On Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park, the Breeders’ Cup will celebrate its 40th running.
The inaugural Breeders’ Cup also was held in Southern California. The track: Hollywood Park. The date: November 10, 1984. At that time I was a Daily Racing Form columnist and reporter at the Southern California tracks.
Where does the time go? How is it possible that four decades have passed since I was sitting next to legendary turf writer Joe Hirsch in the Hollywood Park press box when Chief’s Crown won the Juvenile, the first of the seven Breeders’ Cup races that day? I’ll never forget how weird it seemed to be witnessing a $1 million race at 11:15 in the morning.
In the final Breeders’ Cup race that afternoon, there was a wild three-horse battle down to the finish in the Classic. Wild Again, ridden by Pat Day, won what turned out to be a controversial race by a head at 31-1. Gate Dancer finished second, a half-length in front of Slew o’ Gold. There was a stewards’ inquiry. Gate Dancer was disqualified and placed third for “causing severe interference in the final sixteenth,” chart-caller Warren Williams wrote in his DRF chart comments for the Classic.
Owned by Black Chip Stable and trained by Vincent Timphony, Wild Again was supplemented to the BC Classic for a fee of $350,000. The 4-year-old colt earned $1.35 million.
In time, more Breeders’ Cup races were added to those original seven in 1984. There have been 14 Breeders’ Cup contests over a two-day period in recent years, which again will be the case this fall.
Santa Anita will be serving as the Breeders’ Cup venue this year for a record 11th time. As usual, the two days of competition will showcase a multitude of stars, both equine and human, as well as both foreign and domestic.
I’m especially looking forward to these 20 horses (currently considered probable entrants) at this year’s Breeders’ Cup. The 20 horses are listed below alphabetically:
ARABIAN KNIGHT IN THE CLASSIC. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Arabian Knight won Del Mar’s Grade I Pacific Classic by a neck at 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 2 in his most recent start.
A 3-year-old colt by 2010 BC Juvenile winner Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight made history in terms of having the fewest prior starts by a Pacific Classic winner since the race was introduced in 1991. Going into the Pacific Classic, Arabian Knight had raced just three times.
A $2.3 million auction purchase, Arabian Knight has been highly regarded at the Baffert barn since day one.
Arabian Knight’s Pacific Classic performance produced a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. It was his first triple-digit Beyer.
It is probably going to take a Beyer higher than 101 to win the BC Classic. But as lightly raced as Arabian Knight is, he certainly has a right to improve on that 101.
ARCANGELO IN THE CLASSIC. Trained by Jena Antonucci, Arcangelo was winless in two starts last year at 2. After finishing third while making his 2023 debut in January, the 3-year-old Arrogate ridging has reeled off four consecutive victories.
Arcangelo won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park in March, the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park in May, the Grade I Belmont Stakes in June and Saratoga’s Grade I Travers Stakes in August.
Talk about an improving Beyer Speed Figure pattern. After Arcangelo recorded only a 53 Beyer at first asking, his figures have been 70, 84, 97, 102, then 105.
What really has impressed me about Arcangelo in the Belmont and Travers was the acceleration he displayed in upper stretch. In the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, he spurted away from the pack in upper stretch to have a 3 1/2-length lead with a furlong to go. In the 1 1/4-mile Travers, he again separated himself from the field in upper stretch to sport a three-length advantage at the eighth pole.
It appeared to me that after Arcangelo was so well clear a furlong out in both the Belmont and Travers, he lost a bit of focus, as many top horses will do when seeming to have put the competition away. His lead decreased in the final furlong of both races. He won the Belmont by 1 1/2 lengths, the Travers by one length.
How about this? Arcangues pulled off a shocking 133-1 upset in the 1993 BC Classic at Santa Anita. Are we going to see another horse with the same first five letters in his name win the 2023 BC Classic at Santa Anita?
I do think Arcangelo has a very good chance to win this year’s BC Classic. If he does, he will be following in the footsteps of his sire, Arrogate, as a BC Classic winner.
