Today's Nine Breeders Cup Races

Nine championship races today at Santa Anita, with purses totaling $21.5 million...  It's hard for me to get my head around those numbers.  Most of the horses that won their races today were not the public's betting favorites, or were just lukewarm favorites.  If you've read my blog about races in years past, you'll know that I have my own weird way of looking at specific bloodlines, conformation, trainers and jockeys for my betting picks.  Once again, I ended up with more cash than I started with, but I did pick a few clunkers...   All payouts quoted are for a single $2 bet.
   The first Breeders Cup race today was the Juvenile Fillies.  This race was considered to be wide open - and was.  Champagne Room won the race by 3/4 length, and paid $69.20; Valadorna placed second and paid $9.80; American Gal showed, and paid $4.80; with Daddys Lil Darling in fourth.  The Perfecta paid $723.60; the Trifecta paid $4,694.60; and the Superfecta paid $51,784.80.  (My picks finished first and third, with Jamyson'n Ginger in fifth, and Union Strike in sixth.  I bet on American Gal because jockey Mike Smith convinced her trainer to run  her after winning a 6 furlong race two weeks ago.)
   The Fillies and Mares Turf was very exciting with Queen's Trust, ridden by Frankie Detorri, winning by a nose over betting favorite Lady Eli.  Queen's Trust paid $18.00; and Lady Eli paid $3.20.  Avenge was in third, and paid $7.40, while Seventh Heaven finished in fourth place.  The Perfecta paid $65.80; the Trifecta paid $837.60; and the Superfecta paid $3,219.20.  (My picks ran first, second, fourth, and Al's Gal was ninth.)
   I used to pick every Sprint winner, but haven't in the past five years...  Drefong won today's race by 1 1/4 lengths, and paid $9.80.  Masochistic was second, with Mike Smith aboard, and paid $4.00.  Mind Your Biscuits ran in third and paid $4.60, with A. P. Indian in fourth place.  The Perfecta paid $30.00; the Trifecta paid $224.60; and the Superfecta paid $996.40.  (My picks ran second, third and fourth, with Delta Bluesman placing sixth.)
   The Turf Sprint was another race won by a nose.  Obviously won on the nod over Om, and paid $9.60.  Om paid $6.00.  Third was Pure Sensation, who paid $6.60, with Calgary Cat in fourth.  The Perfecta paid $58.20; the Trifecta paid $624.80; and the Superfecta paid $19,372.60.  (The horses I chose ran first and fourth, with Holy Lute in sixth, and Wesley Ward's Undrafted in eighth.)
   The Juvenile was anyone's guess, also.  Classic Empire won by a neck and paid $11.00.  Not This Time ran second and paid $4.60 to place.  Practical Joke showed in third and paid $4.60, with Looking At Lee in fourth.  The Perfecta paid $39.40; the Trifecta paid $289.40; and the Superfecta paid $2,568.40.   (The colts I bet on finished first and second, with Klimt in eighth, and Theory in tenth.)
    I really looked forward to the Turf today - so many horses with bloodlines that I adore...  Highland Reel, an Irish-bred, won by 1 3/4 lengths, and paid $9.60.  Flintshire, bred in Great Britain, placed second and paid $3.20.  Found, another Irish-bred finished third, and paid  $3.00.  He was followed by yet another Irish-bred, Ulysses.  The Perfecta paid $28.80; the Trifecta paid $87.60; and the Superfecta paid $651.20.  (I bet on the first, second, and fourth place horses, as well as Da Big Horse, my favorite US turf specialist, who finished fifth.)
   The Fillies and Mares Sprint race saw Mike Smith pilot his mount to another win.  Finest City won by 3/4 length and paid $19.40.  Wavell Avenue ran second and paid $13.80.  Paulassilverlining came in third and paid $9.20, followed under the wire by Tara's Tango.  The Perfecta paid $216.40; the Trifecta paid $2,471.40; and the Superfecta paid $16,784.00.  (My bets were placed on the first and fourth finishers, as well as fifth-placed By The Moon, and Irish Jasper, who ran eighth.)
   The Mile, run on the turf was hotly contested, and was won by a half-length.  Tourist, who paid $26.80, was the upset winner over favored Tepin, who paid $4.60.  Midnight Storm ran in third and paid $6.60 to show, with Ironicus fourth under the wire.  The Perfecta paid $105.20; the Trifecta paid $1,008.20; and the Superfecta paid $4449.40.  (I had bet on Tourist, Ironicus, Cougar Mountain, who finished eighth, and Alice Springs, who ran tenth.)
   Today's Classic was greatly anticipated, as was the Distaff yesterday.  Yesterday it was a contest between Songbird, 3, and Beholder, 6; as well as between jockeys Gary Stevens on the older mare and Mike Smith on the younger.  Beholder won by a nostril.  Today's Classic pitted California Chrome, aged 5, unbeaten so far this year, ridden by Victor Espsinoza, and 3-year-old Arrogate, under the guidance of veteran Mike Smith.  There were seven other entries, as Shaman Ghost was scratched, including some top-notch horses - Keen Ice, Frosted, and Hoppertunity, to name a few.  California Chrome broke well and easily, and went to the lead smoothly. With a little over 1/4 mile to run, Mike Smith asked Arrogate to move into a higher gear.  They caught up with California Chrome; they stayed beside him, and then they pulled past by a half-length at the wire.  Chrome had his first defeat of the year, but it was one heck of a race.  Arrogate paid $5.40 to win; California Chrome paid $2.60 to show.  Keen Ice crossed the finish line 10 3/4 lengths behind Chrome, paying $5.80; but he was only a neck in front of Hoppertunity in fourth place.  The Perfecta paid $10.00; the Trifecta paid $149.20; and the Superfecta paid $592.60.  Since California Chrome was an even money bet to win, I did not place a bet on him.  (My four betting picks were Arrogate, Hoppertunity, Frosted, who ran sixth, and War Story, who ran eighth.  I always bet on War Story, just because I love his dam, Belle Watling.)