For the first day of two, they have put together a stellar card of runners. This race sticks out as one that will define the day.  This race is not for cream puffs, but there is a hurdle they all must beat to find the winners circle.

They will travel 1 1/8th, and it should promise excitement.

The odds-on favorite should not disappoint the crowd. Zenyatta is unblemished, and should keep her record intact. Mike Smith has ridden this daughter of Street Cry for five straight wins.  She makes her second start after wooing the crowd in the Ladies Secret.  She is 7/7 with wins over the synthetic, and John Sheriffs is a winner at 32% off a last race win.  2/2 at S.A with wins, and she looks all of that and more. What more can they say?  They just have to run the race….

The song should play out that way, but Music Note will have her say in the matter. 6/7 in the money, and was a nice winner in the Gazelle.  J.J. Castellano is a perfect fit with her, and should come rolling late down the lane.  if the pace game sets up, and she takes to the surface, it could be a different song indeed.

Take a good look at Cocoa Beach.  She is 2/2 in the U.S. since arriving.  I saw her last race closely, and she mowed them down like grass.  She had more in the tank, and this may just be the race to use the gas. Dominguez is a very solid boot, and the trainer wins 23% with graded stakes.

This is another $2 million event. As said before, you can bet they all will be trying. This is why you need WinningPonies.com to help make that final decision as to how much you will win.

I love a runner in here. Her name is: Goldikova. She beat the boys last out, and sports a very sweet Time Form rating from Europe. Winning the Prix de Moulin (G-1) should have her firing nicely. Her dam Born Gold was a nice runner, and she has 9 starters-9 turf winners and 3 stakes winners to her credit. Freddie Head, known in European circles, should not disappoint. This race against the gals should be a little easier to deal with, and if all goes well she should be worth a look before betting.

Halfway to Heaven is a runner that is looking good. Trainer Aiden O’Brien has a (Group-1) winner who has pulled off the feat three times this season. He has set Europe afire this year, and she has faced Goldikova in her career. Her dam has 4 starters and 4 turf winners.  She can handle the distance, and could be dangerous.

Mauralakana is a gal on the go. she was bred in France, and came up short in the Flower Bowl over a yielding surface. Second start off a layoff is a winners move, and expect her best as Clemente wins 22% over the weeds, and then the same with graded stakes runners.

The first G-1 takes the stage and the price of poker just went up. When you have graded company at $2 million bones at stake, you can bet they all will trying. They didn’t get this far being a nobody.

In this heat, I like Stardom Bound. She has been tough out West, and her sire Tapit should fit the weeds. She likes the Santa Anita surface, and will set up perfectly for a last to first style. This will be exciting down the lane, and this Canadian should give us our monies worth.  If you get 2-1, it will be value.

Another worth a good look is: C.S. Silk. Her sire Medaglia D’ Oro wins 19% with first time turfers. She should be stalking, and after the victory in the Arlington Washington, she should be ready to fire. Dale Romans is a quiet winner. You won’t know he is there until he gets in the winners circle.

Rounding out my preview is: Persistently. Alan Garcia is named, and this guy can flat out ride. Her dam fires 100% winners as babies and should make a belated run to make the crowd jump. Her sire wins 13% of the time with turf first timers, and she had to alter course twice in her last race.

This turf event is going one mile for the gals. They are running for a cool one million dollars, so you can bet they will bring their “A” game. Plan on a firm turf course, as the weather is suppose to be in the upper 80’s.

I take a hard look at the very speedy Laragh. She is by Tapit who wins 22% with his turf runners. Throw out that race two back as it was over a soft course. Add in Prado riding for John Terranova, and they wire this field if the cards fall her way. Prado is a 16% winner on the weeds, and can dictate the pace with the best of them. She looks dangerous on the hook.

Part of the package should include: Consequence. The daughter of El Prado is getting second time lasix, and Shug wins 25% on the medication move. Her dam was a stakes winner, and looks to rebound better on firm going. Throw out her last race as it may not have suited her. I like her to be a major player, and McGaughey gets them fit and ready.

