Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 2, 1993

Everything you always wanted to know about the Breeders’ Cup:

“I’m a good rider, but I won’t be great until I win one of these,” said Kent Desormeaux, who will have six mounts Saturday at Santa Anita after going 0 for 7 on three Breeders’ Cup days. . . .

The national Pick Seven ought to be a $1 bet, instead of $2. . . .

Early estimate is for a crowd of 55,000. The Cup record of 69,155 was set at Santa Anita in 1986, when there was no off-track betting. . . .

The two most lightly-raced horses on the card are Brocco, probable second choice behind Dehere in the Juvenile, and Heavenly Prize, probable favorite in the Juvenile Fillies. . . .

Each of the 2-year-olds is 2-0 and they have won by a total of 28 lengths. . . .

“It’s nice to have a fresh horse,” said Brocco’s trainer, Randy Winick. “I would like to have had him run a two-turn, stakes race, but he’s a big horse with a long stride who is bred to go a distance.”. . .

On Monday morning, Winick was wearing a Cub cap. It figured. His favorite baseball team is Chicago in the National League and Brocco is owned by Cubby Broccoli. . . .

General admission is $5 and clubhouse $10. . . .

First post is 10:10 a.m. and the first Cup race, the Sprint, will follow at 10:50. The parking lot will open at 7:30 and gates at 8. . . .

David Michaels, brother of sports announcer-thoroughbred owner Al Michaels, will produce the NBC telecast. . . .

Michaels’ toughest job will be to fill all the dead time. There will be 35 minutes between post times of most races and 45 minutes between the Turf and Classic. . . .

Trevor Denman will conduct some of the interviews, but Tom Durkin will call the races on TV and the public address system. . . .

“I don’t know why jockeys aren’t asked to do Jockey underwear commercials,” said Desormeaux, whose lively personality and good looks make him a natural for endorsements. . . .

Stand Pat: Leading Breeders’ Cup jockeys with six victories apiece are Pat Valenzuela and Pat Day. . . .

*

The dirt at Santa Anita often favors speed, but don’t look for any bias or complaints from the eastern contingent Saturday. . . .

More emphasis than ever will be put on safety in the aftermath of several recent Breeders’ Cup day tragedies and a critical article in Sports Illustrated. . . .

Biggest payoff was $108 on Lashkari in the 1984 Turf. . . .

Smallest payoff was $2.40 on Meadow Star in the 1990 Juvenile Fillies. . . .

Daily Racing Form readers voted unbeaten Personal Ensign’s nose victory over Winning Colors in the 1988 Distaff as the greatest Breeders’ Cup race. . . .

Chris McCarron, who has ridden Dehere the last four times, said, “He’s better by far than any 2-year-old I’ve ridden.” . . .

Visitors from out-of-state Monday were surprised to see no residue from the recent fires. Just the usual haze. . . .

Wayne Lukas, who will saddle Stellar Cat in the Juvenile Fillies and Tabasco Cat in the Juvenile, is the leading Cup trainer with 10 victories, more than twice as many as anyone else. . . .

Clocker Bruno De Julio of Today’s Racing Digest says Apelia, a Sprint longshot, has been working exceptionally well. . . .

“We’re at a disadvantage in a big field,” said Gary Jones, trainer of Best Pal. “We’re going to have to go through and around 13 horses. I hope we get post seven or eight, with the speed horses inside and the plodders outside.” . . .

On this 10-race card, prize money in each of the three supporting events is at least $100,000. . . .

The Bobby Frankel-trained entry of Bertrando, Marquetry and Missionary Ridge is the probable favorite in the Classic. . . .

They all have different owners, though, and Bertrando and Marquetry both do their best work on the front end. . . .

“How do I ride without being detrimental to the stable?” asked Desormeaux, who will be aboard Marquetry. . . .

Selections: Sprint--Sayyedati. Juvenile Fillies--Heavenly Prize. Distaff--Hollywood Wildcat. Mile--Bigstone. Juvenile--Brocco. Turf--Intrepidity. Classic--Bertrando.