TRACKMASTER'S COUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDER'S CUP
Part 2 in a six part series from trackmaster.com
Looking Forward to the BC Classic
by James Quinn
Now there will two authentic possibilities and both are three-year-olds.
Not since Devil His Due lumbered home in mid-pack in the mid-nineties has the 4UP handicap division remained so lacklustre. Watching Lemon Drop Kid prevail by a head over Behrens in their duel throughout the long Belmont stretch in the Gr. 1 Woodward Stakes, handicappers could only shrug in mock disbelief when the 1:50 3/5 final-time was posted.
The Gr. 1 event elapsed no less than 17 lengths slower-than-par and the Woodward is contested around one turn. Longshot Gander settled within two lengths of the not-so-dynamic duo and it's difficult to imagine any of those horses earning the $4-million championship.
On the west coast General Challenge has been shelved and the division remains empty of talent.
If Fusaichi Pegasus repeats his impressive Jerome in the Gr. 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4M, the bettors will render him an underlay in the Classic. He may win as an underlay, of course, but he has a worthy opponent who will perform for a much healthier price. It's not Bob Baffert's Captain Steve, who recently won the Gr. 2 Kentucky Cup at Turfway Park going away. Baffert will insist Captain Steve is better than ever, and although that may be true, the 2000 three-year-olds, Fusaichi excepted, can be characterized best as a fast early, slow late bunch. Those 3YOs do not win the BC Classic.
The alternative to Fusaichi Pegasus will come to Churchill Downs from Aidan O'Brien's powerful barn across the pond. He's the remarkable Giant Causeway. Before settling for second on a soft course at Ascot on September 23, Giant Causeway had won five consecutive Group 1 events while facing company superior to the American brand. The 3YO English horse is not only extremely talented, he's extremely tenacious.
It's notably that Ireland's O'Brien had decided to ship Giant Causeway to the BC Classic several weeks ago. He smelled the victory even then. The turf-to-dirt adjustment should not matter and unless this colt is over the top of his form cycle, if he can handle Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant Causeway should be expected to win.
A qualification regarding Lemon Drop Kid is appropos. The 4YO has inevitably been at his best at the classic distance, not at middle distances. Lemon Drop Kid warrants respect in the championship race, but he should not withstand either of the greatly talented spohomores.
Other possibilities on the undersides of the exotics include the 3YOs Captain Steve and Tiznow, as well as any other import that has won or placed in a Gr. 1 event in Europe.
All articles in the series:
- Part 1 - Steve Davidowitz (Distaff, Juvenile Fillies, Mile and Sprint)
- Part 2 - James Quinn (Classic)
- Part 3 - Steve Davidowitz (F/M Turf, Juvenile, Turf, and Classic)
- Part 4 - Tom Brohamer (Distaff)
- Part 5 - James Quinn (Turf)
- Part 6 - James Quinn (Mile)
- Part 7 - Tom Brohamer (Juvenile)
Article courtesy of Trackmaster.com. Breeders' Cup logo courtesy of the Breeders' Cup Limited.
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