Round out your looks with: Maram. She exits off a win in the Miss Grillo at Belmont. Chad Brown has a staggering stat of 88% a winner off a last race win. Look for her to come rolling late in the lane. With a little luck, she may just do the trick.

The Breeders’ Cup begins this Friday, and the main draw was on Tuesday.  This handicapping will give you food for thought, and be sure to dial-up WinningPonies.com to get your latest information and make your weekend the best of the year.

Filly & Mare Sprint / 7f - Race 3

This is a very talented and deep field with multiple G-1 winners. The favorite will be Indian Blessing. She is simply awesome, and this three-year-old gal is trained by Bob Baffert.  She is undefeated at distances under a mile. The daughter of Indian Charlie exits a victory from the Gallant Bloom (G-2). It was short field, but one packed with punch. If you get 2-1, bet early and be sure to use in exotics.

She is 1/1 over the all-weather surface on the Cushion Track at Santa Anita. She has shown brilliance in racing and her maturity is working to her favor.

Indyanne is a daughter of Indian Charlie. She is 6 starts with 5 wins, and a second place finish. She is also 2/2 over the synthetic surface. She is blazing on the lead, and I only find fault if the pace is too salty. The extra furlong may be a bit tough if this is the case.  If left alone, she may be tough to deal with.

If all goes well with the draw, you will need to use Zaftig. This gal by Gone West is a very nice looking stalker. The faster they run, the better she’ll like the pace.  She is 2/2 at 7f, and tries the synthetic for the first time.  Take a look at her when they take the track.  If she is washy and doesn’t have her “A” game, be sure to pass on her.

This is a good look at the opening race.  Be sure to keep WinningPonies in your hand to keep you on course. This will be a weekend where you don’t want to be empty handed.

Horstradamus is going to be heading out to the Breeders’ Cup in person this week. I believe this will be a weekend to remember. The two-day event will be the testing ground of greatness. I am going to pre-handicap each race before the draw to give you food for thought.  After the draw, I would make sure you dial up WinningPonies.com, to ensure that you have in your hands a sure fire plan that will maximize your winning. Until then, here are some of the final works of some runners.

Grade 1 winner FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike), most recently second in his attempt to repeat in the Vosburgh S. (G1), drilled five furlongs in :59 1/5 over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride main track on Sunday in preparation for the Sprint (G1).

Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) winner FATAL BULLET (Red Bullet) was timed in 1:01 2/5 in advance of the Sprint.

Multiple Grade 1 winner PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus), second in the First Lady S. (G1) most recently, was clocked in 1:01 for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Norfolk S. (G1) victor STREET HERO (Street Cry [Ire]), prepping for the Juvenile (G1), finished in 1:02 3/5.

Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled’s Song), runner-up in the Norfolk S. (G1) last time, completed six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 for the Juvenile.

Multiple Grade 2 winner OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), runner-up by a head in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (G1) last month, covered five furlongs in 1:01 in preparation for the Turf (G1).

Grade 2 winner GET FUNKY (Straight Man), runner-up in the Morvich H. (G3) last time, sped six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 in preparation for the Turf Sprint.

Juvenile candidate MUNNINGS (Speightstown), runner-up in the Champagne S. (G1) last time, completed five panels in :59 3/5.

Frizette S. (G1) and Matron S. (G2) runner-up PERSISTENTLY (Smoke Glacken) worked toward the Juvenile Fillies (G1) with a four-furlong move in :50 3/5.

SKIPADATE (Skip Away), second in the Summer S. (Can-G3) and With Anticipation S., worked five-eighths in 1:01 1/5 in advance of the Juvenile Turf.

Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) winner FAIRBANKS (Giant’s Causeway) was timed in 1:00 in preparation for the Classic (G1) or Marathon.

Sapling S. (G3) winner SILENT VALOR (Lion Heart), fifth in the Norfolk in his latest, sped the same distance in :59 3/5 in advance of the Juvenile.

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast), eighth in the Goodwood S. (G1) last time, worked toward the Classic in 1:00.

Forego S. (G1) winner FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled’s Song), aiming for the Sprint despite an unplaced effort in the Vosburgh, smoked five-eighths in :57 4/5, swiftest of 69 works at the distance.

