Breeders' Cup Top Five (Part 1)

I haven't done this in a few months, so I thought I would do it now. With the major preps over with (the leading contenders of this weekends QEII on both sides of the pond are not expected to partake in the BC with it being a two week turn around), I would do an update on the BC Top 5. Today's races will cover the Juvenile (regular length) races.

Juvenile Fillies

1. Grace Hall (Empire Maker)- Skipping the Fritzette may have been the best thing for her to do. She got that two turn experience that she wouldn't have gotten at Belmont where the race was at 1 turn.

2. Weemissfrankie (Sunriver)- She might be the next Blind Luck (who was the next Zenyatta). She knows where the wire is and gets there when it counts the most, at the end.

3. My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike)- More then likely the race favorite, but I don't think she'll be able to stay with the top two.

4. Candrea (Trippi)- Her heart will take her as far as she wants to go. The question is, how far will her body take her.

5. Stopshoppingmaria (Montbrook)- The "cousin" to Uncle Mo, Stay Thirsty (Both owned by Mike Repole), she could have a chance to up those two if she wins on Friday. The prob. is I don't think she will.

Juvenile


1. Union Rags (Dixie Union)- To overcome the trouble that he had is amazing. It looks like his trainer Michael Matz may have finally found a horse who could be just as talented as... you know who.

2. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway)- He could be an awesome horse next year. Sire was just nailed on the wire in the 2000 over the same track. He should be a hard horse to catch if Union Rags runs into trouble.

3. Dullahan (Even the Score)- I hated his brother, in matter fact his brother finished last in this race in 2008. Of course he would go on to suprise people in the next year's Derby. Do not underestimate Mine That Bird's little brother. Although his sire has turned out to be a more of a turf horse, he might be okay on the Churchill surface.

4. Drill (Lawyer Ron)- Much like the #2 of the Juvenile Fillies where her sire passed away too young, the same goes for his. He won the Del Mar Futurity and then was blown by #2 at Santa Anita. Not sure if he hang with the top two going the Juvenile distance. We'll see.

5. Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy)- Has yet to run on dirt, however it should not be a problem. In his dam's four starts at Churchill, they where 3 runner up finishes and a 5th place finish. BC record? Not as fantastic. Sixth place all three times. Lets hope she passed along her Churchill record and not her BC record.