It was a tale of two coasts Sunday morning. On the west coast, an invigorating chill in the air; a bright blue, cloudless sky; the San Gabriel mountains so clear and sharp it was as if you could reach out and touch them; hundreds people gathered at Clocker's Corner as dozens upon dozens of horses decked out in Breeders' Cup saddle towels charged by, either working or galloping....

He's not brilliant and he doesn't have much speed, but if you are looking for a monster longshot to play around with in the Breeders' Cup Classic, you might want to consider Brilliant Speed....

William Hill is dangling a carrot out there and is just daring American punters to go for it. And if you don’t like carrots, just think of Game On Dude’s 7-1 odds for the Breeders’ Cup Classic as chocolate cake or a slice of pizza....

It's obvious no one is stepping up to claim the title that is totally up for grabs and no doubt won't be decided until the free for all that will be the Breeders' Cup Classic. ...

While I'm still attempting to digest the bizarre fare that was fed us on Nov. 4 and 5, I'll post my Blood-Horse magazine Classic recap until I can figure out just why so many people left this so-called championship smorgasbord hungrier than when they went in. Instead of Uncle Mo we got Uncle Drosselmeyer, who presented everyone with quite a nutcracker. We're still picking up the shells....

Steve Haskin lists a surprising No. 1 in his Classic rankings...

It is safe to say that never before have three consecutive graded stakes on a single card – at a mile, 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares, and 1 1/4 miles - produced the three favorites for the Breeders' Cup Classic. ...

This column has nothing to do with the defection of Tizway from next Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup, as disappointing as it was, or the horses that will be competing in the mile and a quarter event, even though at this point a good portion of the field appears as if it will be made of horses more likely to point for the BC Marathon. The column is about the Gold Cup’s influence on the Breeders’ Cup Classic and how to approach the race, as prestigious as it is, with the Classic in mind....

Let's be honest, this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) needs a boost, especially with Zenyattamania and even a double dose of Curlin still fresh in everyone's mind....

This is one time logic should be thrown out the proverbial window. Yes, it makes more sense for Uncle Mo to point for the Kelso mile and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. But if he does go that route, then all one can say is, big deal....

With darkening skies creating an almost surreal atmosphere, Blame and Zenyatta put on a show for the ages in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Classic. ...

With a number of question marks regarding this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) hopefuls, why shouldn't the connections of Gio Ponti give the Classic serious consideration?...

So, Quality Road is back on track and headed to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)....

Let's face it; the 2009 Breeders' Cup will forever belong to Zenyatta. She picked it up off the ground and raised it over her head like Atlas holding up the world. No burden has proven too great for this magnificent mare, and you can bet people will be watching her swan song in the Breeders' Cup Classic for decades to come and will be getting goose bumps every time they do. ...

The day after the 1987 Preakness Stakes, I stopped at a service area on I-95 in Maryland on my way back home from the Preakness and called Jack Van Berg, asking if I could do a feature on him for the Thoroughbred Times, which had only been in existence for about a year. I had never met Van Berg, who was on top of the world at the time and who looked like a sure bet to saddle racing's next Triple Crown winner following Alysheba's impressive victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness....

How does one even begin to comment on this year's wild and crazy Breeders' Cup? Pro-Ride form, the absence of any injuries, the filly phenomena, the European butt-whipping, Santa Anita, Horse of the Year, ESPN's new camera shots? That's just for starters....

Volponi's victory will always be one of the special moments I've experienced in racing. Not only did I love him in the race and pick him in my final column, I also touted him as my best bet of the entire Breeders' Cup and was the only one to select him on a Chicago radio show. As I ended my column..."I'll leave you with one word: Volponi!"...

With the unfortunate retirement of Big Brown, the Breeders' Cup pre-entries, a weekly column to write, and preparation for the Classic occupying most of my time this week, I thought, because of the interest shown in Invasor on my last blog and in several recent e-mails, I would reprint two stories (a commentary and parts of my Classic recap)....

A look at the leading North American sires list shows Tiznow ranked No. 2 and Giant's Causeway No. 3. What else is new? They wouldn't have it any other way....

Actually, I have nothing concrete to back that up other than a line from a movie. And it sounded like a good head. But, really, when Jess Jackson opened the door after the Woodward, saying he's going to have trainers like Dick Mandella keep him informed about the Santa Anita surface, it gave racing fans a ray of hope that maybe it could happen....

This is about the three choices for Big Brown's prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic -- an undetermined grass race at Belmont Park, the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, or the Clement Hirsch Turf Championship at Santa Anita the same day....

I don't know how I feel anymore. I hate to become too wrapped up in all this Curlin vs. Big Brown banter and then have it all become moot when they go their separate ways. If it turns out to be nothing but idle chatter, then what good did it do other than provide us with amusement or indignation, depending on how you reacted to it?...

OK, I've finally figured it out. I have figured out how to deal with this year's and next year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita as it relates to Eclipse Awards. ...