GALLANT SON (Malabar Gold), a three-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs this year, including the Gottstein Futurity last time, sped six furlongs in a bullet 1:12.  He is an also-eligible for the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.

Pine Tree Lane S. winner TIZZY’S TUNE (Tiznow), a longshot for the Filly & Mare Sprint, went five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.

Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) queen DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer), a close runner-up in the Diana S. (G1) in late July, breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 over Belmont Park’s fast main dirt. The Bill Mott-trained five-year-old, who has finished off-the-board only twice from her 11 career starts, is preparing for the Filly & Mare Turf.

RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), hero of the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf and this season’s Man o’ War S. (G1), covered seven furlongs on Belmont’s firm turf in 1:27 2/5 in advance of another shot at the Turf.

Multiple Grade 1 winner INTANGAROO (Orientate), last-out victress of the Ballerina S. (G1), drilled four furlongs in :46 4/5 over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track in advance of Friday’s Filly & Mare Sprint.

Over Santa Anita’s firm turf, Grade 1 winner DANCING FOREVER (Rahy) went five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 in advance of the Turf. The Phipps Stable home-bred was a distant seventh in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) last time.

Multiple Grade 3 winner DESERT CODE (E Dubai), who should draw into the Turf Sprint field from the also-eligible list, completed seven furlongs in 1:12 3/5, the fastest of seven works at the distance.  He was most recently seventh in the Morvich.

BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]), runner-up in the Cradle S. most recently, was timed in 1:16 in preparation for the Juvenile Turf, for which he is an also-eligible.

Undefeated BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic), victor of the Bourbon S. (G3) and With Anticipation S. in his last two, breezed four furlongs in :49 over Keeneland’s Polytrack. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the dark bay is preparing for the Juvenile Turf.

Multiple stakes victor WAR MONGER (War Chant), runner-up in the Bernard Baruch H. (G2) and third in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in his past two, traveled five furlongs in 1:01 4/5. The Mott-trained four-year-old is gearing up for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Breeders’ Futurity (G1) third-placer PIONEER OF THE NILE (Empire Maker), posted a time of 1:00 2/5 for breezing five furlongs in company for Mott in advance of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“They did what we wanted, and hopefully what we needed,” the conditioner said. “They were useful works; both horses have recent races. It was a good solid effort and hopefully it was just enough and not too much.”

Last-out maiden winner ORTHODOX (Pulpit) logged five-eighths in :59 3/5. The John Glenney charge is currently sixth in line on the also-eligible list to draw into the Juvenile Turf.

Grade 2 winner DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris), winner of the Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) and All American S. (G3) in his last two, prepped for the Marathon with a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields.

The “Living Legends” race proved to be all that it was hyped to be. It wasn’t like watching an old folks home on Red Bull; it was one of the most interesting races I have seen all year.

Sandy Hawley, the “Snowbird” from Canada, jumped in the old familiar place on the hook. This was nothing new to the 59-year-old Canadian. He has amassed titles like: Canada’s leading rider nine times, and leading rider in North America four times.

This wire to wire victory gave Hawley his 6,450th win which put him 10th on the all-time North American riders list.  Not bad for a guy who has not been in the saddle professionally for 10 years.

If you go back in blog land, it was old Horstradamus who gave his “Legend” call of the race with Sandy Hawley jumping on the lead, and Jerry Bailey and Gary Stevens chasing down the lane. Not bad guesswork. All you had to do was box the three selections and you had the triactor, as they say in Canada.

Enough of me patting myself on the back…. It was great to see this gathering of riders. When they warmed up, it gave me chills on top of chills. To see these heroes from yesterday sitting tall in the saddle again was a reminder of how short life really is… So this was a moment to savor.

All in all, I was not disappointed. The best thing was that all covered the 7f distance safely, and gave us one more glimpse at greatness. If this ever happens again, it would be great; but one never knows what each year holds.

“If I was invited back again, I would do it again in a minute,” said Hawley, whose biggest personal challenge came in 1987 when he beat skin cancer. “I was 122 pounds two months ago, and when I got invited, I started working out and got on a few horses, and the weight came right off. I weighed 110 in the room today.”

