BREEDERS' CUP 2011: Prayer For Relief Out Of The Classic

by Matt Gardner on Nov 1, 2011 11:15 AM EDT in Breeders' Cup

The field for the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic shurnk by one this morning when it was announced that the Bob Baffert trained Prayer for Relief would miss Saturday's marquee event. The scratch of Prayer for Relief leaves the Classic field at 12.

From the Breeders' Cup press release:

Zayat Stable’s 3-year-old Prayer for Relief will not run in Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, according to Breeders’ Cup racing officials after not boarding a Tex Sutton Forwarding charter flight from Southern California early Tuesday morning along with other contenders trained by Bob Baffert.

Prayer for Relief reportedly developed a fever. The son of Jump Start won four straight races to begin the 2011 season before finishing third last out as the even-money favorite in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Oct. 16. Baffert will still be represented in the Classic by Lanni Family Trust and partners’ 4-year-old gelding Game On Dude, who was on the flight Tuesday morning due in Louisville near noon.

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Breeders Cup Singles

Lookin for help from everyone out there.

Who do you single in any of these races when looking at the Pick 3/4/5/6?

As usual with the BC – there are so many races that you have to go deep that somewhere you need to go all in one a few singles.

I haven’t come up with one that I’m overly confident in yet.

by Lucky Duck on Nov 1, 2011 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

I'm going to try and go thin in a couple of the juvenile races...

My Miss Aurelia in the Juv Fillies and Elusive Kate in the Juv. Fillies Turf are two that stand out to me. The colts…eh, the Juv Turf looks like a race to spread.

"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."

And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace

by Matt Gardner on Nov 1, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Singles

Always my downfall, and generally the hardest to come up wtih.

I’m still working hard on fridays card, and the only race I think is clear cut on friday is the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint, Secret Circle has looked much the best,

Elusive Kate also represents a good option for a single.

by Sti1gar on Nov 1, 2011 4:38 PM EDT reply actions

To Elaborate on Secret Circle

Best beyers thus far, and in his second start, he didn’t win the early pace battle, that went very fast ( 21 1/5th, 44 1/5) Losing a pace battle at that speed, typically sets well for a horse to come off the pace and steal it, but Secret Circle responded well in the stretch and pulled away. This is his third start and 2nd off hte layoff so I don’t suspect a big drop if he drops at all (97 beyers back to back).

His last two works have been good as well, 10/30 5f 58 2/5ths H good for 2/67, and on the 23rd he went 4f in 46 2/5ths H good for 2/59.

The risks? 2 year old race, over 6 furlongs, all the copmpetitors are lightly raced, so there isnt much of a track record. Whats good is that there are only 9 starters in this field so it isn’t quite as big as one would expect for a BC race, that should help.

by Sti1gar on Nov 1, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Juv Fillies

I may actually spread a bit, This will be My Miss Auralias first time going two turns, Looking at Candrea, Grace Hall, Northern Passion, and Weemissfrankie, as possible contenders, Think I want to try and hit a price, especially if My Miss Aurelia gets bet down below 5-2.

by Sti1gar on Nov 1, 2011 4:40 PM EDT reply actions