In the 2016 BC Classic, 3-year-old Arrogate generated a powerful late kick to run down California Chrome in the final sixteenth. Arrogate prevailed by a half-length in a thriller. Arrogate was coming off a spectacular record-breaking win in the Travers. California Chrome was six for six in 2016 before losing the BC Classic to Arrogate.
AUGUSTE RODIN IN THE TURF. What fascinates me about Auguste Rodin in the $4 million BC Turf is it’s been an “all or nothing” campaign for him in five starts this year. The 3-year-old colt by Japanese Triple Crown winner Deep Impact has three European Group I victories so far in 2023. But in both of Auguste Rodin’s two losses this year, he didn’t just get beat, they were poor performances.
In his 2023 debut, Auguste Rodin lost by 21 3/4 lengths when finishing 12th in the Group I English Two Thousand Guineas. He then rebounded to win the 244th running of the prestigious Group I English Derby on June 3.
Auguste Rodin followed his Epsom Derby success by winning the Group I Irish Derby on July 2 for super trainer Aidan O’Brien. But in his next start, Auguste Rodin was eased home when facing older foes for the first time in the Group I King George IV and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 29.
After his King George debacle, Auguste Rodin bounced back to win the Group I Irish Champion Stakes vs. his elders on Sept. 9.
Auguste Rodin’s sire, a Group I Japan Cup winner in addition to achieving Triple Crown glory, is a son of 1989 BC Classic winner Sunday Silence.
Will the “good” or “bad” Auguste Rodin show up in this year’s BC Turf? That is the $4 million question, isn’t it?
CODY’S WISH IN THE DIRT MILE. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Cody’s Wish has been a marvelous feel-good story in horse racing during trying times for the sport.
As you probably know, Cody’s Wish is named after Cody Dorman, a teenager who has a rare genetic disorder known as Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. As a result of the syndrome, Dorman uses a wheelchair and communicates via a tablet.
In 2018, while on a visit to Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky sponsored by the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and Keeneland, Dorman met a young Curlin colt. The two hit it off, with the colt going so far as to lay his head on Dorman’s lap. The colt later was named Cody’s Wish in Dorman’s honor.
In his final 2022 start, Cody’s Wish captured the Grade I BC Dirt Mile at Keeneland. In his first two starts of 2023, he won the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs by 4 3/4 lengths and the Grade I Met Mile by 3 1/4 lengths at Belmont.
Sent off as a 2-5 favorite in Saratoga’s Grade I Whitney Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 5, Cody’s Wish lost by 10 1engths when he finished third. Afterward, Mott said that Cody’s Wish would not target the BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles. Mott said Cody’s Wish would instead seek a title defense in the shorter BC Dirt Mile.
Cody’s Wish is a perfect seven for seven when competing in a race at one mile.
EXAULTED IN THE MILE. Exaulted will have his work cut out for him vs. foreign invaders in the BC Mile. But I consider him to be a superfecta candidate.
After not racing on the turf in his first 11 career starts, Exaulted rattled off four straight victories on Santa Anita’s grass course earlier this year. His most noteworthy wins came in the Grade III American Stakes on April 2 and Grade I Shoemaker Mile on Sept. 2.
When last seen under silks, Exaulted finished second to Du Jour as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade II Del Mar Mile. But the 6-year-old son of Twirling Candy got bogged in traffic that day and actually did well to finish second.
Trained by a red-hot Peter Eurton, Exaulted figures to appreciate a return to Santa Anita’s turf course, a surface on which he’s never tasted defeat.
GEAUX ROCKET RIDE IN THE CLASSIC. The score between Arabian Knight and Geaux Rocket Ride is 1-1. Their rubber match is scheduled to take place in America’s richest race, the $6 million BC Classic.
Geaux Rocket Ride won Monmouth Park’s Grade I Haskell Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at 1 1/8 miles on July 22. Arabian Knight finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind Geaux Rocket Ride. It’s important to note that was Arabian Knight’s first start since Jan. 28.
Arabian Knight then turned the tables on Geaux Rocket Ride in the longer Pacific Classic. Arabian Knight won by a neck as the $2.10 to $1 favorite. This time Geaux Rocket Ride had to settle for second as the $2.20 second choice in the wagering.
