil Darling, Lasix, 12/1

12. American Gal, Lasix, 6/1

My picks:

A-Union Strike--can she win off a 9 week layoff?

B-Dancing Rags--lovely girl, real chance here

C-Noted and Quoted--never rule out a Baffert home horse

Filly & Mare Turf

2:45pm, 1 1/4 miles turf, 3yos and up fillies and mares, $2m

1. Sea Calisi, 4yo filly, Lasix, 124 pounds, 8/1

2. Catch A Glimpse, 3yo filly, Lasix, 120 pounds, 12/1

3. Seventh Heaven, 3yo filly, Lasix, 120 pounds, 3/1

4. Avenge, 4yo filly, Lasix, 124 pounds, 15/1

5. Al's Gal, 5yo mare, Lasix, 124 pounds, 15/1

6. Zipessa, 4yo filly, Lasix, 124 pounds, 20/1

7. Sentiero Italia, 4yo filly, Lasix, 124 pounds, 12/1

8. Lady Eli, 4yo filly, Lasix, 124 pounds, 5/2

9. Ryans Charm, 6yo mare, Lasix, 124 pounds, 30/1

10. Kit Kat, 4yo filly, Lasix, 124 pounds, 20/1

11. Queen's Trust, 3yo filly, 1st time Lasix, 120 pounds, 6/1

12. Pretty Perfect, 3yo filly, Lasix, 120 pounds, 15/1

13. Nuovo Record, 5yo mare, 124 pounds, 12/1

My picks:

A-Lady Eli--storybook comeback comes to an end here

B-Seventh Heaven--proven herself to be remarkably good, having beaten Arc winner Found

C-Catch A Glimpse--tailing off or just bounced?

Seventh Heaven is not my A pick here because Lady Eli has gotten back to Grade I level and deserves the win. However, I do have her as Pick B because she is a really, really good horse who can't be left off of anybody's list.

TwinSpires Sprint

3:21pm, 6 furlongs dirt, 3yos and up, $1.5m, Lasix

1. Mind Your Biscuits, 3yo colt, 124 pounds, 20/1

2. Drefong, 3yo colt, 124 pounds, 7/2

3. Delta Bluesman, 6yo gelding, 126 pounds, 15/1

4. Joking, 7yo gelding, 126 pounds, 15/1

5. A.P. Indian, 6yo gelding, 126 pounds, 4/1

6. Lord Nelson, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 5/2

7. Masochistic, 6yo gelding, 126 pounds, 2/1

8. Noholdingback Bear, 3yo colt, 124 pounds, 15/1

9. Limousine Liberal, 4yo gelding, 126 pounds, 15/1

Lord Nelson, my original Pick A, was scratched on November 3 when it was discovered that a cut on his right front leg got infected and filled up. He was scheduled to be retired after the Sprint anyway, so he is shipping to Spendthrift shortly.

Joking was scratched from the Sprint on November 2 because of an illness.

My picks:

A-Masochistic, best California sprinter since Lord Nelson was scratched.

B-A.P. Indian--can he make it an unbeaten season?

C-Drefong--dangerous 3yo

Turf Sprint

4:05pm, 6 1/2 furlongs downhill turf, 3yos and up, $1m

1. Pure Sensation, 5yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 5/1

2. Obviously, 8yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 6/1

3. Mongolian Saturday, 6yo gelding, 126 pounds, 12/1

4. Home of the Brave, 4yo colt, Lasix, 126 pounds, 12/1

5. Karar, 4yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 15/1

6. Calgary Cat, 6yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

7. Suedois, 5yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 10/1

8. Washington DC, 3yo colt, Lasix, 124 pounds, 8/1

9. A Lot, 4yo colt, Lasix, 126 pounds, 8/1

10. Ambitious Brew, 6yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 10/1

11. Undrafted, 6yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 12/1

12. Om, 4yo colt, Lasix, 126 pounds, 12/1

13. Holy Lute, 6yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 10/1

14. Celestine, 4yo filly, Lasix, 123 pounds, 8/1
AE-Lady Shipman, 4yo filly, Lasix, 123 pounds, 12/1
16. Green Mask, 5yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 15/1

Suedois sustained a stress fracture during a routine gallop on November 3, allowing Lady Shipman to draw in. However, her connections have her entered in the Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes that weekend, and have opted to run there. Therefore, Green Mask draws in and will occupy the 14 spot in the gate while carrying the #16 saddle towel (since he was the second of two also-eligibles). The first six horses will stay in their assigned gates, but the rest all move in one now that Suedois has withdrawn. Suedois is expected to return to racing next year.

