Breeders’ Cup Classic Selections

By Rick Francis —-

SANTA ANITA

Race 12) 1&1/4 Mile. Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Grade I. Purse $6,000,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.

Post Time 8:44 EST

1) Math Wizard (Joseph/Santana); blew up the Pa. Derby tote-board with his 31-1 shocker; don’t see that happening today.

2) Seeking the Soul (Stewart/Hernandez, B.); weakened in each of his last two, however connections have a distinct knack for getting a check in big contests and I wouldn’t overlook in xotics.

3) Owendale (Cox/Castellano); a multiple Grade 3 winner and that’s just what he is, a multiple Grade 3 winner; though this is a great trainer spot for Cox, I have to pass.

4) War of Will (Casse/Gaffalione); Preakness champ gets first time blinkers following his game but disappointing third last out in Pa. Derby. He’s been working lights out here at Santa Anita but feel the “classic” distance is not his calling.

5) Yoshida (Mott/Smith); enters having placed in his last two, the Whitney and the Woodward, neither run at today’s route; another who prefers the mile and eighth.

6) Elate (Mott/Ortiz, J.); the field’s lone mare does like this route going a perfect 3-for-3 in her career, what’s yet to be determined is if she likes going that distance against males.

7) Higher Power (Sadler/Prat); winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic had a troubled start in the Awesome Again and it cost him late; with a clean break colt will be forwardly placed and they’ll have to run him down.

8) McKinzie (Baffert/Rosario); his only off the board finish was in this contest a year ago. Street Sense colt shows a keen ability to follow up a place effort with a win, (he exits a second in the Awesome Again); giving him his due here, the pick.

9) Mongolian Groom (Ganbat/Cedillo); always liked this Hightail gelding and would here except for the grueling campaign he’s conducted this year; passing today.

10) Vino Rosso (Pletcher/Ortiz, I.); winner of coast-to-coast Gold Cups, here in May and last out at Belmont in their Jockey Gold Cup. Curlin colt appears to be rounding into the champion form connections had always hoped for him.

11) Code of Honor (McGaughey/Velazquez); Travers winner missed by a nose in the Jockey Gold Cup; a 2-time winner along with a second at today’s distance faces the only question, How does he handle his first start off the East Coast?

Selections: 8, 10, 11, 2, 7