*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !*

9/27/08 - The Stick Studio's, Florida

*BREEDERS CUP PREVIEW DAY AT BELMONT PARK AND OAK TREE-SANTA ANITA*

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*BELMONT PARK RACES*

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*BELDAME G1 $600,000 1 1/8 Mile*

Lets start off the stakes action with a $600,000 Grade 1 for 3 and up F&M; at 1 1/8 Mile.

Ginger Punch is the prohibitive 4/5 favorite morning line and looks to put here here previous foes again with a solid effort. Trainer Bobby Frankel bring in Rafeal Bejarano to seal this race in their favor.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends in second choice Unbridled Belle with Alan Garcia and longshot Leahs Secret.

Ginger Punch should run well enough in this small field to take it in the stretch and be ready for a big Breeders Cup.

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*FLOWER BOWL G1 $600,000 1 1/4 Mile(TURF)*

We have another strong early favorite in Mauralakana and Kent Desormeaux. Christophe Clement has this one primed, and he loves this condition with his strong european turf background.

In another small field, Dynaforce and Communique look to challenge the favorite, but Mauralakana looks to be posied to win big in this spot.

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*VOSBURGH G1 $400,000 6 Furlongs*

Why is this prep only $400K ? Shorter distance, shorter purse ?

The Sprinters are spotlighted here. Fabulous Strike and Lucky Island look to set the track afire and hook up in a blistering pace.

First Defence deserves a look, and Rockefellar also has the ability to get the job done at a price.

This race is deep with talent, and there are 7 powerful sprinters to watch.

Longshot J be K is worth a second look especially at odds of 8-1 or better. Perhaps an exotic use to make some big money.

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*JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC G1 $600,000 1 1/2 Mile(TURF)*

The Bobby Frankel express continues to roll at Belmont. Proudinsky and Ramon Dominguez are in for a very competitive race. Grand Couturier and Alan Garcia, along with Dancing Forever and Rene Douglas are the main foes.

Longshot Summer Patriot with Eibar Coa should not be discounted either.

The results of this endurance turf race will be dependant on early pace, and which runners position themselves for the final run into the stretch.

Look for Proudinsky to be closing and Grand Couturier to try to hold him off. Summer Patriot has an outside chance of jumping ahead early stretch, but will have to run his best race to win.

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*JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP G1 $750,000 1 1/4 Mile*

All eyes are on Curlin. This is his race to win or lose. While Big Brown has won his last race in a desperate fashion on turf, Curlin comes into this race as the king.

Robby Albarado and Steve Asmussen must have prepared for this race thoroughly. They have to get it right, and while it is a crack handicap field, Curlin is set to shine.

Mambo in Seattle, Wanderin Boy, Timber Reserve, and Merchant Marine will all battle for the runner up position. However, we feel that Longshot AP Arrow is worth a few exotic plays with Curlin. Remember, if your going to play this race you have to find some longshots to play with Curlin or you wont get a price.

Curlin looks to stamp himself the clear favorite in the Breeders Cup Classic with a convincing win here at Belmont.

In years past before the Breeders Cup, this race was the year end finale and many outstanding horses have won it. Its a shame, that this once storied race now serves as a stepping stone and can be called a "prep" race. I watched this race as a child in 1978 when Seatlle Slew defeated Affirmed(Triple Crown Winner vs Triple Crown Winner), and in 1979 when Affirmed defeated Spectacular Bid. To many readers, and myself the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park could never be called a "prep" race. It is a classic race with a storied past of great champions. Hopefully, Curlin will continue that tradition.

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*OAK TREE RACES*

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*CLEMENT HIRSCH TURF CHAMPIONSHIP G1 $250,000 1 1/4 Mile(TURF)*

Well just because its the other side of the country and on the West Coast, that does not mean trainer Bobby Frankel can't be at two places at once.

Race Favorite, Out of control with Garret Gomez up looks very strong for Frankel. Todd Pletcher is also using the transporter from Star Trek to be across the country to saddle Red Giant.

Spring House is our selection for Tyler Baze and turf training specialist, Julio Canani. Longshots Fernely and you got me rocking help round out a very strong field of turf stars preparing for the Breeders Cup.

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*LADIES SECRET G1 $250,000 1 1/16 Mile*

All the stakes at Oak Tree today, except the two features, are $250,000. I guess NYRA has more to spend on its stakes then Oak Tree.

Zenyatta and Mike Smith are the outstanding favorite. We are very happy for Mike, who is one of our favorite jockey's from a long way back. This compact field and the distance make it a perfect spot for Zenyatta to win big.

Second choice, Hystericalady and Garret Gomez look like a great play, but they can't beat the top choice. If this one was alone without Zenyatta, she wins for fun, however she cant win over the top choice without some racing luck.

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*ANCIENT TITLE G1 $250,000 6 Furlongs*

This is the big sprint before the Breeders Cup for California runners.

Favorite Street Boss and David Flores have an old handicapping angle going for them, speed nearest the rail. In addition, Street Boss is one of the fastest horses in the race. If he sets sail into the far turn, he may be very hard to catch when they straighten out through the stretch.

In Summation with Rene Douglas and Idiot Proof with Garret Gomez look to challenge the favorite, but they will have to be at their very best.

Longshots, Delta Storm with Aaron Gryder, Cost of Freedom with Tyler Baze, and Esperamos with Julio Garcia are all waiting to pounce if they can break from the gate fast and hope the favorite falters.

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*OAK LEAF G1 $250,000 1 1/16 Mile*

Stardom Bound with Mike Smith, Empressive Lady with Tyler Baze, Toro Bonito and David Flores, Palacio de Amor and Espinoza all look to overcome a crowded field of very open 2 year old fillies, in the toughest betting race of the day.

I would say pick your 4 or 5 top picks and box them in a trifecta, and you will get a price if you win.

No clear standouts in the Oak Leaf, but it should be an exciting race.

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*YELLOW RIBBON G1 $400,000 1 1/4 Mile(TURF)*

This is John Velasquez's whole day in one race. Wait a While is the outstanding favorite for Trainer Todd Pletcher and JV. This filly is looking to blow this rce wide open and have clear sailing into the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare turf.

Black Mamba with Garret Gomez is a wonderful challenge to Wait a While. We have seen Black Mamba run and win from many tough positions. Even when Mamba looks defeated she comes on strong and finds a way to win. It should be very interesting to see if she can take on Wait a while.

Vacare with Jose Valdivia has tremendous class, and can run anywhere in the world. However, she looks to be a few steps below the top choices. If she gets some racing luck, she could win, and it makes for a very interesting race.

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*GOODWOOD G1 $500,000 1 1/8 Mile*

The feature is WIDE OPEN !!!

Surf Cat and David Flores, Zappa and Joel Rosario, Albertus Maximus and Garret Gomez, Well Armed and Arron Gryder, Tiago and mike smith, Mast Track with John Velazquez all round out a powerful field.

This is anyone's race. Its a large field, with runners who all want to show their best effort going into the Breeders Cup Classic.

However, one has to ask, if Curlin runs big and is sound into the Breeders cup, can anyone in this field, even with a monumental effort, win over him ?

Nice prices on horses like Surf Cat and Tiago. Perhaps an exacta box with one or two other horses.

LETS ENJOY THE RACES TODAY AND HAVE FUN ! THIS IS THE BIGGEST DAY BEFORE THE BREEDERS CUP. - MC

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