And Away They Go...

Tweet Can't wait for Trevor to utter those words at Oak Tree around 3:35pm today on the Deuce. Received an email from my pal JB yesterday describing the anticipation of the start of the BC championships with: "Being a 4 year old on Christmas eve is a lot like being 44 year old on Breeder's Cup eve. There is a lot to like about the next 2 days of racing." After completing our evening game of fetch with Tanner Jones I settled down into the Space Crib to do some late night 'capping. Here's what I came up with for today's five BC races (note to newcomers, i come with a warning label):

F&M Sprint. Indian Blessing is the chalk here and rightfully so. She's won on the surface, Baffert likes his chances (when doesn't he) and she can handle the distance. The Pick. Intangaroo shows some nice speed figures is 5-3-1-0 at the distance and has won over the surface. Ventura ran off at KEE in her last race on synthetics at this distance and with the speed in this race early (Dream Rush, Dearest Tricksi), I think she'll hit the board.

Selections: 1- Indian Blessing, 2- Intangaroo, 3 - Ventura

Tanner Jones longshot: Dearest Tricksi

Juvenile Fillies Turf. Sugar Mom tries the turf for the first time (I'm taking a leap here) and trainer Catalano's stats for first turf (24%, ROI $2.30) and Synth/Turf (26%, ROI $2.21) look too juicy to pass up at 10-1 or higher. Laragh has the best turf jockey in the States in Prado aboard and looks to be the chalk. Consequence with Johnny V up, is a El Prado (IRE) filly running for Shug who has to be respected in any BC race.

Selections: 1 - Sugar Mom, 2- Laragh, 3 - Consequence

Tanner Jones longshot: C Karma

Juvenile Fillies. Stardom Bound is the class of this group (another chalk, I know) and is a good time to wheel a trifecta with her on top. Mike Smith knows the course and she has matching Beyer tops (good angle) coming into the race. Sky Diva won the Frizette (G1) handily over Persistently (another Shug entry), neither who have been on artificial surfaces. I look for NY-bred Doremifasolatido to be coming hard at the finish to maybe catch a piece.

Selections: 1-Stardom Bound, 2- Sky Diva, 3- Persistently

Tanner Jones longshot: Doremifasolatido

F&M Turf. Loving Mauralakana (Fr) in this race. This 5yo mare for Clement should be there at the end in this 1 1/4 mile turf route. Halfway to Heaven (IRE) sports some fine Group One victories over the pond and has the venerable Johnny Murtagh aboard. Wait a While, a SpaceMan favorite, is on her home course and has the best jockey in the world (imho) in GoGo up. She would have been the favorite last year at Monmouth had the turf. I struggled not including Forever Together here (looove Julien Leparoux on the turf), just not sure she can handle the distance.

Selections: 1 - Mauralakana, 2- Halfway to Heaven, 3 - Wait a While

Tanner Jones longshot: Dynaforce

Hugh Hefner Handicap. While I would love to try and beat Zenyatta, the Street Cry filly, and many undefeated horses have gone down on BC day (Lost in the Fog, etc.), it's hard not to key her on top of a trifecta or super here. Like the matching Beyer tops, too. But it could happen, so exacta back-wheels could be in play. Music Note dueled Ky Oaks and Alabama champ Proud Spell to the wire at the Spa in August, just don't know if she'll handle the synthetics for the Sheikh, but I am a fan of this filly and am sticking with her. Defending champ Ginger Punch had a tough trip and race in the Personal Ensign and lost her next race out (was it due to that strenuous Spa race stretch duel?). She's definitely a threat here to unseat the Big Z.

Selections: 1 - Zenyatta, 2- Music Note, 3 - Ginger Punch

Tanner Jones longshot: Hystericalady

Well it all gets started this afternoon, should be great racing, hit a bar ask for the Deuce, have a nice Budweiser and enjoy the day. How will the Big 3 trainers do? Will Big Z stay undefeated? Will day one handle surpass last year's (~$31M) due to placing graded races on Friday, one CEO thinks so. Good luck everyone and invest wisely.