California Chrome draws favorable post for Breeders' Cup

THE BREEDERS' CUP has evolved from its first run on a glorious November Saturday 30 years ago at Hollywood Park.

It has been a 2-day event since it was held in 2007 at Monmouth Park. A total of 164 horses (and a few also eligibles) were drawn yesterday into 13 BC races (four Friday, nine Saturday) at Santa Anita Park with total purses of $26 million.

The ending remains the same as it was back in 1984. It was the $3 million Classic then, the $5 million Classic now. This Saturday night on NBC in prime time, it will be a showdown for Horse of the Year among Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, unbeaten 2013 2-year-old champion Shared Belief, Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and Haskell and Pennsylvania Derby winner Bayern.

Chrome drew uncomfortable-for-him inside posts in each of the Triple Crown races and the Pennsylvania Derby. He was able to overcome them in the Derby and Preakness by getting outside early, but it hurt him in the Belmont Stakes and Pa. Derby. The Derby winner drew Post 13 in a full field of 14 for the Classic so there will be no excuses as the speed is inside of him and Chrome should get that same close-up stalking trip that he used to dominate in the winter and spring.

Europeans have dominated the distance grass races for years and have a strong contingent again, 25 horses in five races over the 2 days.

Arlington Million winner Hardest Core, trained in Chester County by Eddie Graham, will try some of those very good Euros in Saturday's $3 million Turf. Hardest Core, who won his first two races this year at Parx and Delaware Park, was scheduled to fly from Newark to Los Angeles this afternoon. The Turf is scheduled to go off at 6:22 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.

Horses from Parx Racing's big day on Sept. 20 will be well represented. In addition to Bayern, Tapiture and Candy Boy, second and third in Pa. Derby, will be running in Friday's Dirt Mile and Saturday's Classic, respectively. Chrome, of course, finished sixth in the Pa. Derby. Cotillion Stakes winner Untapable will be among the favorites in Friday's finale, the $2 million Distaff.

Delaware Handicap winner Belle Gallantey and 2013 Cotillion winner Close Hatches were also entered in the Distaff in what looks like a very competitive field. Beholder, last year's Distaff winner and the certain favorite this year, got sick after a recent workout and was not entered, opening the race up a bit.

Longtime Parx trainer Alfredo Velasquez has taken over the training of Sprint contender Private Zone for the suspended Doug O'Neill. Private Zone won the Vosburgh at Belmont Park each of the last 2 years.

Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, also the winner of the Mile the last 2 years, looked ready to defend both those titles until a recent ankle injury knocked him out for the rest the year and possibly his career.

The Breeders' Cup is not only the year's final examination for the horses, it is every bit the final exam for bettors whose rubber bands come off bankrolls that swell in anticipation of giant payoffs on really good horses.

Like every horse-racing exam for players, this is strictly pass/fail. Either you have more money than you started with or you don't. There are also, of course, levels of passing and failing, also determined by the cash you have or don't.

- Dick Jerardi