2010 Breeders' Cup Classic Top Contenders
by Patricia Woo | Nov 1 2010
The Breeders' Cup Classic is one of the most anticipated events on the horse racing calendar. This year, the event will be hosted by Churchill Downs in Lexington, Ky., and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 6 as the marquee race on the second day of the Breeders' Cup. This year's race boasts a wealth of top contenders - and even with the lineup still to be finalized with under a week to go, the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic will be a historic event.
Defending champion Zenyatta is the top contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 6-year-old mare has tied the modern North American record for most consecutive wins at 19 and will be seeking a record-breaking 20th straight victory in the Classic. Notable wins this year for the John Shirreffs trainee include the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 7 and the Lady's Secret Stakes at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park on Oct. 2, both grade 1 races. Zenyatta has a powerful finishing kick that has served her well over her racing career; the only uncertainty is whether she will handle Churchill Down's conventional dirt track as well as she has handled synthetic racing surfaces. The daughter of Street Cry has a final workout scheduled at Hollywood Park Oct. 30 before shipping to Kentucky on Nov. 2.
Dual Eclipse Award-winning Gio Ponti, the 2009 champion male turf runner, has been pre-entered in the Classic as his first choice - a surprise move by his connections, who had been thought to have been favoring the shorter and turf-based Breeders' Cup Mile. The 5-year-old son of Tale of the Cat had finished second in the Classic last year behind Zenyatta, but that race took place on Santa Anita's synthetic Pro-Ride surface. He had cut back in distance after finishing second in the 1 ¼ mile Gr. 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 21 and triumphed in the 1 mile Gr. 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 9. Even after Gio Ponti's 5-furlong workout in 1.03.58 over the turf track at Belmont Park on Oct. 24, a final decision has yet to be made, according to trainer Christophe Clement.
Gio Ponti is not the only turf champion to cross divisions in favor of the Classic: 3-year-old Paddy O'Prado, who has been sensational with a trio of grass-run victories this year, will also be contesting the Classic, according to trainer Dale Romans. Romans also trains another 3-year-old contender, First Dude, who has finished second or third in each of his last six races.
Other 3-year-olds in the mix include Bob Baffert's Lookin at Lucky, whose victories include the Gr. 1 Preakness Stakes and the Gr. 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes; and Fly Down, trained by Nick Zito, who finished third in the Gr. 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup versus older horses.
Among the older horses in contention are Quality Road, who will be fresh after his Gr. 1 Woodward Stakes victory in September; Haynesfield, who surprised many with his win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup; and Blame, winner of the Gr. 1 Whitney Handicap in August.
One horse not to overlook is the underrated Musket Man, a 4-year-old son of Yonaguska trained by Derek Ryan. With speedsters First Dude and Quality Road confirmed for the race, Musket Man - who has finished in the top three in his last six races - may have just the conditions he needs to finally break into the winner's circle.
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