Exciting Classic in Prospect
By Tom Krish

Oct 23 , 2007

Over a breakfast of scrambled eggs, muffins, fruit, bacon, orange juice and coffee, post positions for the 11 Breeders’ Cup races were drawn just before noon on Tuesday at Monmouth Park. In an improvised tent, the racing press marked off the post positions, the riders and the morning line as they were announced. Eleven sheets were provided with pencils. After the ceremony, trainers and jockeys assembled in small groups to take questions.
Monmouth Park wore a festive look. The stable area was scrupulously clean. Vehicular traffic was extremely well regulated. The track was a ‘beauty’. The weather was holding up. It was what people have come to know as ‘Indian summer’. It was warm and the sun was out. It is expected that the track will rule fast and the grass course will be firm.
The European horses started arriving on Monday. The first contingent was in on Monday. The second was due late on Tuesday and Dylan Thomas and the other Aidan O’Brien runners were part of it.

  Dylan Thomas in Arc de Triomphe race

Described as the best field ever brought together, the BC Classic over (dirt) 2,000 metres drew nine runners. Lawyer Ron was made the 5-2 morning line favourite. The four year-old Lawyer Ron is being opposed by several brilliant sophomores. Curlin, the Preakness winner, was made the 3-1 second choice. Also at 3-1 is Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby hero. Any Given Saturday was 4-1. Hard Spun was at 8-1. Tiago, from California, was at 12-1. This is a race with a purse of $5 million. There were no surprises in terms of jockey assignments. George Washington, a non-threatening sixth in the 2006 Classic, is in the field. He is quoted at 20-1. Mick Kinane rides.

Dylan Thomas heads the eight-horse field in the 2,400-metre BC Turf. The Arc winner drew post seven and was installed the 14-10 favourite. John Murtagh has the call. English Channel, America’s best hope, drew post-six and was at 5-2. John Velasquez partners English Channel. Red Rocks, the Turf champion last year, will have post-two and will again be ridden by Frankie Dettori. Red Rocks has been in indifferent form this year. Better Talk Now, the 2004 Turf winner and second in 2006 at Churchill Downs, will leave from post-3 and will have the services of Ramon Dominguez. Red Rocks is 7-2 and Better Talk Now is at 9-2.

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that the Turf race will be the last career race for Dylan Thomas. He will go to Coolmore stud next year.

Reacting to the draw, John Murtagh said, “It is a small enough field. Draw seven is not bad. He has the best form in the race. His form in Europe is great. He will be hard to beat.”

Twelve go postward in the BC Distaff over 1800 metres. Indian Vale, John Velasquez up, is the 3-1 favourite. The second choice at 7-2 is Ginger Punch to be handled by Rafael Bejarano.

There are 14 going postward in the BC (turf) mile. Excellent Art, from O’Brien’s barn, was made the 3-1 pick despite post-13. John Murtagh was declared to ride. At 7-2 is After Market who will have Alex Solis. Jeremy, at 5-1, the European invader, will be ridden by Frankie Dettori. Nobiz Like Shobiz, in form this year, is 8-1 and John Velasquez will be aboard.

In 23 runnings of the BC turf mile, post-13 or post-14 has never won. Monmouth Park has tight turns. It has a 1,400-metre turf oval. In Britain, Excellent Art was eased to 4-1. After Market jumped to favoritism at 7-2.

John Murtagh rides Excellent Art who was second to Ramonti in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and the QE II Stakes at Ascot. Excellent Art won the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in late June. Murtagh put a positive spin on the draw. “He comes from behind. I am told the track is tight. I probably would have liked to be in a bit. I will be riding him (Excellent Art) for the first time. There is more than a furlong before the first turn and that will help.”

Midnight Lute, with Garrett Gomez, is the 2-1 choice in the BC Sprint. Smokey Stover, at 7-2, is the second favourite. There are 11 in this race.

Kentucky Derby Champion Street Sense with jockey Calvin Borel in the saddle

There are 12 distaffers answering the starter’s call in the 2200-metre BC Turf. Nashoba’s Key, a sensation in Caligornia, is a lukewarm 3-1 favourite. Henry Cecil’s Passage Of Time, a flop in the Epsom Oaks, has been on an upward curve and is at 7-2. Ramon Dominguez will ride. Richard Hughes has parted company with Prince Khalid Abdullah, the owner of Passage Of Time. At 9-2 is Honey Ryder, the mount of John Velasquez. Wait A While is at 4-1.

The Juvenile for boys has 13 runners. War Pass is the 5-2 morning line favorite. Tale Of Ekati, a promising sort, is at 7-2 and will have Eibar Coa. This race is over 1,700 metres on the dirt.

The Juvenile fillies’ race over 1,700 metres has 14 of them. Indian Blessing, at 3-1, is the chalk. Garrett Gomez is the rider.

Now we come to the three races that will be run on Friday. Discreet Cat is the 2-1 choice in the BC Dirt over one mile and 70 yards. I cannot figure this out in terms of metres. Discreet Cat lost his unbeaten tag in the Dubai World Cup this year. He ran a satisfactory race in the Vosburgh on the comeback trail. Garrett Gomez rides the Godolphin-owned colt. Corinthian is the 7-2 second pick. There are nine runners. Twelve are in the BC Juvenile Turf over 1,600 metres. Prussian, Kent Desormeaux up, is the 3-1 favorite. Achill Island, from Ireland and with John Murtagh, is the 7-2 second favorite. The Filly-Mare Sprint on Friday has nine runners. Dream Rush is the 2-1 chalk. La Traviata is at 5-2.