It's Friday, Day One of The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, America's Day (well, now Days) at the Races.
If you've come here looking for a run down and analysis of each of the fifteen Breeders' Cup races, I'm about to disappoint you. Quite frankly, that's just too many races with too many horses for me to give a preview that would actually be worth reading; not to mention that almost anything I would write about each entrant would be pretty much a regurgitation of what somebody else on the net has already written.
If you're looking for quality race-by-race analysis for free, I can point you towards the Brisnet web site, which has some Grade One insights into Friday's and Saturday's events. If you're willing to divulge your name and email address, Xpressbet.com is offering a free Breeders' Cup Wagering Guide, containing insights from such respected analysts as Steve Byk, Jennie Rees, Mike Battaglia, and Dick Jerardi. So while I could post several thousand words of analysis about the big races over the next two days, it's unlikely that I can top anything that's already out there.
Since my plans to be in Vegas today and tomorrow have fallen through, what I hope to do instead, Good Lord willing, is live blog how I'll be playing each of the races today, posting prior to each post time the wagers that I'll be making. Depending on how it goes, this could be a source of later acclaim; or it could prove to be something that many will be able to point to and laugh; time will tell.
One tiny bit of insight that I can tell you is this: that which makes The Breeders' Cup races unique, is that each field is comprised of nothing but top of the line horses; so no matter who you land on in any given race, you're going to be betting on a quality horse. Because of that, these races are a bargain hunter's dream. For example, where else but in a Breeders' Cup race are you going to find a horse like Lady of Shamrock, winner of Grade One races her last two times out, and just a nose away from five consecutive stakes victories, with Morning Line odds of 12-1? Or My Miss Aurelia, six-for-six lifetime, half of those coming in Grade One races, with a Morning Line of 4-1? So if you're the type that likes to swing for the fences and go for price, these races are for you.
The other tip I would give to all who are reading this is: be flexible. Be ready to change your plans if and when new data becomes available. Remember the Life At Ten Incident; sometimes key information doesn't become known until just a few minutes prior to post. So be alert to how the track is playing; watch the board to see which horses are getting ignored by the public; observe which jockey(s) seems to know exactly which lane to take to the finish line in the stretch; and don't be afraid to re-think your opinion in light of new facts.
And finally, above all: HAVE FUN. If you're a horse player, these are your events. This is where you get to see the best compete against the best, in pretty much every category imaginable. Enjoy the competition; enjoy the improvement of the breed; enjoy watching these great athletes strut their stuff; enjoy yourself; because if you're not having fun, why bother?
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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