SPORTS N STUFF

The 48 hours of this years Breeders Cup had a little something for everybody from chalk to prices to a belated Fathers Day gift to an ex-boyfriend exacting revenge.

For a Breeders Cup Day at Churchill Downs Friday that saw 3 favorites, a 6-1 and a pair of bombs, the opulent near $450,000 Pick Six payoff looks like a gift at first asking, but lets see how the winners were successful.

Even though Bob Bafferts trainee Secret Circle resembled a drunken sports betting sailor down the stretch wobbling to get to the wire in the Juvenile Sprint but he made it three for three when holding on by lengths despite losing ground in the drive.

This was a case of just peaking at the right time but dont expect this guy to be around during the Triple Crown run next year, he just doesnt seem to have the stamina or grit to carry his speed. His 95 Beyer Speed Figure was solid, but dont be shocked if they stop on this guy and rest him until next year at Santa Anita.

Stopshoppingmaria, named for owner Mike Repoles wife who likes to shop till she drops, looked home free at the top of the lane of the Juvenile Fillies Turf but she was inhaled late by Stephanies Kitten, who proved her win in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at 9-1 was no fluke.

Kitten paid $14 and change, she recorded an 87 Beyer and her online best sportsbook connections can run the option play in the future as she has also prevailed on the synthetic surface.

Things were about to go awry in the Filly and Mare Sprint when favorite Turbulent Descent had a nightmarish trip to run out of the money which set up a shocker by Musical Romance, who paid $42.40 to key a superfecta that paid over $30,000.

Dont be afraid to take a chance on Romance many times in the future as her 98 winning Beyer was solid as she has now made it 14 for 33 in the exacta to raise her bankroll to over $1.2 million.

Order was quickly restored when My Miss Aurelia made it a perfect 4 for 4 winning the Juveniles Fillies with the lightest BC Beyer of the day of 86. She got a perfect 2-home trip and held off the other two logical players in the race, the classy Grace Hall and the long-fused Weemissfrankie.

The Breeders Cup betting drama started in the Filly and Mare Turf in the post parade as prominent miss Announce acted up on the track and had to be scratched.

It changed the complexion of the race and after the chalk Stacelita lacked room; the race was anybodys to take.

The miss that took advantage with a 99 Beyer was Woodbine invader Perfect Shirl, who stalked three wide to finally pull away at 27-1. This Charles Fipke homebred finally started off the rail, confirmed her class as a Grade 2 winner last year as she drew on her experience from her troubled start on the Churchill course last spring.

The pinnacle of the Friday card was the Ladies Classic and things got back to normal. Royal Delta had a legit excuse in her prior race before the Classic when catching the mud but she confirmed the Grade 1 class that she showed winning the Alabama in the spring.

The future is bright for Royal Delta and horseracing enthusiasts should follow her as she has the blood to have a long and successful career as her dam won multiple Grade stakes and banked nearly $750,000.

The chaos continued on Saturday as the winner of the Marathon Afleet Again had lost first 8 races this year and nearly blew up the tote board when returning $85.20. It may be his one career highlight as there are few opportunities in the stakes to race a mile and three quarters.

The Europeans dominated the Juvenile Turf controlling the trifecta as Wrote got the job done at a fat 11-1 for trainer Aidan OBrien.

Amazombie, trained by my friend Bill Spawr, who a tight one in the Sprint to return nearly $18 and solidify the career of the 72-year-old conditioner.

The winner of the Turf Sprint, Regally Ready, proved a favorite could win but players could still get paid, as the superfecta players were 33,10 and 18-1 respectively to return a ‘super of over 21 grand despite the popular winner.

One of the more impressive winners of the day was Calebs Posse, who came from second to last to win going away at a fat 6-1.

Fathers Day usually comes in June but it was there for all to see in November as Aidans OBrien gave his son a leg up on St Nicholas Abby and watched with awe with his family as the kid made the right move at the right time to win impressively.

Union Rags was probably best in the Juvenile when hung wide and a tough beat loser but you have to give Hansen his props. He has never been headed and he wore his heart on his proverbial sleeve.

Goldikovas bid to win her fourth consecutive Mile hit a roadblock as she found herself behind a wall of horses, made the lead briefly, but could not hold off the second longest shot in BC history, Court Vision, who paid $131.60 when winning by a nose.

For the first mile of the Classic, things unfolded like many imagined with Uncle Mo and Game On Dude battling on the front end. From there it got interesting.

Mo hit the proverbial wall but Chantal Sutherland, trying to become the first woman to win the Classic, coaxed Dude for all he was worth only got get collared late by Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith, who dated and lived with Sutherland not too long ago.

The winning Saturday Beyers follow: Afleet Again, 95; Wrote, 88; Amazombie, 107; Regally Ready, 102; Calebs Posse, 111; St Nicholas Abbey, 108; Hansen, 94; Court Vision, 103; Drosselmeyer, 104.

Remember, nothing is easy in this game of racing but in order to get better at the craft, one has to learn from history like the Breeders Cup.