My picks:

A-Holy Lute--proven over this course, which is a big plus

B-Ambitious Brew--also proven over this course, but not quite as spectacularly

C-Washington D.C.--always look to Aidan to pop a surprise

Sentient Jet Juvenile

4:43pm, 1 1/16 miles dirt, 2yo colts and geldings, $2m, 122 lbs, Lasix, all colts (no geldings)

1. Klimt, 6/1

2. Syndergaard, 6/1

3. Term of Art, 30/1

4. Theory, 12/1

5. Classic Empire, 4/1

6. Three Rules, 8/1

7. Gormley, 5/1

8. Star Empire, 30/1

9. Practical Joke, 6/1

10. Not This Time, 7/2

11. Lookin At Lee, adds blinkers, 20/1

My picks:

A-Not This Time--can he travel and show the same form?

B-Gormley--can he make it 3-for-3?

C-Klimt--is this his turn for revenge?

Not This Time is my A pick simply because of his dominance in top races out East. Gormley though has home-track advantage and should be able to make a race of it.

Longines Turf

5:22pm, 1 1/2 miles turf, 3yos and up, $4m

1. Ralis, 3yo colt, Lasix, 122 pounds, 30/1

2. Da Big Hoss, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

3. Ectot, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 8/1

4. Flintshire, 6yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 5/2

5. Ashleyluvssugar, 5yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 15/1

6. Mondialiste, 6yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 15/1

7. Ulysses, 3yo colt, 122 pounds, 12/1

8. Twilight Eclipse, 7yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 30/1

9. Money Multiplier, 4yo ridgling, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

10. Found, 4yo filly, Lasix, 123 pounds, 3/1

11. Texas Ryano, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 30/1

12. Highland Reel, 4yo colt, Lasix, 126 pounds, 3/1

13. Metaboss, 4yo colt, Lasix, 126 pounds, 30/1

Metaboss was injured and scratched from the Breeders' Cup Turf on November 2. He was retired as soon as the sesamoid fracture in his off fore was discovered. Stud plans for the 3-time winner are not known at this time.

My picks:

A-Found--defending champion, real chance here, especially if course is still relatively wet

B-Highland Reel--reminds me a lot of St. Nicholas Abbey

C-Da Big Hoss--game, tough, just the kind of horse who might pull it off

Filly & Mare Sprint

6:01pm, 7 furlongs dirt, 3yos and up fillies and mares, $1m, Lasix

1. Paola Queen, 3yo filly, 122 pounds, 20/1

2. Haveyougoneaway, 5yo mare, 124 pounds, 3/1

3. Tara's Tango, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 8/1

4. Gomo, 3yo filly, 122 pounds, 20/1

5. Wonder Gal, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 30/1

6. By The Moon, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 8/1

7. Gloryzapper, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 15/1

8. Carina Mia, 3yo filly, 122 pounds, 7/2

9. Paulassilverlining, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 10/1

10. Wavell Avenue, 5yo mare, 124 pounds, 6/1

11. Irish Jasper, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 10/1

12. Finest City, 4yo filly, 124 pounds, 12/1

13. Spelling Again, 5yo mare, removes blinkers, 124 pounds, 20/1

My picks:

A-Haveyougoneaway--she can fly, but can she stretch the other furlong?

B-Carina Mia--is she winding down or will she become the first 3yo to win this?

C-Gloryzapper--possibly ready for the race of her life

Haveyougoneaway is my A pick simply because I decided the older-mare advantage was too much to ignore. But shortening in distance and getting away from Songbird should seriously help Carina Mia.

