Who Do You Like? Here Is a Look at Card

Here is a summary of the seven Breeders’ Cup races at Gulfstream Park today:

$1-MILLION SPRINT--SIX FURLONGS

A year ago, with horse-of-the-year honors hanging in the balance, trainer Bruce Jackson had three choices at Churchill Downs: the Sprint, the Mile and the Classic. Jackson wanted to run in the Mile, all right--the New York Racing Assn. Mile at Aqueduct--but In Excess’ owner ordered him to Louisville. In Excess finished behind eight horses in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and despite the horse’s fine year, he didn’t win any postseason awards. This year, Jackson’s Breeders’ Cup hope is Superstrike, who, as did In Excess, came from Europe. He is a dangerous longshot, with three victories and two second-place finishes since June. The favorite will be Rubiano, but because of full fields and the necessity of getting good racing luck, a favorite hasn’t won the Sprint since Eillo in 1984, the first year it was run. Sheikh Albadou, the winner at 26-1 last year, will try to repeat.

$1-MILLION JUVENILE FILLIES--1 1/16 MILES

Eliza, a half-sister to 1991 Santa Anita Derby winner Dinard, won her first start at Del Mar, won the Arlington Lassie by 12 lengths, and two weeks ago won the Alcibiades Stakes by four lengths at Keeneland. Trainer Shug McGaughey says that Educated Risk, in this race, and Versailles Treaty, in the Distaff, are his best hopes among six starters. Besides winning the Frizette, Educated Risk finished a solid second to Sky Beauty, who was New York’s best young filly before an injury.

$1-MILLION DISTAFF--1 1/8 MILES

This is the day’s toughest handicapping assignment. Paseana, once a horse-of-the-year contender, has lost her last two starts and drawn the outside post in a 14-horse field. Fowda has a second place to Exchange at Del Mar and a victory over Paseana, Meadow Star and Lite Light at Keeneland. Saratoga Dew had three strong races in New York, including a victory over Versailles Treaty on Oct. 10. Since running second to Dance Smartly in last year’s Distaff, Versailles Treaty has never been worse than third in seven starts, but only won twice. The British hope, Marling, has seven victories and and one second in nine starts in Europe, but all of her races have been at shorter distances.

$1-MILLION MILE (ON TURF)

Europeans have won half of the two races on turf--their winners of the Mile include Royal Academy, Miesque twice and Last Tycoon--and this year they have Arazi and Selkirk. Zoman and Marling, horses who have beaten Selkirk, are in other races. No one is talking much about Brief Truce, but he has beaten Selkirk and actually has a more consistent record. The well-bred Lure--Danzig and Alydar are in the pedigree--is still trying to live up to his 56 1/5, five-furlong victory in his first start. Lotus Pool, another American hopeful, always runs well, but his best distance is 1 1/8 miles.

$1-MILLION JUVENILE--1 1/16 MILES

Gilded Time wins three consecutive races at different tracks, runs six furlongs in 1:07 4/5, handles an off track and still the public will look for ways to beat him. The knock against Gilded Time is that this will be his first time around two turns. Sea Hero, winner of Belmont’s Champagne, looks as if he has more reason to win at this distance. River Special, the Del Mar Futurity and Norfolk winner, has a breathing problem, and trainer Bob Hess Jr. can only hope that the humidity here doesn’t get to him. Mountain Cat has won six of seven, the only defeat coming after he ran off in the post parade.

$2-MILLION TURF--1 1/2 MILES

Sky Classic, with five victories and two seconds this year, was fourth in this race last year. The only horses to finish ahead of him in 1992 are not around, and his jockey, Pat Day, has won six Breeders’ Cup races, including this stake with Theatrical in 1987. Navarone has a five-race winning streak and a rider switch from Pat Valenzuela to Chris McCarron. Valenzuela will honor an agreement to ride Fraise. Subotica is the Arc de Triomphe winner and drops in weight, but many consider the French stake a throw-out race because it was run on very soft turf.

$3-MILLION CLASSIC--1 1/4 MILES

Five of the 14 starters--Rodrigo De Triano, Zoman, Jolypha, Twilight Agenda and Defensive Play--prepped for this race by running on grass. The first four finishers--Pleasant Tap, Strike The Gold, A.P. Indy and Sultry Song--from the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 10 are back for more. Jolie’s Halo, expected to be one of the pacemakers, has been training sparingly. Twilight Agenda doesn’t seem to like this distance. Strike The Gold is going to run next year, his owners have announced, and it might take him that long to win again. He lost 12 in a row after winning the 1991 Kentucky Derby, is on a five-race losing streak now and the Gulfstream track, which usually favors front-runners, doesn’t suit his plodding style. Technology likes Gulfstream, will be a first-time Lasix user because of a bleeding condition, and will get jockey Laffit Pincay, a six-time Breeders’ Cup winner, including the Classic with Skywalker in 1986.