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Courtesy of Becky Johnston  Each year when the Breeders' Cup comes around I start thinking about the winners of the past.  So I thought I would take a look at my top three races or winners in the seven core Breeders' Cup races. Breeders' Cup Sprint I know I'm in the minority, but I liked when the sprint started the ...

By Teresa Genaro, Brooklyn Backstretch What agony to be a fan of the distaff side in November of 1988. Root for the undefeated Personal Ensign, who had beaten colts in the Whitney two months earlier? Or root for the Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors? How to choose? Each time I watch the race (available here from The Blood-Horse, ...

By Alan Mann, Left at the Gate I know that Patrick would like to see Curlin disappear. That seems like wishful thinking to me. I believe that Curlin will win the Classic. Actually, he has to win. Forget the Euro horses just for a moment....and this is a field that the champ should handle without too much of a problem in my opinion. I say ...

By Gene Kershner, Equispace So we've had 22 days of racing on the new Pro-Ride surface at the Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita through today and what have we learned. Well for one, it takes a long time to chart the analysis of every synthetic race to see if there are any angles out there. BTW, I was happy to do it and it helped me learn a ...

 By Patrick Patten, Handride Look, I'm on the fence too.  I think Curlin is a horse for the decade:  An absolute monster who has proven his mettle on more than one continent.  He is a horse whose races will be watched years from now, both wins and losses. HOWEVER, I don't believe he's a lock in the Breeders' Cup ...

By Lisa Grimm, Superfectablog There are certainly some reasons to criticize the Breeders' Cup Dirt Marathon. You can argue that it is a misnomer; it isn't even really on dirt, and much of the rest of the racing world finds its mile and a half distance rather less than daunting. You might point out the less-than-stellar field (although it ...

By Alan Mann, Left at the GateAt least the field sizes are fairly manageable on Saturday; just nine go in the Sprint. I'm not proud, I'll take any break I can get. In post position order, with the top contenders all lined up inside: Cost of Freedom has run huge in two races since being claimed by trainer John Sadler. You could have doubted ...

 BREEDERS' CUP INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF BREEDERS' CUP WORLD THOROUGHBRED CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM THE SPORT'S TOP TURF WRITERS Steve Haskin, Evan Hammonds, Lenny Shulman, Tom LaMarra, and Jason Shandler, available for interview trackside at Santa Anita or via telephone.   WHAT:   Top ...

By Valerie GrashEvery horseplayer has their favorite types of races. Personally, I’m a turf buff and, if you give me a juvenile maiden special weight, I’m in heaven. So, while some dread handicapping the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, I’ll dive right in. Recent wire-to-wire Jessamine winner Laragh (Tapit out of El Prado mare) is the ...

By George DoriaI know that trying to change something in racing is like trying to stop the tides. But if I could, there is one regulation I would like to see the industry impose upon itself:  No horse can stand until he is a five-year old. I think this would have a positive ripple effect throughout the industry and here's how. ...