THE BREEDERS’ CUP : Clear Sky, Dry Tracks, but Still Not California

The Breeders’ Cup got lucky. A negative forecast for today has changed, and now 50-degree weather with clear skies is predicted, which should leave both the dirt and turf courses at Aqueduct dry for the seven races worth $10 million.

Still, the chance of bad weather in November in New York is always present, and off tracks would make a mishmash of races for the purpose of settling divisional championships. As a result, thought is being given to holding the races in California every year, or perhaps rotating them between California and Florida.

Next year, the Breeders’ Cup races are scheduled for Santa Anita. After that, Churchill Downs had been mentioned for 1987 and either Gulfstream Park or Hialeah for ’88. Cup directors are now reportedly having second thoughts about those sites.

Here’s a quick rundown on today’s races:

Juvenile (2-year-old colts, 1 mile on dirt, $1 million, 13 starters)--The best horse in the division, Ogygian, has bucked shins and is not here. Mogambo, winner of the Champagne, is the lukewarm favorite, but he was beaten earlier by Storm Cat, perhaps because of bad racing luck. Tasso, the best of a mediocre California crop, has been winning but hasn’t faced as good as these.

Juvenile Fillies (2-year-old fillies, 1 mile on dirt, $1 million, 12 starters)--Trainer Wayne Lukas, with Family Style, Twilight Ridge and Arewehavingfunyet, could finish 1-2-3. Femme Elite is an undefeated, French-raced horse running on dirt for the first time. Hallouth and Earl’s Valentine won first starts and are prematurely being moved into stakes company. I’m Sweets won the Gardenia only 10 days ago for trainer Woody Stephens and could be dangerous.

Sprint (3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs on dirt, $1 million, 14 starters)--Lukas’ pair, Mt. Livermore and Pancho Villa, might go off favored, but they are vulnerable. Committed was the best sprinter in Europe. Precisionist has raw speed and was a good sprinter before he started running routes, but because of sore feet hasn’t run in more than four months. “You can’t win by staying in the barn,” owner Fred Hooper said.

Mile (3-year-olds and up, 1 mile on grass, $1 million, 14 starters)--Palace Music has run competitively against the best in Europe and has beaten the brilliant Pebbles at 1 miles. It usually takes Palace Music more than a mile to get going, however. Two horses with good chances, Tsunami Slew and Rousillon, have tough post positions, Tsunami on the inside and Rousillon being No. 13, next to the outside. Tsunami Slew has won three straight on firm turf. Shadeed is a good English miler. Forzando II has won on both coasts, but because of a hairline fracture hasn’t been out since June.

Distaff (3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 miles on dirt, $1 million, 7 starters)--Owner Gene Klein first thought that he just had a good sprinter in Lady’s Secret. Then he thought she was just a good miler. Now she’s shown that she can handle this distance, which is the same as she ran in her sharp win in the Beldame three weeks ago. Dontstop Themusic, also sharp, might prefer a slightly shorter distance, and her owners are paying a supplementary fee of $120,000 just to find out. Fran’s Valentine, almost unbeatable in California and Kentucky, hasn’t run well in New York.

Turf (3-year-olds and up, 1 1/2 miles on grass, $2 million, 14 starters)--Pebbles is favored, but the field is formidable. Bob Back ran a good race in his only American start and has Angel Cordero up. Shernazar had trouble in a disappointing Arc de Triomphe, but was one of the best in Europe before that. Greinton’s owners don’t know what his name means, but it may stand for trouble, considering the excuses he’s had this fall. Lashkari, winner of this race last year at 53-1, has won only one race since. Teleprompter, winner of the Budweiser-Arlington Million, was a bothered second in his only subsequent race.

Classic (3-year-olds and up, 1 miles on dirt, $3 million, 8 starters)--Although some people like Proud Truth’s chances, trainer John Veitch isn’t talking that good a game. “It’s a powerful field,” Veitch says. “You’ve got horses that are either very consistent or capable of putting it together on a certain day.” The only time Chief’s Crown hasn’t won at 1 miles this year was in the Kentucky Derby. Gate Dancer seems to have regained his old form in New York and almost caught Chief’s Crown in the Marlboro. Vanlandingham and Track Barron will try to steal the race early and could help the closers.