Hall of Famer Richard Mandella trains Geaux Rocket Ride, a 3-year-old Candy Ride colt.
Never underestimate Mandella at the Breeders’ Cup.
The Breeders’ Cup was a one-day event in 1993. Mandella won two of the seven Breeders’ Cup races, the Juvenile Fillies with Phone Chatter and the Turf with Kotashaan. Mandella also won a pair of undercard stakes race, the Smile Handicap with Memo and Skywalker Handicap with Region.
In 2003, the Breeders’ Cup was still a one-day extravaganza, but now it consisted of eight races. Mandella enjoyed a Breeders’ Cup for the ages as a trainer, winning four Breeders’ Cup races -- the Juvenile with Action this Day, the Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled, the Turf with Johar (who dead-heated with High Chaparral) and the Classic with Pleasantly Perfect.
IDIOMATIC IN THE DISTAFF. Trained by Brad Cox, Idiomatic will take a four-race winning streak into the BC Distaff. Not only that, the big 4-year-old Curlin filly has won seven of her last eight.
In her most recent start, Idiomatic registered a front-running 4 1/4-length victory in Keeneland’s Grade I Spinster Stakes on Oct. 8. At Saratoga on Aug. 25, she led from start to finish on a sloppy track and prevailed by four lengths.
Idiomatic is at the top of her game and will try to follow in her sire’s footsteps as a Breeders’ Cup winner. As noted earlier, Curlin (a two-time Horse of the Year) won the 2007 BC Classic.
LOCKED IN THE JUVENILE. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Locked looked terrific at second asking when he won a one-mile maiden special weight contest by 7 1/4 lengths at Saratoga. He then posted a half-length victory in Keeneland’s Grade I Breeders’ Futurity in which he had a wide trip.
I view Locked as being a very good 2-year-old who is quite capable of winning the BC Juvenile. He recorded a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in his maiden win. After Locked originally received an 87 Beyer in the Breeders’ Futurity, his figure was retroactively raised to a 92 due to the official final time of the race being revised from 1:45.06 to 1:44.62.
Locked’s sire, Gun Runner, won the 2017 BC Classic on his way to being voted the 2017 Horse of the Year.
MOTORIOUS IN THE TURF SPRINT. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Motorious is an excellent grass sprinter. He won Santa Anita’s Grade III San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf down the hill May 5 at Santa Anita, then was a fast-closing second to Nobals in Churchill’s Grade II Twin Spires Turf Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs on May 6.
Motorious has raced once since his trip to Louisville. There was some question whether the 5-year-old Great Britain-bred Muhaarar gelding could get up going only five furlongs on the turf in Del Mar’s Grade III Green Flash Handicap on Sept. 2. Seventh early in the field of 12, he uncorked a burst of speed in the stretch to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths. That shows what he’s capable of doing in a five-furlong grass dash like the BC Turf Sprint.
MUTH IN THE JUVENILE. A $2 million auction purchase trained by Bob Baffert, Muth zipped the first quarter-mile in :21 and change and won a five-furlong maiden special weight race by 8 3/4 lengths when unveiled at Santa Anita on June 18.
Pounded down to 1-2 favoritism when making his next start in Del Mar’s Grade II Best Pal Stakes, Muth again sped the opening quarter in :21 and change. But this time he got into a spirited early duel with Tranche, whereas Muth had an uncontested early lead in his debut. Muth could not keep up with fellow Baffert trained Prince of Monaco in the final furlong of the Best Pal. Prince of Monaco won by 4 1/4 lengths. Muth finished second.
Sent to New York for the Grade I Hopeful Stakes on Sept. 4, Muth was scratched and shipped back to Southern California. He then won Santa Anita’s Grade I American Pharoah Stakes on Oct. 7 in a performance that certainly makes him a major player in the BC Juvenile.
Unlike his first two races in which he showed keen early speed, Muth settled nicely off the pace in fourth through the early stages of the American Pharoah. He took the lead in upper stretch and drew off to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths. That gave Muth a stylish victory on the same oval that he will be running on in the BC Juvenile.
