Finally!!!! Breeders’ Cup week hath arrived! I’m going to be taking advantage of a new feature available to wordpress and offering polls for each of the Breeders’ Cup championship races. We’ll kick things off with the Filly & Mare Sprint going 7 furlongs over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride for a total purse of $1,000,000. Obviously much will depend upon the post position draws, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start identifying who we like (and why), right?
I’m going to put my cape on and go Captain Obvious here by making Indian Blessing my top selection. No doubt she’ll be sent off as the post time favorite. My gut tells me she’s virtually unbeatable since cutting back to sprint distances, and while I may be worried a bit about her effectiveness on the synthetic track, I like that she’s also developed the ability to stalk effectively – which is exactly where she’ll need to be on Friday to bring the championship home.
Looking over the Santa Anita results thus far this year, it seems obvious that horses attempting to go gate-to-wire have been up against it over the Pro-Ride. It seems to me that horses with exactly the kind of stalking trips Indian Blessing is fond of using lately are set up much better turning for home. It’s sort of a balancing act over this track. You don’t want to be too far out in front (though lone speed can still prevail), and you don’t want to be too far back turning for home. Right smack dab in the middle ought to be right, and that’s where I expect Indian Blessing to be.
Of course, she’ll have to overcome Zaftig, who blew past Indian Blessing the only time these two faced back in June. Still, Zaftig’s been on the shelf for several months and it may be asking quite a bit to expect her to return in that same form.
Looking at the rest of the field, there are a couple of horses who could shock at decent prices. Intangaroo is a game competitor seemingly everywhere she runs. I could see her making a late bid down the center of the track. Dearest Tricksi is another that looks interesting to me. She’s a steady type that ought to show up with a big run this weekend.
I wouldn’t leave Ventura or Tizzy’s Tune completely out of the picture either. I will, however, be taking a stand against the horses I expect to be gunning for the lead – such as Indyanne and Dream Rush.
Cast your vote in the poll above and sound off on who you think will win the Filly & Mare Sprint!
Thanks for posting all this early on in the week. The polls are really fun, and I’ve been studying the early drf. But I get stuck on reading the foreign pps.
Indian Blessing all the way!!
Thanks guys – yeah, I went a little “poll crazy” today – but I love this new feature here at wordpress!
The foreign pp’s can be a challenge. It’s tough to figure out how certain races compare to N. American counterparts. I’ll say this as a general rule of thumb – to me the Euros were a much sharper overall crop than the U.S. horses racing on turf. I’d even say both male and female that holds true. Just a generalism though and certainly doesn’t equate to any foregone conclusions.
I’m with you, Brian – it’s Indian Blessings to lose. I’ll also go out on a limb and predict that Dearest Tricksi hits the board as well. SHe keeps coming up huge in my handicapping even though I keep trying to toss her out of the mix. I’m not sure who said it to make it famous, but: “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!”
Kevin,
I agree about the on or near the lead but I’m afraid with all the speed, INDIAN BLESSING will be too close to a hot pace (INDYANNE, DEAREST TRICKSKI, DREAM RUSH, LA TEE, and the Argentine filly LADY SPRINTER). When she makes her move, she may have to be more than 3 wide losing precious ground. I’m going out on a limb and say that PSALM will at least hit the board, may run a shocker and win. Any filly that ships in G.3 winning form, was less than three behind LUSH LASHES in a G.1 mile two back, and was only FIVE LENGTHS behind Arc winner ZARKAVA (not to mention THREE LENGTHS back of likely BC Mile favorite GOLDIKOVA and less than TWO LENGTHS behind HALFWAY TO HEAVEN) as a MAIDEN certainly stands out on class. If she handles the track, not such a big stretch as usual this year on Pro-ride, the race is over.
MAGNFICIENCE will be 15-1 and I’ll take some of that as well. She was magnificent in her first two career races and I was comparing her to RAGS TO RICHES until she was injured. It’s going to take a perfect trip but the race sets up so sweet this time…7f, fast pace. This specimen has been finishing so well in all her starts, I think Headley has been using her four races this year with an eye to this big payday. He will tip his hand if he lets her roll with a 3f blowout in around :34 3 days from the race.
Certainly possible. My take with Magnificience was that she’s better on dirt. I know they same can be said for tons of horses this weekend, but I just didn’t feel comfortable making her a selection.
Interesting that you list Psalm. We should get huge odds there and I was already planning on using her in 2nd/3rd/4th on the dime superfecta ticket.
Capper, great call on Magnificience, Headley absolutely ran a 3f blowout, and you almost nailed the time, but the :35 still was 2nd best out of 26 yesterday. You have absolutely made me a believer, and plan on using him with Indian Blessing and Dearest Trickski (6 out of 8 wins on synth, 1 place. 2 for 2 at SA) for my ex and tri boxes.
Randy,
Let’s hope my gal’s up to the task. She’ll see all of the 7f and the race seems to set up well for her. Good luck.
Ventura looked dominant gunning down Indian Blessing!