Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf comes our way from Santa Anita Park this Saturday, November 3. The top grass horses three years old and upward will go 1 1/2 miles on Santa Anita's turf course as they chase their share of the incredible $3 million purse.
A full field of 12 has been confirmed for race 9 on Santa Anita jammed Saturday schedule. Post time is 3:18 PM. Let's take a look at the past performances of all 12 entries ahead of this most important Grade 1 race.
2012 Breeders' Cup Turf Race Favorites
Point of Entry - is one of the premier grass horses in the nation and has won five straight races with relative ease heading into the Breeders' Cup - six of his last seven including the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last time out, the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, the Grade 1 Man o`War Stakes on July 14 and the Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 27. Before that he won an Allowance at Keeneland March 12 and he finished fourth and first respectively in Allowance races at Gulfstream. Point of Entry is in terrific form and figures to be the favorite Saturday.
St. Nicholas Abbey - Graded stakes winner that won the Emirate Airline Breeders' Cup Turf in 2011. He also finished third in the Dubai Sheema Classic March 31 of this year. Needless to say St. Nicholas Abbey loves Dubai! He raced to two straight third place finishes before an eleventh last time out in a Group 1 Stakes in Ireland. He makes his North American debut Saturday but is not in the greatest form despite being named second choice for the Turf.
Breeders' Cup Turf 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Shareta - Irish bred filly has two wins, two seconds and a third place finish in six starts overseas this year including a win and a second in a pair of Group 1 Stakes and a second in a Group 2 Stakes. Last time out was a disappointing ninth in a Group 1 Stakes at Longchamp October 7.
Trailblazer - Japanese entry that had 20 starts in Japan before debuting in North America with an impressive second in the Grade 2 Arroyo Seco Mile here October 6. Trailblazer has six wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 21 career starts.
Slim Shadey - had looked good before a fifth as favorite in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth on July 7 and another fifth in the Grade 1 Eddie Read. Last time out was an impressive win in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here September 30 to add to some other good 2012 results - three straight second place finishes including the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham to Acclamation, in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 San Luis Stakes on March 25. Slim Shadey has been up and down but his win last time out has opened a few eyes ahead of the Breeders' Cup.
Little Mike - has won six of his last nine races with a fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic his worst result in the last 20 months. He also had a fourth in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream on March 3 and a third in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on June 30. Included in the wins are the Grade 1 Arlington Millions, Grade 1 Turf Classic Stakes from Churchill Downs on May 5 and the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes in January this year. Little Mike is a serious threat in any race - this one included.
Treasure Beach - raced most of his career in Europe and had some good results there including a win in the Irish Derby. In his North American debut last year, Treasure Beach looked terrific in winning the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park and was good in his second race as well - a third at the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine in October. He has six starts in 2012 with just one good result - a second last time out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf September 29 - the only time he has placed this year.
Breeders' Cup Turf betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com
Dullahan - finished third in the Kentucky Derby to follow up a win at the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 14. He finished a disappointing seventh in the Belmont Stakes and then raced to another disappointing finish - a fifth in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 29. Dullahan came on and won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic two back but was fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap October 6. He is a tad inconsistent but when he puts it all together he can definitely be a force. That said, he doesn't seem to be in the best form ahead of the Breeders' Cup.
Cogito - had two wins and a second in four starts overseas before debuting with a fourth in his North American debut at the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park October 6.
Turbo Compressor - had an incredibly poor ninth in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga August 18 but rebounded last time out with a second in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here September 30. Before that Turbo Compressor had two straight wins- the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth July 7 and the minor Colonial Cup Turf in June. He can look so good at times but so bad at others. Todd Pletcher hopes his pupil can shake the inconsistency Saturday and bring home a huge win.
Optimizer - finished eleventh in the Kentucky Derby, sixth in the Preakness and tenth in the Belmont Stakes and finished the fourth in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby after that. He has won two straight ahead of the Breeders' Cup however - the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park last time out and an Allowance Optional Claiming before that.
Kindergarden Kid - won the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes last time out after a pair of decent thirds - at the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Invitational and the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf before that. The Michael Maker gelding has nine starts in 2012 with just one win (last time out), two seconds and four third place finishes.