The Beyer Speed Figures for Muth have been 90, 93 and 91.
A son of Good Magic and the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa, Muth has quite a lot of Breeders’ Cup blood coursing through his veins, so to speak.
Good Magic, winner of the 2017 BC Juvenile, is a son of 2007 BC Classic winner Curlin. As noted earlier, Uncle Mo won the 1010 BC Juvenile.
Baffert has five BC Juvenile victories to his credit, putting him in a tie with fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas for the most victories by a trainer in this race. Baffert’s five BC Juvenile winners have been Vindication in 2002, Midshipman in 2008, New Year’s Day in 2013, Game Winner in 2018 and Corniche in 2021.
OPERA SINGER IN THE JUVENILE FILLIES TURF. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Opera Singer looked sensational when winning the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium by five emphatic lengths at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 1.
Opera Singer is by Justify, who swept America’s Triple Crown in 2018.
I have been to one Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. That was in 1984. Sagace won the Arc that year. Sadler’s Wells finished eighth in the 1984 Arc and went on to become one of the world’s greatest sires. Sadler’s Wells is the sire of Liscanna, Opera Singer’s dam.
PRACTICAL MOVE IN THE DIRT MILE OR CLASSIC. Trained by Tim Yakteen, Practical Move won this year’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby. He was my top pick to win the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, the Practical Joke colt spiked a temperature and was forced to miss the Run for the Roses.
Practical Move did not race from the April 8 Santa Anita Derby until winning a one-mile allowance/optional claiming contest in facile fashion by four lengths on Oct. 6. I think that sets him up nicely for either the BC Dirt Mile or BC Classic.
With all due respect to Cody’s Wish, I would not be surprised if Practical Move wins the BC Dirt Mile if that’s where his connections opt to run him.
PRINCE OF MONACO IN THE JUVENILE. Prince of Monaco won the Grade I Del Mar Futurity as a 1-20 favorite in his most recent start on Sept. 10 to remain undefeated in three starts.
A $950,000 auction purchase, Prince of Monaco recorded an 81 Beyer Speed Figure when he debuted with a ridiculously easy eight-length win as a 1-20 favorite on July 9 at Los Alamitos. His Beyer soared to a 103 when he won Del Mar’s Grade II Best Pal Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths while defeating odds-on favorite Muth from the Bob Baffert barn.
Prince of Monaco’s Beyer Speed Figure dropped to an 87 in the Del Mar Futurity. Nevertheless, his 103 Beyer in the Best Pal remains the highest figure by a 2-year-old male or female in 2023 through Oct. 17. In fact, no other 2-year-old has recorded a triple-digit Beyer yet this year. The second-best Beyer by a juvenile through Oct. 17 is Locked’s 96 in his Saratoga maiden tally.
A Kentucky-bred Speightstown colt, Prince of Monaco provided Baffert with his 17th victory in the Del Mar Futurity, a tremendous achievement.
Baffert’s Del Mar Futurity winners have been Silver Charm in 1996, Souvenir Copy in 1997, Worldly Manner in 1998, Forest Camp in 1999, Flame Thrower in 2000, Officer in 2001, Icecoldbeeratreds in 2002, Midshipman in 2008, Lookin At Lucky in 2009, Drill in 2011, Rolling Fog in 2012, American Pharoah in 2014, Klimt in 2016, Game Winner in 2018, Pinehurst in 2021, Cave Rock in 2022 and Prince of Monaco in 2023.
No trainer has won any of the current Grade I races in this country more than Baffert’s 17 Del Mar Futurity victories.
In fact, outside the U.S., only won trainer has won a Group I race 17 times. That would be Aidan O’Brien’s 17 victories in the Group I Phoenix Stakes in Ireland.
SAUDI CROWN IN THE CLASSIC. Saudi Crown will run in the BC Classic and not the BC Dirt Mile, according to trainer Brad Cox.
Brad Free lists Arcangelo as the 7-2 favorite in his Daily Racing Form odds for the Classic. Arabian Knight is next at 4-1, followed by Geaux Rocket Ride at 5-1.
Arcangelo’s most recent three Beyers are 97, then 102, then 105.
