Full Program Features a Field of Wide-Open Races

Here is a look at the other races on the Oct. 27 Breeders’ Cup program--racing’s $10-million day:

Turf

This could be one of the hottest races on a cold day at Belmont.

Cacoethes, a California-bred 4-year-old son of Alydar, had raced exclusively in Europe until winning the Turf Classic on Sunday at Belmont in a stakes record time of 2:25 for the 1 1/2 miles.

His main opposition at 1 1/2 miles will come from an unlikely betting entry owned by Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall and Kings center Wayne Gretzky. One is Golden Pheasant, winner of the Arlington Million and trained on the West Coast by Charlie Whittingham. The other is the French horse Saumerez, which won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

Juvenile

Injuries and upsets have scrambled this division. Deposit Ticket was the leading 2-year-old colt until he was beaten by Eastern Echo in the Futurity at Belmont on Sept. 15. Then, Eastern Echo was retired by an injury, and Deposit Ticket was a well-beaten last in Saturday’s Champagne.

Fly So Free burst onto the scene by winning the Champagne, but the division leadership goes to Best Pal, winner of the Norfolk on Sunday at Santa Anita.

“So far, he’s the best 2-year-old I’ve ridden,” jockey Pat Valenzuela said.

Best Pal would have to be supplemented to the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile at a cost of $120,000, but with a division championship at stake, owners John and Betty Mabee of San Diego appear so inclined.

Juvenile Fillies

One name has come solidly to the forefront--Meadow Star. She won the Frizette on Saturday at Belmont by 14 lengths and has won all six of her career starts.

Champagne Glow, second in the Frizette, probably also will go in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies, but trainer John Pierce harbors no illusions. “We’ll probably come back in the Breeders’ Cup and hope to be second,” he said.

Distaff

If Go for Wand and Bayakoa both go in the Classic, that leaves the field for the 1 1/8-mile Distaff open to Gorgeous. Go for Wand already has the 3-year-old filly championship locked up.

Colonial Waters, second in the Frizette, probably also will go, along with Fantastic Look, second by a nose to Bayakoa in the Chula Vista.

Sprint

When Housebuster was sidelined for the rest of the year with badly cut-up legs, it took a lot of the excitement away from this six-furlong race. A lot could be put back into it if Dayjur leaves the grass tracks of Europe for the dirt of Belmont. A probable starter in the sprint, Dayjur is called the fastest horse in the world by his European admirers, but he has never run on dirt.

Safely Kept, last year’s sprint champion, and Dancing Spree, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup sprint, will give chase.

Mile

A grass race, this often is a favorite of the European horses. The top European this year could be Markofdistinction, winner of England’s top mile race, the Queen Elizabeth.