Picking horses, and a good cause

Her priorities a little off base, what with letting school and a theatrical production get in the way, Andrea Torre is going to let her father fend for himself when it comes to the Breeders’ Cup.

A year ago she helped roll up $24,000 for the benefit of Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, picking winners in the Breeders’ Cup while her old man apparently was trying to name who would finish last.

Breeders’ Cup Charities is once again making a pool of money available, this year joined by TVG, the horse racing network.

If Joe Torre picks winners, his Safe at Home campaign to educate youngsters and end the cycle of abuse benefits.

OK, so without Andrea’s help it’s not going to happen, so TVG’s Bob Baedeker, a.k.a. Mr. B., one of horse racing’s all-time chalk players, is going to participate.

Someone who always picks the favorite horse is going with the “chalk,” Baedeker undoubtedly spending a lot of time as a kid at the chalkboard writing, “I will not bring the Racing Form to class.”

A win here in any of the 14 races is worth $1,000, an exacta gets a $500 bonus, and then there’s the “bozo factor.” If both jokers get blanked and Page 2’s guess wins, it’s still $1,000 for Safe at Home.

Friday’s picks, beginning with the Marathon: Nite Lite (Torre), Mastery (Mr. B), Man of Iron (Page 2).

Juvenile Fillies Turf: Junia Tepzia (Torre), Lillie Langtry (Mr. B), Hatheer (Page 2).

Juvenile Fillies: Always a Princess (Torre), Blind Luck (Mr. B), Negligee (Page 2).

Filly and Mare Turf: Forever Together (Torre), Midday (Mr. B), Magical Fantasy (Page 2).

Filly and Mare Sprint: Ventura (Torre), Sara Louise (Mr. B), Informed Decision (Page 2).

Ladies Classic: Careless Jewel (Torre), Rainbow View (Mr. B), Music Note (Page 2).

Keep in mind Torre picked Hiroki Kuroda to pitch against the Phillies, and you saw how well that turned out.

-- T.J. Simers