Arabian Knight’s most recent three Beyers are 96, then 95, then 101.
Geaux Rocket Ride’s most recent three Beyers are 90, then 100, then 101.
Saudi Crown’s most recent three Beyers are 106, then 105, 105.
Despite those three robust Beyers recorded by Saudi Crown, Free pegged his BC Classic odds at 20-1 last week. Free’s odds for Saudi Crown have been lowered this week to 15-1. I think that both Free and David Aragona do an excellent job making the DRF’s BC odds. But in my opinion, even 15-1 might well prove to be quite a bit higher than Saudi Crown’s odds at race time.
This year will be the eighth time that I make the official morning lines for the Breeders’ Cup. I previously have performed this task in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2021.
Yes, Saudi Crown has yet to race farther than 1 1/8 miles and will be stretching out to 1 1/4 miles in the BC Classic. But his Beyers of 106, 105 and 105 are likely to garner him more than a little backing by horseplayers in the BC Classic. Beyer Speed Figures generally have a big impact on a horse’s odds.
At this point, while the DRF has Saudi Crown at 15-1, the highest I could possibly consider making him is 12-1. And to be perfectly frank, inasmuch as Saudi Crown’s last three Beyers are higher than those for contenders Arabian Knight and Geaux Rocket Ride, I am more inclined to make Saudi Crown 10-1 or possibly even 8-1.
TAMARA IN THE JUVENILE FILLIES. The horse I am the most excited to see at this year’s Breeders’ Cup is Tamara after her scintillating performance for trainer Richard Mandella in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante.
When unveiled at Del Mar in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race on Aug. 19, Tamara stumbled leaving the gate, then swerved inward. Fourth early in the field of 10, she took the lead leaving the furlong marker and drew clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
Tamara was not favored at first asking, going off at 3-1. She was bet down to favoritism among 12 starters in the seven-furlong Debutante and made 6-5 look like a generous price.
Not stumbling at the break this time, Tamara vied for the early lead in the Debutante. She shook well clear on the turn, then widened down the lane while running smoothly and straight as an arrow. She won by 6 3/4 lengths.
Tamara’s sire is Bolt d’Oro, who won the Grade I Del Mar Futurity and Grade I FrontRunner Stakes (now the American Pharoah Stakes) in 2017.
If Tamara wins the BC Juvenile Fillies, as many expect, she will emulate her dam, the great Beholder, who took the 2012 renewal.
In Beholder’s stakes debut, she lost the 2012 Del Mar Debutante at 8-1 by a nose to 4-5 favorite Executiveprivilege. Beholder then won the BC Juvenile Fillies by one length while turning the tables on Executiveprivilege. It was Executiveprivilege who had to settle for second in the BC Juvenile Fillies.
A rare four-time Eclipse Award winner, Beholder was voted champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, champion 3-year-old filly of 2013 and champion older female dirt horse of both 2015 and 2016.
Beholder was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
THE CHOSEN VRON IN THE SPRINT. Count me among those who admire this 5-year-old Vronsky gelding.
Trained by Eric Kruljac, The Chosen Vron will go into the BC Sprint with an eight-race winning streak.
Oh, sure, the first seven wins during the streak came in stakes races restricted to California-breds. But in his most recent start, The Chosen Vron stepped up to the Grade I level and continued his winning ways in Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29. Despite being checked in the vicinity of the three-eighths pole, The Chosen Vron rallied to prevail by a head.
This year’s Bing Crosby was one of the toughest sprints on the Southern California circuit in recent years. Its strength has been validated by what three of the vanquished subsequently did.
Anarchist was the runner-up in the Bing Crosby, then won the Grade II Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.
Dr. Schivel finished third in the Bing Crosby, then won the Grade II Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
Hoist the Gold finished eighth in the Bing Crosby, then won the Grade II Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.
TIMBERLAKE IN THE JUVENILE. Trained by Brad Cox, Timberlake is yet another contender in the BC Juvenile. Second when not having the best of trips in Saratoga’s Grade I Hopeful Stakes on Sept. 4, the Into Mischief colt splashed home a 4 1/4-length winner in the Grade I Champagne Stakes on a sloppy track Oct. 7 at Aqueduct.
