For racing fans, there are weekends to like and weekends to love — this weekend is definitely one of the latter. In addition to a bevy of Breeders’ Cup preps at Belmont Park on Saturday, the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita kicks off with a series of California Cup races and racing returns to the Windy City with the 73rd running of the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup at Hawthorne Racecourse.
And, if that’s not enough, on Sunday, what many have called the “greatest race in the world” is scheduled to take place at Longchamp in Paris, France, where Sea the Stars seeks to become the 13th three-year-old since 1994 to win the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
So, without any more unnecessary verbiage, let’s take a closer look at some of this weekend’s marquee events:
6th Belmont Park (10/3): Beldame (Grade 1)
1-Captain’s Lover
1A-Unbridled Belle
2-Music Note
3-Copper State
4-With Flying Colors
COMMENTS: This race looks like a bridge jumper’s delight, as MUSIC NOTE is sure to get pounded at the windows after recording a career-best 107 Beyer figure and -8 LSR in her latest start, the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 29. Still, there are some other talented females in this field, including the underrated COPPER STATE, who earned a 92 Beyer and -4 LSR in her most recent outing.
10th Belmont Park (10/3): Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade 1)
1-Sette E Mezzo
2-Macho Again
3-Summer Bird
4-Tizway
5-Asiatic Boy
6-Dry Martini
7-Quality Road
COMMENTS: The winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup is sure to be one of the favorites in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic — and with good reason. Two of 2009’s top three-year-olds — SUMMER BIRD and QUALITY ROAD — along with one the year’s most consistent older males — MACHO AGAIN — have been entered in the 1 1/4-mile test. Of course, I’ll be rooting for Quality Road, who I still believe is one of the best horses on the planet.
7th Hawthorne (10/3): Hawthorne Gold Cup (Grade 2)
1-Brothers Nicholas (20/1 morning line)
2-Stonehouse (20/1)
3-Awesome Gem (7/2)
4-Jonesboro (5/2)
5-Lowther Street (15/1)
6-Nite Light (9/2)
7-Shadowbdancing (8/1)
8-Alcomo (15/1)
9-You and I Forever (12/1)
10-Eldaafer (8/1)
11-Going Ballistic (12/1)
COMMENTS: I’m not a big fan of the Illinois jockey colony when it comes to setting sensible fractions — witness Gran Esterno’s :52-2/5 opening half-mile in the recent Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park — so watch the clock in the Gold Cup. SHADOWBDANCING can be very tough on the front end, but the son of Montbrook will need some help from other riders to fend off a veteran stakes winner like JONESBORO, the 5-2 morning-line favorite who beat him in the Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows on June 27. Other stretch-running contenders include Darley Stables’ improving LOWTHER STREET (93 Beyer, -2 late speed ration in an allowance win at Saratoga on Sept. 6) and ELDAAFER (fourth in the aforementioned Washington Park Handicap on Sept. 5).
6th Santa Anita Park (10/3): California Cup Classic Cup
1-Bold Chieftain
2-Star Nicholas
3-Grazen
4-Lethal Heat
5-Blackbriar
6-One Chin Again
COMMENTS: While I’m a big fan of GRAZEN, his latest effort in the El Cajon Stakes (98 Beyer, -5 LSR) makes me think he could be vulnerable on Saturday. Hence, I’ll probably be casting my lot — and a few sawbucks — with STAR NICHOLAS, who recently captured the Windy Sands in very impressive fashion (95 Beyer, +4 LSR).
5th Longchamp (10/4): Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
1-Youmzain (25/1 in early betting)
2-Conduit (9/1)
3-Vision D´Etat (14/1)
4-Magadan (100/1)
5-The Bogberry (250/1)
6-Steele Tango (500/1)
7-Getaway (22/1)
8-Tullamore (500/1)
9-Hot Six (200/1)
10-Dar Re Mi (22/1)
11-Tangaspeed (500/1)
12-La Boum (300/1)
13-Beheshtam (33/1)
14-Set Sail (500/1)
15-Fame And Glory (5/1)
16-Cavalryman (12/1)
17-Johann Zoffany (300/1)
18-Grand Ducal (300/1)
19-Sea The Stars (4/5)
20-Stacelita (14/1)
CLICK HERE to see the "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 1988-2008" PDF
COMMENTS: Three-year-olds in winning form have held the key to Arc success in recent years, as 12 of the past 15 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe champions have been members of the sophomore set. Of those, only Peintre Celebre (in 1997) and Bago (in 2004) lost their final preps. Even more interesting is the fact that, in the past 10 years, nine Arc winners were favored in their previous start — Marienbard being the lone exception.
Obviously, all of this bodes well for Europe’s reining sophomore king, SEA THE STARS, who has been made an early 4-5 favorite in Sunday’s big race. However, keep an eye on VISION D’ETAT as well. His last race was better than it looks on paper and, at 14-1, he offers the kind of value that the favorite doesn’t. Other contenders include YOUMZAIN, CONDUIT, DAR RE MI, BEHESHTAM, CAVALRYMAN and the undefeated filly (thanks to the stewards) STACELITA.
For more on this year’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, be sure to listen to this week’s “Simon Says” podcast, which features handicapping author (and resident of France) Mark Cramer.
Currently a full-time freelance business/sports writer, Derek has been published by Motley Fool, Newsmax, Dulcinea Media, iStockAnalyst, Beacon Equity Research and a host of other online and offline venues.
The opinions of Youbet Update writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Youbet.com or its subsidiaries.