Beautiful Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California, would be the ideal location to hold a world championship for Thoroughbred horse racing; it hardly ever rains there and the sun is always quick to shine, the atmosphere is one of elegance and awe-inspiring beauty with the San Gabriel mountains sprawling behind a palm-tree dotted landscape, and the cream of some of America’s top horses and horsemen already reside there; it is a venerable institution for the regal race horse, a palace akin to the Coliseum of racing, with one exception: the track itself.
Attention all dirt horses anticipating the Breeders’ Cup: STAY HOME. If this year’s shooters are any indication as to how bizzare the so-called World Championships will prove to be, there is no Cup on the horizon for any horse with a traditional American dirt background: Gio Ponti, winner of the Arlington Million, the Man o’ War, and Woodford Reserve Manhattan, all Grade I turf races, is headed toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic, not the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Rip Van Winkle, Euro champion invader whose only losses has come to the best horse in Europe, the now-retired Sea the Stars, is headed to the Classic, and not the Turf. Einstein and Mastercraftsman are headed to the Classic, not the Turf. 18-1 longshot Gitano Hernando, the upset winner of the Grade I Goodwood, fended off some of our leading synthetic and dirt horses for the victory, and came from a small European track off an ungraded career record to do so; he is also now targeting the Classic. If it’s any indication as to how BC 2009 will unfold, take a look at BC 2008, a mirror of things to come if Zenyatta should stay with the ladies.
Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who has had victories over Woodbine’s synthetic track, but finished last over his previous start at Santa Anita (in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), managed to finish sixth in the field, but was only 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner. ESPN.com reported his jockey, Calvin Borel, said after the race: “[Mine That Bird] had a perfect trip, but was struggling a bit… I do know one thing: He’s a lot better horse on the dirt. When you ask him here, he gets to struggling instead of just running…” So if Mine That Bird, a horse that could excel over dirt on both dry and sloppy tracks and win at Woodbine, can’t handle the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita, what’s in store for the horses who have never stepped foot on a fake surface, like Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, Summer Bird?
For reference, see Horse of the Year Curlin’s struggle in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year to pass horses he could’ve blown away while blindfolded on a dirt track; he finished fourth, the worse placing in his life, to two European grass horses, and a horse that called Santa Anita home.
In short, if you like dirt horses in the Breeders’ Cup, I’m going to call you crazy. After European grass horses finished 1-2 in 2009’s edition of the Classic, this year, the invasion will prove to blow our American dirt horses to smithereens. And since Euros usually produce the best grass runners in the world, you better be betting on the Union Jack when he rolls into California. It’s sad, but true, this year’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup will prove to be a renewal of invaders descending upon American fake-soil to steal our most prestigious of championships, and it’s all because of the turf-favoring fake dirt. In truth, the only American horses I’m 100% backing in any race at this point is Zensational and Gayego (box them in a 1-2 exacta) for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint; while Zensational hasn’t really been tested in a sprint before, he is so dominant on his home track, you can’t bet against him. Gayego is a force, as he showed in his last start, the Grade I Ancient Title at ‘Anita, where he rallied five-wide to win the race by 1 1/4 lengths.
And then there’s Zenyatta. Three weeks to go to the Breeders’ Cup, and still the verdict hangs as to which she will be pointed: the Classic against males, or the Ladies’ Classic. Either race she runs in, she will most likely be favored, and deservedly so. Last Saturday, the hulking dark mare won her 13th straight race, remaining undefeated and improving off her last start to win by a comfortable 1 ¼ lengths in a hand-ride by regular rider Mike Smith. Adding a little drama to her run around the turn, Zenyatta split horses instead of her usual wide swing around the competition, and in two jumps, had put the hapless field away into distant memory. Here’s hoping this tremendous mare is pit against worthy competition in the Classic, as she will have another easy victory if she is to face the girls again. As the Breeders’ Cup will surely prove to be her career bow, it’s the least the Mosses can do to reward Zenyatta’s loyal public, and to score a big one for America, who is really the underdog in this year’s Championships.