Steve Crist put it very well in DRF: While only one championship will be determined on Friday, the BC races presented that day are wide open gambling affairs with big fields which almost guarantee decent mutuels for both horizontal and vertical wagers.
I think whoever makes such decisions wasted an opportunity to provide horseplayers with an all BC pick 5 beginning with the Marathon. At first glance I wanted to ignore the race, but it is rather irresistible-- 10 starters who made their last start at 9 different venues, some regional trainers, a NY bred who has been slumming at some small English tracks. Eldaafer, the 2010 winner of this race who had raced in the Marathon the last 4 years, will not be there. Showing how canny the morning line maker is, Ever Rider, an Argentinian with a very modest resume, has been made 7/2 fave under Gary Stevens (we wont get fooled by a South American import again, right guys?) I like Hollendorfer\'s Blueskiesnrainbows (6/1, Pedroza) a bit based on his Santa Anita experience, but he looks like a need to lead sort in a race which has others who want the front.
The two Juvie turf races pose the same two problems: (a) The Lasix off issue makes playing these races more gambling than horseplaying and (b) only one Euro runner in the 2 races (Chriselliam in the Juvie Filly Turf) has raced at a distance of a mile or longer. Giovanni Boldini, second favored in the Juvie Turf, has never won on grass. Bottom line, as good and as fast as Bobby\'s Kitten and Testa Rossi look, they both go sans Lasix, and less appealing looking Euro\'s
are hard to ignore, as always.
The Dirt Mile looks straightforward to me: Goldencents likes Santa Anita, seems to be versatile in terms of running style, and now has the services of an accomplished pilot. Golden was second twice at 6 furlongs to the deceased Points offthe Bench, who may have gone favored in the BC Sprint. The runner I will be watching is Brujo de Olleros, who was rumored to be the second coming of Invasor upon his arrival in America. In winning a GR 1 stake on January 6 at Maronas in Uruguay, BDO broke a track record at the mile distance which stood for 75 years.
The real reason to like BDO is his second in the Kelso to Graydar, who looked and ran outstanding that day at Belmont. Hymn Book will be closing as always. Verrazano faces the toughest field of his career and offers no value to this horseplayer.
The Distaff will be a test of the champion mare Royal Delta. Was the Beldame defeat an intentional bounce engineered by master trainer Mott? How will the cat and mouse game between Smith and Stevens (Beholder) play out? How good is Princess of Sylmar? The hope here is that these three are equally bet in the horizontals.
A great tray of appetizers on Friday, and best luck to Jimmy C. A feast on Saturday. Bon appetit.