“Being back with these guys was a thrill. I’ve been with them the last few days, and you really don’t get to see them more than maybe once or twice a year at the Derby or the Breeders’ Cup. To be able to ride with them … when I got the call, I was like, ‘Holy cow, yeah, it would be an honor.’ The field of riders they ended up getting was tremendous, and I never thought in a million years that I had an opportunity to win, but I got on a good horse.”  I kept waiting for track announcer Trevor Denman to say that Hawley had the Living Legends race “in the bag” as they came down the stretch.  Back in 1983, when Denman was just getting started as a race caller in the United States, that’s exactly what he said about Hawley and a horse named Shanekite when they opened a big lead in the Morvich Handicap, run on the hillside turf course. “Sandy Hawley and Shanekite have this one in the bag,” Denman announced as they hit the sixteenth pole.

Unfortunately, Hawley heard Denman’s call and eased up a bit on Shanekite as they approached the wire, only to get beat on the money by a John Longden-trained runner named Kangaroo Court, who was charging hard to the wire under a young apprentice rider, Joe Steiner. It was a rare mistake in an outstanding career for Hawley, and a race call Denman would like to be able to do over. “I heard the announcer say I had it in the bag,” a fuming Hawley said afterwards, explaining the loss to reporters.

There was no letting up on Saturday. On this occasion, Hawley was the best of the Living Legends.

A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would eliminate the automatic 25 percent federal withholding on pari-mutuel winnings of $5,000 or more for bets that carry odds of 300-1 or higher. The “Pari-Mutuel Conformity and Equality Act of 2008″ (H.R. 6631) is sponsored by Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA).

Unlike any of its competitors in other gaming industries, the pari-mutuel industry is burdened by an inequitable tax law that requires wagering facilities to withhold federal taxes on winnings over $5,000 if the odds are at least 300 times the amount wagered. The withholding threshold has remained unchanged for 16 years and was last increased in 1992, from $1,000 to $5,000.

Since then, exotic wagering (bets involving high odds and high potential returns) has grown tremendously in the U.S., now accounting for two-thirds of all pari-mutuel wagers placed.

“The negative impact of withholding is multi-faceted,” said Peggy Hendershot, the NTRA’s Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs. “For the betting public, it has meant a confiscatory and frequently unfair loss of available capital. That loss of reinvestment or ‘churn’ leads to a reduction in overall wagering that in turn means less revenue generated for state governments, racetracks, and purse money for horsemen.

“Our industry and our fans applaud Congressman Boustany for introducing this important legislation, and we look forward to working with our new Horseplayers’ Coalition to add support to this initiative,” Hendershot added.

I’ll lay 6 to 5 that next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup XXV at Santa Anita turns out to be one of, if not the best, editions of an event that debuted at Hollywood Park in 1984 and has evolved into everything the industry could have envisioned.

A record 180 horses were pre-entered this week for the Breeders’ Cup, not surprising considering there are three new races for the second consecutive year. It’s the quality of the fields and the delicious match ups on the plate that figure to make this year’s event, scheduled for Oct. 24-25, one of a kind.

For starters, there’s the $5 million Classic, which will be minus Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown but still features arguably one of the most contentious fields in the previous 24 runnings.

We’ve got Curlin, who recently supplanted Cigar as the leading career money-winner in North America.

“Curlin has always spoiled us with his consistency, and that’s what we’re looking for, is more of the same,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday.

Trainer Eoin Harty marvels at the horses the Classic has attracted.

Harty will saddle Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes winner Colonel John, who will be ridden by Edgar Prado.

Harty also trains Well Armed, who was cross-entered in the Classic but whose first preference is the Dirt Mile.

Colonel John has already displayed a fondness for synthetic tracks, but Harty doesn’t foresee that as being any sort of advantage.

“The only advantage I have is that I don’t have to ship,” he said.

Harty also indicated the perceived uncertainty of Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride synthetic track is overblown.

“It’s not vastly different to the surface we had in the spring,” the former Bob Baffert assistant said. “It’s got a little more bounce to it and a little more polymer in it. (Colonel John) seems to relish it, and I must say most of the horses that I watch out there train seem to love it too.”

