Breeders’ Cup: Race by Race : The Sprint Should Be Groovy’s; Ferdinand Fits the Classic Mold

A quick look at the Breeders’ Cup races today at Hollywood Park. First Post is 11:17 a.m.: $1-million Sprint (6 furlongs)--Groovy has already clinched the national sprint title, having won all six starts this year, but a win here would give him an outside chance of adding horse-of-the-year honors. The field is tougher than last year’s at Santa Anita, where Groovy ran fourth as the favorite. Trainer Jose Martin didn’t appreciate that ride by Jose Santos and Angel Cordero has the mount today. “If Angel wants to go back to New York alive, he better have him running early,” Martin said. There are several upsetters in the field, including Zany Tactics and Zabaleta, whose owners supplemented them at $120,000 apiece.

$1-million Juvenile Fillies (1 mile)--A grab-bag. Can undefeated Classic Crown retain her New York form? Dream Team has won Santa Anita stakes in her last two starts. Is Jeanne Jones, off just two starts in the last month, for real? And what can be made of Balquiria, who has won all eight of her starts in Puerto Rico and Florida? Trainer Wayne Lukas has five shots--Classic Crown, Dream Team, Lost Kitty, Blue Jean Baby and Over All--at winning this race for the second time.

$1-million Distaff (1 miles)--It’s trainer Charlie Whittingham’s Infinidad against three Lukas runners--Sacahuista, Clabber Girl and North Sider--and Ms. Margi, who’s never won a stake, and Oueee Baby, who appears overmatched. The distance is perfect for Infinidad, a 5-year-old Chilean mare who won at 1 miles over the same track in the Vanity Invitational in July.

$1-million Mile (1 mile on turf)--The average field for this race the last three years has been 12-plus, and a full field of 14 today makes the stake another free-for-all. Milligram, a shaky favorite, has not worked well this week and is suffering from a foot problem. This looks like the race for the Europeans to win. besides Milligram, they have Sonic Lady, trying to avenge her disappointing run at Santa Anita last year, along with Miesque, who while running against top company in England and France has been first or second in her last nine starts.

$1-million Juvenile (1 mile)--Tejano beat only one horse in the Hollywood Juvenile in July, but he went East and won three straight before finishing third, after a poor start, in the Champagne at Belmont Park. Regal Classic, a Canadian colt, seems adaptable to either grass or dirt. Tsarbaby couldn’t beat Forty Niner, the likely divisional champion who stayed home, and Tejano in New York, then had to hang on to beat the filly, Jeanne Jones, recently at Santa Anita.

$2-million Turf (1 1/2 miles on grass)--Before the Arc de Triomphe in Paris Oct. 4, experts were saying that Trempolino wouldn’t stay 1 1/2 miles. But then he won the race by two lengths in record time. He beat Reference Point, the best in Europe, although his rival was injured in the race, and now he must meet Theatrical, who, with Manila retired, is the best in the United States. Theatrical, who cost Allen Paulson $5 million when he bought a 50% share a couple of years ago, was second to Manila last year and comes into the race with six wins--five in major races--and a third in eight tries this year. Sir Harry Lewis, from England, will be running hard at the end. Another European contender is Bint Pasha, who’s on a three-race winning streak and has a new jockey in Steve Cauthen.

$3-million Classic (1 miles)--Trainer Charlie Whittingham has a perfectly matched duo in Judge Angelucci, who should assure an honest early pace, and Ferdinand, who has tactical speed and a finishing kick. Alysheba, who runs from farther back, hasn’t run since he won the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs Sept. 27. Skywalker got beat by Ferdinand last time but should be in better shape today. Afleet, caught by Creme Fraiche at the wire in his last race, is consistent and dangerous.