Timberlake recorded a fine 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the Champagne. It appears to me that this is a serious 2-year-old.
UP TO THE MARK IN THE TURF. I was so impressed to see Up to the Mark close resolutely from eighth and get up in the last jump to eke out a nose win at odds of 2-1 in Keeneland’s Grade I Turf Mile on Oct. 7. Up to the Mark nailed 6-5 favorite Master of the Seas at the finish that day, an effort that deserves extra credit because Up to the Mark had not raced since winning the Grade I Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10.
Up to the Mark is a three-time Grade I winner this year. Prior to the Manhattan, he took the Grade I Turf Classic at Churchill Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher on May 6.
Co-owner Mike Repole has indicated that Up to the Mark (victorious in five of six starts this year) will run in the BC Turf rather than the BC Mile.
USHBA TESORO IN THE CLASSIC. Trained by Noboru Takagi, Ushba Tesoro has won seven of eight on dirt after winning just three of 22 on turf. He will be bringing a six-race winning streak into the BC Classic.
Ushba Tesoro tuned up for the BC Classic with an effortless victory Sept. 27 in a 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) dirt race at Japan’s Funabashi Racecourse.
Close up early, Ushba Tesoro surged to the front coming into the stretch and went on to win the Nippon TV Hai by 2 1/2 lengths.
This was Ushba Tesoro’s first start since he won the Group I, $12 million Dubai World Cup by 2 3/4 lengths last March 25.
I was at Tokyo Race Course in 2012 when Ushba Tesoro’s sire, Orfevre, lost the Group I, $6.5 million Japan Cup by a scant nose. That Japan Cup was won by outstanding filly Gentildonna, who earned $18,468,392 during her racing career.
A Japanese Triple Crown winner in 2011, Orfevre probably would have won the Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2012 if he had received a better ride. Many, including yours truly, believe jockey Christophe Soumillon moved Orfevre too soon in the Arc. Orfevre blew by several opponents, including Solemia, and opened a clear lead late in the race. But Solemia came on to win by a neck.
Orferve also ran second in the 2012 Arc. The high-class filly Treve won that renewal of the Arc despite working up a sweat before the race and getting off to a bad start.
When Orferve’s racing career was over, he had amassed lifetime earnings of $19,005,276.
Orferve is a grandson of Sunday Silence, winner of the 1989 BC Classic and America’s 1989 Horse of the Year.
Ushba Tesoro is not the first Orfevre offspring to be proficient on dirt. Marche Lorraine, a daughter of Orfevre, came from well back when helped by a scorching pace and was an upset winner in the BC Distaff on dirt at Del Mar in 2021. She returned $101.80 for each $2 win wager.
WHITE ABARRIO IN THE CLASSIC. When he powered home to a 6 1/4-length win in Saratoga’s Grade I Whitney Stakes on Aug. 5 for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio was credited with a 110 Beyer Speed Figure. The 100 Beyer is the top figure among the candidates for this year’s BC Classic.
White Abarrio was good enough to win the Grade I Florida Derby in 2022. But after that, he lost seven of his next eight starts before his smashing victory in the Whitney.
Will White Abarrio come anywhere close to duplicating a 110 Beyer in the BC Classic? If he does, he has a good chance to be posing for pictures after the BC Classic is over.
Finding out whether or not White Abarrio’s Whitney performance was the real deal is why he’s one of the 20 horses I’m looking forward to seeing compete at this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
TOP 10 IN THIS WEEK’S NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL
As shown below, Arcangelo again holds the top spot in week 38 of this year’s NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, which concludes following the Breeders’ Cup:
Rank Points Horse (First-Place Votes)
1. 273 Arcangelo (19)
2. 268 Cody’s Wish (8)
3. 194 Up to the Mark (1)
4. 183 Elite Power (1)
5. 164 White Abarrio (2)
6. 137 Arabian Knight
7. 111 Idiomatic
8. 91 Echo Zulu (1)
9. 88 Geaux Rocket Ride
10. 42 Casa Creed
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