In the Ladies’ Classic, which will spearhead the Breeders’ Cup first all-females day next Friday, it doesn’t get any better than Zenyatta-Ginger Punch showdown.

Defending Breeders’ Cup champ Ginger Punch goes against the unbeaten Zenyatta, who won their previous showdown in April when she streaked past Ginger Punch in the stretch of the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park to win going away.

“Ginger Punch was a champion last year and is still running tremendously this year, so (Zenyatta) will have to come up with her best effort to win this race,” owner Jerry Moss said. “We’re excited for her, but we don’t consider anything’s in the bag so to speak.”

Defending Sprint champion Midnight Lute is back and will face the likes of Street Boss, Lewis Michael, In Summation and J Be K as the six-furlong speed duel comes up as wide-open as usual.

Street Boss figures as one of the favorites despite his second-place finish in the Ancient Title Stakes on Sept. 27, and Lewis Michael won the Pat O’Brien Handicap like a monster at Del Mar.

Overall, there are seven former or defending champions pre-entered, along with 35 European imports. Eight of the 14 races were oversubscribed, meaning lots of owners and trainers are itching for the chance to shoot for one of the big prizes.

Keeneland announced that it has contracted with HOK Sport, the world’s leading sports architecture firm, to develop a master plan for the current and future use of its facility.

As part of the process, HOK will undertake a review and assessment of Keeneland’s existing facilities and operations. The goal of the project is to enhance the “Keeneland experience” for racing, sales and simulcast guests and the community.

“We have charged HOK with two goals,” said Nick Nicholson, president & CEO of Keeneland. “First and foremost, anything we do must be in the best interest of the horse and its safety. The welfare of horse and rider is our top priority. Another will be to preserve the sight lines of the racetrack, and our ability to offer guests the clearest views of the saddling paddock and races.

“Secondly, as we explore ways to grow we cannot lose sight of Keeneland’s ‘soul,’ or the essence of what makes Keeneland so special. We must protect that ambience while at the same time enhance our guests’ experience by taking full advantage of all modern technologies. With that in mind, we look to HOK to help us marry innovation and tradition in a way that ensures Keeneland remains the place we all know and love.”

Toward the latter goal, Keeneland will invite the public to offer their thoughts and suggestions, via its website and a public forum, on master plan development. The public forum will be held Monday, August 25, at 6 p.m., in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion.

“The citizens of our community, the state, and the Thoroughbred industry have a sense of ownership in Keeneland, and we respect and embrace that,” Nicholson said. “Keeneland is an important part of Central Kentucky’s history and landscape, and we feel all should have a voice in its future.

“I feel we succeeded in applying these same principles to our recent Polytrack renovation – to continually strive to improve Keeneland but stay true to its heritage,” he added.

Nicholson acknowledged that he is frequently asked about the possibility of Keeneland hosting a Breeders’ Cup World Championship, and that accommodating the event is an ancillary aspect of the master plan project.

“We would be honored to host the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, and we have asked HOK Sport to build that consideration into their development plans,” he said. “It would be very exciting to have the championship in Central Kentucky, and we would be remiss if we didn’t explore the opportunity. The facility review will provide guidance as to its feasibility.”

HOK Sport is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. In its 25-year history, the firm has designed a number of high-profile sports venues worldwide, including Nationals Park (Washington, DC), PNC Park (Pittsburgh), Pepsi Center (Denver), Heinz Field (Pittsburgh), Wembley Stadium and Wimbledon (London) and the new Yankee Stadium (New York City).

The firm also has done similar work for several prominent Thoroughbred racetracks, such as England’s recently renovated Ascot Racecourse; Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong and Australia’s Royal Randwick Racecourse.

“Keeneland is one of the most appreciated legends of Thoroughbred horse racing – and we will respect her status as we make plans to modernize the racecourse,” said HOK Sport Senior Principal Russ Simons. “We fully intend to make the most of our 25-year history and experience in sports facility design to give Keeneland fans the world over not just a renovated racecourse, but an experience worthy of their loyalty.”