44°F
weather icon Cloudy

Here’s a guide to navigating Day 2 of the Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders' Cup fireworks are far from over as nine more stakes today will determine division champions at Churchill Downs, capped by the celebrated Breeders' Cup Classic. This card is far more formidable than what we witnessed on Friday. Here are my selections for today:

■ MARATHON -- No. 1 Birdrun (7-2) is one of many live runners sent out by trainer Bill Mott. Mott prepped this colt in the Jockey Club Gold Cup facing much tougher horses than he will face today. No. 11 A.U. Miner (3-1) also prepped with Birdrun in the Gold Cup. He has had a limited three-race season pointing for this. Long shot: No. 5 Giant Oak (9-2).

■ JUVENILE TURF -- No. 12 Lucky Chappy (10-1) is part of an uncoupled entry from Team Valor. This colt had an eventful trip from dead last to finish third in the Bourbon. Joel Rosario is well-suited for his closer style. No. 5 Wrote (12-1) is one of Aidan O'Brien's better juveniles. He ran third last time with a troubled trip. Long shot: No. 4 Farraaj (12-1).

■ SPRINT -- No. 8 Big Drama (5-2) had a soft prep at Calder off a nine-month layoff. He has proven time and again he can fire well when fresh, which he surely is from a limited campaign. He's a likely repeat winner. No. 5 Jackson Bend has been rejuvenated as a one-turn runner for Nick Zito. Expect him to sit far back and make one run. Long shot: No. 6 Force Freeze (10-1).

■ TURF SPRINT -- No. 8 Regally Ready (3-1) has developed into one of the best turf sprinters in the United States. His lone poor race this year came when he was bothered badly on the far turn of the Turf Monster at Parx. No. 4 Perfect Officer (12-1) ran second in the Turf Monster but was not involved in the rough action that was behind him. Long shot: No. 10 Havelock (9-2).

■ DIRT MILE -- No. 5 Wilburn (4-1) has shown steady improvement in each of his past three victories. He won at Monmouth, Parx and Hoosier so he showed he can handle many different dirt surfaces. No. 8 Caleb's Posse (5-1) reacted badly in the Indiana Derby after a spectacular upset of Uncle Mo in the King's Bishop. He can rebound today. Long shot: No. 2 Shackleford (7-2).

■ TURF -- No. 7 Sea Moon (4-1) had a rough trip as a beaten favorite in the St. Leger. He is a first-class colt and can make amends in a race that figures to be dominated by the Europeans. No. 2 Sarafina (5-2) had a near perfect season before leaking oil in the Arc de Triomphe. Her best race is clearly good enough to win this. Long shot: No. 6 Await the Dawn (7-2).

■ JUVENILE -- No. 7 Creative Cause (7-2) rates a tiny edge because he already has won a grade 1 stakes around two-turns in the Norfolk. His pedigree also suggests he will get better as the races get longer. No. 10 Union Rags (2-1) will be favored as strongly as Uncle Mo was last year, but the comparison ends there. Long shot: No. 1 Take Charge Indy (30-1).

■ MILE -- No. 5 Gio Ponti (4-1) and No. 1 Goldikova (7-5) should be lauded for still racing as 6-year-olds when most superstars are retired early to the breeding shed. I give Gio Ponti a chance for the upset because a mile is his best distance, his incredible consistency, and Goldikova is showing small signs of losing her edge. Long shot: No. 3 Courageous Cat (8-1).

■ CLASSIC -- No. 13 To Honor and Serve (12-1) is the third Bill Mott trainee I've picked to win a Breeders' Cup race. I think he's that loaded for bear. His two prep wins, including the Pennsylvania Derby, have been first rate. No. 10 Havre de Grace (3-1) would seal a Horse of the Year title with a win. This is heavy-duty lifting today. Long shot: No. 2 Flat Out (6-1).

Richard Eng can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick.

THE LATEST
Irish War Cry due for good race, pick to win Belmont

With Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness champion Cloud Computing skipping the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, the Triple Crown races will produce three different winners for the second consecutive year.

This weekend is filled with festival-style horse racing

Today the trend is for racetracks to cluster their stakes in a festival-style program. Thus, the Met Mile will be among nine graded stakes on the Belmont Stakes card June 10.

Always Dreaming’s Preakness run proves ‘horses are human’

Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming by various accounts came bouncing out of Churchill Downs in good order. His Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher felt good about his preparation.

Kentucky Derby offers clues for Preakness winner

Always Dreaming is the horse the racing industry will be rooting for. A win in the Preakness sets up another Triple Crown chance in the Belmont Stakes on June 10.

Preakness questions immediately face Always Dreaming

After Always Dreaming crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, the first question was, “Is he good enough to win the Triple Crown.”

McCraken gets nod to win Kentucky Derby

Many experts are calling this the most wide-open Kentucky Derby in years. When I hear that, I get cynical. Wide open was in 2009 when Mine That Bird destroyed the field at 50-1 odds.

Kentucky Derby week means betting seminars in Las Vegas

The Kentucky Derby attracts the most novice and casual bettors of any race in our sport. With that in mind, there are all kinds of free Derby seminars next week.

Patience is necessary for future bets in horse racing

I love making future bets, not only in horse racing but also other sports. That’s because horseplayers learn a basic tenet early on. Our goal is to bet a little to win a lot.

‘Super Saturday’ should solidify Kentucky Derby field for many horses

When the folks at Churchill Downs dreamed up the Kentucky Derby points system, I was skeptical at first. Not anymore. It has worked by producing fields of in-form horses that, for the most part, are also bred to race two turns.