An Interesting Day at the Breeders Cup - Day 1

Six races, five totally excluding male runners.  The races involving two-year-olds were closed books to me - I haven't seen any of them  run before.  I realize that picking horses because they are/were related to horses I have personally ridden is silly.  But I do it anyway, because Forli* was a very good broodmare producer, even though Forego was the only champion racer he sired.  And when his mares are crossed with the blood of Man o'War and Secretariat, one can expect good things in turf racing.  Some of the betting pay-outs today were really sweet, too....   So here's my re-cap of today's Breeders Cup races.  Horses related to Forli* will have an asterisk behind their  names....

The Juvenile Sprint - 3/4 mile, dirt - 9 two-year-olds, one a filly, the others male
Secret Garden* won, Shumoos* (the filly) was second, Holdin Bullets (whose pedigree I liked) was third.  Jake Mo* was 5th.   A $2.00 bet placed on the winner paid $2.80; on the place horse, one retrieved $8.20; on the show horse, $2.00 paid back $6.20.  A $2 exacta bet paid $28; a $2 trifecta bet paid $306.20; and a $2 superfecta paid $1,727.

The Juvenile Fillies Turf - 1 mile, grass - 14 two-year-old fillies (8 related to Forli*)
Stephanie's Kitten won the race, paying $14.20 for a $2 win ticket. Stopshoppingmaria placed second, and a $2 bet on her garnered $9.20.  Sweet Cat was third, and she paid $9.40 for a $2 bet.  The first and third place winners are by the same stallion, and I liked their pedigrees.  The Forli*-bred horses finished in fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, and on to the end of the field.  The $2 exacta paid $106.20; $2 trifecta paid $916.60; and the $2 superfecta paid $16,668.80.

The Fillies and Mares Sprint  - 7/8 mile, dirt -  13 starters, aged 3 to 6
Shotgun Gulch warmed up for the race on the track, but appeared to be slightly off in one of her hind legs.  The on-track veterinarians scratched her before the start of the race.  Musical Romance, a 4-year-old bay, won the race.  Switch,  another 4-year-old bay, finished second (I liked her looks).  Her Smile, a 3-year-old Virginia-bred filly, was third.  Champagne d'Oro* finished sixth of 12.  A $2 winning ticket paid $42.40; a $2 place ticket paid $4.80; and a a $2 show ticket paid $12.40.   A $2 exacta paid $171; a $2 trifecta paid $4,865.80; and a $2 superfecta paid $30,809.60.

The Juvenile Fillies  -  1 and 1/16 miles, dirt -  14 two-year-old fillies, each carrying 122 pounds
I liked the pedigrees of Self Preservation and Say a Novena.  They finished fourth and tenth, respectively.  The winner of the race was My Miss Aurelia, who paid $6.20 on a $2 win ticket.  Grace Hall finished second, and paid $4.60.  Weemissfrankie, named for the man who bred her, was third, and paid $3.60.  The $2 exacta paid $24.80; the trifecta paid $101.20; and the superfecta paid $2,255.40.

The Fillies and Mares Turf - 1 and 3/8 miles, grass - 12 entrants, aged 3 to 5  (6 related to Forli*)
Announce* is an English-based filly, who came out for the post parade and got rattled by the dusk, the track lights, and the crowd.  She warmed up well, then bounced off the horse ambulance on the track, and then bopped her behind on the rail, scratching her hind leg.  The on-track vet scratched her from the race, even though the jockey did not agree....   Perfect Shirl* won the race, with Misty For Me* second, and Nahrain* finishing third.  Aruna* was sixth, and Cambina* was eighth.  The winner paid $57.60 on a $2 win ticket; Misty For Me* paid $5; and Nahrain* (ridden by the irrepressible Frankie Dettori) paid $5.20.  The exacta returned $324; the trifecta paid $3,002.40; and the superfecta was worth $42,429.

The Ladies Classic - 1 and 1/8 miles, dirt -  10 entries, aged 3 to 6  (4 related to Forli*)
Medaglia d'Amour* was scratched early in the morning due to a fever.  I liked the pedigrees of the first and second finishers, Royal Delta and It's Tricky.  Pachattack was third, and I liked the looks of Ultra Blend, who finished fourth.  Plum Pretty*, the betting favorite, ran fifth, with Super Espresso* seventh, and Satans Quick Chick* in eighth. (At least she defeated Miss Match, Sarah!)  Pay-outs on $2 bets were: $6.40 to win, $5 to place, and $6 to show; the exacta paid $32; the trifecta paid $233; and the superfecta paid out $1,177.20.

***Prayer For Relief has been scratched from tomorrow's Breeders Cup Classic due to a fever. ***
And, looking at some of those $2 pay-outs, I can understand how some folks get the gambling fever!