Mile

6:40pm, 1 mile turf, 3yos and up, $2m

1. What A View, 5yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

2. Alice Springs, 3yo filly, Lasix, 120 pounds, 4/1

3. Spectre, 3yo filly, Lasix, 120 pounds, 20/1

4. Miss Temple City, 4yo filly, Lasix, 123 pounds, 12/1

5. Tourist, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 15/1

6. Photo Call, 5yo mare, Lasix, 123 pounds, 15/1

7. Dutch Connection, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 20/1

8. Tepin, 5yo mare, Lasix, 123 pounds, 3/1

9. Ironicus, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 8/1

10. Limato, 4yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 7/2

11. Ring Weekend, 5yo gelding, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

12. Hit It A Bomb, 3yo colt, Lasix, 123 pounds, 20/1

13. Midnight Storm, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 12/1

14. Cougar Mountain, 5yo horse, Lasix, 126 pounds, 20/1

My picks:

A-Tepin--can she rebound off that loss and make it back-to-back Mile wins?

B-Alice Springs--will she show her Euro form and upset Tepin?

C-Miss Temple City--if she shows the form she did at Keeneland avoiding Tepin, nobody beats her

Classic

7:35pm, 1 1/4 miles dirt, 3yos and up, $6m, Lasix

1. Effinex, 5yo horse, 126 pounds, 15/1

2. Frosted, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 5/1

3. Keen Ice, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 20/1

4. California Chrome, 5yo horse, 126 pounds, 1/1

5. Win The Space, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 30/1

6. Melatonin, 5yo gelding, 126 pounds, 12/1

7. War Story, 4yo gelding, 126 pounds, 30/1

8. Shaman Ghost, 4yo colt, 126 pounds, 20/1

9. Hoppertunity, 5yo horse, 126 pounds, 15/1

10. Arrogate, 3yo colt, 122 pounds, 5/2

My picks:

A-California Chrome--all he has to do is what he's been doing

B-Arrogate--has to show himself more than a one-show freak, and against older horses

C-Frosted--not sure if this distance is his best, but at least his owners are true sportsmen

Election 2016

I want to warn, implore, even beg you... don't let Hillary Clinton into the White House! Hopefully the 3rd party candidates will enact what my husband and I suggested last week, but it is too late to hope that they get in this year. We have to wait until 2020 before we get another shot at a 3rd party candidate getting elected. So vote Trump and we will have a brief rest from her before the next round of campaigns begins. If Trump does what he says, she will be in prison at the next go-round anyway, and that will be a better outcome than if she is the White House in 2020. I said, I'm not against woman presidents, just Clinton presidents, and she will be far worse than Bill ever was. We have less than a week until Election Day, and our new president will have been elected by the time my next post gets up. Do not make me be in tears, preparing for the war she will begin on people who do not agree with her 100% or follow her to the letter, when I write next week's post.

I get it. If she gets in, and you voted third party, didn't vote, or even voted for her, then you exercised your freedom of choice. But what a choice. And we won't have the freedom to choose for much longer. I'd rather be debating people and voicing my opinion than be hiding in fear because I don't agree with you.

If we are lucky, we will elect ourselves a third-party candidate in four years. But we cannot this year. There are too many choices and too few people who won't vote for Hillary. Evil is taking a foothold in this nation, and when she rises to the top, it will be the head of this nation. Trump can't even come close to what she is capable of doing.

Please, oh, please. Do not make it a victory for another Clinton.


But if Clinton is elected, I guess we won't be putting off the inevitable anymore. Sigh. Anyone ready for a third revolution? There's a 50/50 chance it will work!

Recent Happenings

On Monday, Geronimo and Victorio went home. D's family is home until early December, when his mom heads back for more treatment. This means that Cookie gets to be a solo kitten for a while, though he will go hang out with his buddies from the 17th-20th and also the 25th-27th while we are out of town.

Cookie is now learning to be an outdoor cat, during the day, and will start being kept out of the bedroom at night. It's time for him to grow up and be what he was born and bred for: an outdoor mouser.

I have begun NanoWrimo and already passed the 5,000 and 10,000 word milestones, averaging over 6,000 words a day. At this rate, if I can keep it up, by next Thursday I will have won NanoWrimo 2016.

As of this post's publishing, I have written over 21,000 words. On Friday, tomorrow, I should pass the half-way milestone with no trouble, before I go saddle up Sue J and ride her to my grandparents'-in-law to go see the Breeders' Cup Friday races. I am super excited!!! If everything goes according to plan, this will be the first year I see ALL 13 of the races!

My husband is the best. He is gonna go deer hunting and scouting for ducks (their season opens next Saturday, not this upcoming one) on Saturday and let me be my crazy horse-racing-loving self. And, fingers crossed, maybe he'll even bring home his first deer!