Welcome to Breeders' Cup Chat and the second half of the Thoroughbred racing season. The Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" races are well underway and Del Mar and Saratoga are right around the corner. Because of the various divisions and these premier racing meets, in many ways I look forward to the Breeders' Cup more than the Triple Crown.
Though there have many unfortunate injuries that have taken several of our stars away from us in the first half of the season, the 2009 Breeders' Cup promises to be an exciting one. All of the divisions are beginning to take shape thanks to 62 "Win and You're In" races from around the world.
During the next several months we will take an in-depth look at many of the divisions. Just off the top of my head, the Turf with Gio Ponti and Presious Passion, and the Sprint, which could include Fabulous Strike, Benny the Bull, Zenzational and Munnings, have the potential to be very exciting. And European stars such as Goldikova and Sea the Stars will surely thicken the plot at Santa Anita.
As for the Classic, the absence of the nation's best 3-year-old, Rachel Alexandra, will be a downer, but from the looks of things at this moment there are more than a dozen horses with a legitimate shot winning, including undefeated mare Zenyatta, sensational older male Einstein, 3-year-old stars Mine That Bird and Summer Bird, and aforementioned European superstar Sea the Stars.
Since we are still almost four months away and anything can happen, the Classic field is still largely unsettled. But all things remaining equal, I am curious who the consensus pick would be if we had to make a selection today. It's a tough call since we don't know which Europeans will be here and whether horses like Quality Road will round back into form. But it's still fun too where everyones mind is right now.
If I had to pick, right now I would go with Einstein. He fires every time and is already proven over the course. If he stays healthy, he will be tough. I'm interested in seeing who everyone else likes.
In the meantime, if there are any topics you would like to see discussed or any trainers you would like to see interviewed over the next four months please let me know. I'm looking forward to lively discussion and interesting comments from you all.
