Fields are stocked for Breeders' Cup
Classic entries have the look of champions
When Smarty Jones was retired following the Triple Crown, it took some sizzle out of the racing scene. But one doesn't have to be an insider to appreciate the field for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park Oct. 30. It may not be the Kentucky Derby, but a field doesn't get any better than this.
A total of 101 horses were pre-entered yesterday on the eight-race, $14 million Breeders' Cup program, and the 13 considered for the Classic include defending champion Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup and $1 million Pacific Classic; 3-year-old Birdstone, winner of the Belmont Stakes and Travers, who has a chance to beat out the mighty Smarty Jones for 3-year-old of the year honors; Funny Cide, last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero and winner of the $1 million
"Pleasantly Perfect couldn't be better at this stage," said trainer Richard Mandella, who set a record with four Breeders' Cup card winners last year at Santa Anita. "We've pointed him to win the Breeders' Cup. If things work out well, we'll go out to the Japan Cup [in November]. He's eligible for a bonus there that makes it a $3 million purse for him.
"He's as good or better than he's ever been, and he surely seems to be coming up to his best race. Since last year, he's just gotten smarter and better in his races. He's more than a person can ask for."
Funny Cide, a gelding, was the Smarty Jones of 2003. But he ran poorly in the heat in last year's Classic, finishing ninth. This season, he lost some close ones, including a narrow defeat in the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, but he redeemed himself in the Gold Cup.
"[Trainer] Barclay [Tagg] does a tremendous job with him," said Jack Knowlton, co-owner of Funny Cide. "Sadly, we did have some tough beats with him this year, but Barclay says he's never been better. Last year, we made a late decision to run in the Classic, and it was a disappointment. This year, we hope for a change.
"He's shipped to a lot of different tracks, and he's adapted pretty well. The way the track is, the closest comparison to Lone Star is Suffolk Downs, where we were beaten by a nose [actually a head] this year. Funny Cide runs well on sharp turns, and I think he'll probably be in reasonable contention."
Azeri won the Spinster at Keeneland in her last start, but she's not quite what she used to be. It would seem foolish to run her against these powerful males, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas is aggressive, and owner Michael Paulson wouldn't rule it out.
"We're going to look at both fields, see how the races set up, and make the best decision," said Paulson, who indicated the Breeders' Cup would mark the last appearance for the 6-year-old. "Right now, we're pretty much sitting on the fence. Whichever race she runs in, she'll bring her `A' game."
Another horse with star power is Kitten's Joy, a 3-year-old colt who will contest the $2 million Turf. He has won 8 of 9 starts on grass, and he captured the Man o'War over older horses at Belmont Park with the type of surge only a potential champion can make.
"He ran a :22 3/5 last quarter going a mile and one-quarter on a yielding turf course in the Man o'War," said owner Kenneth Ramsey, who also owns Roses In May. "It almost brought tears to my eyes."
