Breeders' Cup Diary Classic

BREEDERS' CUP DIARY

CLASSIC

by James Scully

The top three contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) are

SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado), ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) and BORREGO (El Prado

[Ire]), and we'll take a look at the final prep race for each.

Woodward S. (G1) - The September 10 Woodward featured

only five runners and will be remembered for the presence of two rabbits, whom

trainer Richard Dutrow entered to chase Commentator (Distorted Humor) on the

front end. Saint Liam couldn't overhaul Commentator in the Whitney H. (G1)

previously, but he experienced no problems whatsoever in the Woodward, racing

several lengths off swift fractions of :23 3/5 and :45 2/5 before beginning to

advance approaching the far turn. The bay five-year-old moved effortlessly to

the fore as he straightened into the stretch drive and quickly opened up a clear

lead while under a stiff hold from Jerry Bailey. Saint Liam galloped to the

wire, finishing nine furlongs in 1:49 and earning a 108 BRIS Speed rating.

Saint Liam has still never won at 1 1/4 miles, but he clearly

likes Belmont. He pushed Ghostzapper (who earned his first win at 1 1/4 miles in

last year's Classic) to the extreme in the 2004 Woodward, earning a 114 Speed

rating after coming up short by a neck, and runs well fresh (enters Classic off

a seven-week break). Saint Liam didn't earn a triple-digit Late Pace rating and

finished his final eighth in a moderate 13 seconds last time, but he wasn't

asked for much either.

Runner-up SIR SHACKLETON (Miswaki) closed ground to be two

lengths back at the finish and has been pre-entered to the Classic, but he

doesn't look like a 10-furlong horse and will be a huge outsider on October 29.

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) - Borrego proved that his

smashing performance in the Pacific Classic (G1) was no fluke in the October 1

Jockey Club, circling rivals with an eye-catching move on the far turn and

opening up by daylight at the top of the stretch. Jockey Garrett Gomez began

easing the four-year-old down well before the wire as Borrego cruised to a 4

1/2-length decision, completing the 1 1/4-mile contest in 2:02 4/5 and notching

a 106 Speed figure.

Trained by Beau Greely, Borrego displayed similar momentum in

his previous start, the Pacific Classic, closing from last to first with a

tremendous rush to record his initial stakes win and earning a 106 Speed number.

He benefited from a heated pace (:23 2/5 and :46 3/5) in the Jockey Club and

isn't given credit for beating the strongest competition (fourth placer FLOWER

ALLEY [Distorted Humor] didn't show up with his best), but the chestnut is

clearly entering the Breeders' Cup in top form. He's won back-to-back starts at

1 1/4 miles, and there appears to be plenty of speed lining up for the Classic.

Don't be surprised if Borrego mows down the opposition once again.

SUAVE's (A.P. Indy) runner-up performance appears to be mostly

overlooked, but the improving four-year-old looms as a sleeper in the Classic.

After winning his first two starts this year in wire-to-wire manner, including

the Saratoga Breeders' Cup S. (G2), the Paul McGee-trained colt was forced back

off the pace after stumbling at the start of the Jockey Club. He recovered to

sit a stalking trip but got caught trapped between horses on the far turn --

jockey Edgar Prado had plenty of horse but nowhere to run. When Suave finally

got clear, the race was over as he was about 10 lengths back of Borrego, but he

closed extremely well to cut the final margin in half, finishing 5 3/4 lengths

clear of third and receiving his second straight century-topping Speed race.

Suave ran a great race and could carry his form forward with a strong showing at

long odds in the Breeders' Cup.

SUN KING (Charismatic) turned in a commendable effort to finish

a clear third, but 10 furlongs isn't his best distance. Travers S. (G1) winner

Flower Alley didn't show up with his best and will attempt to rebound in the

Classic, but the headstrong colt doesn't appear very rateable and could get

caught chasing the pace once again.

Goodwood Breeders' Cup S. (G2) - Rock Hard Ten was unbeatable over the winter in California, winning the Malibu S. (G1) and

Strub S. (G2) before culminating his run with an outstanding 1 3/4-length tally

in the Santa Anita H. (G1) in early march. He defeated Saint Liam in the latter

and was expected to point toward the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in early July, but

the massive black colt's return was delayed until the Goodwood Breeders' Cup on

October 1. The Richard Mandella trainee showed no signs of rust.

Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) sprinted to the lead and

established fractions of :24 1/5 and :48 3/5 in the Goodwood with Rock Hard Ten

closely stalking to his outside. The pacesetter was asked for his run on the far

turn and still led by about a half-length approaching the stretch, but Gary

Stevens was sitting chilly in the saddle as Rock Hard Ten waited for his cue.

The favorite found another gear in midstretch and steadily edged away for a

one-length score while being ridden confidently, turning 1 1/8 miles in 1:48

3/5.

Rock Hard Ten earned another top Speed rating of 105 and will

attempt to cap a perfect season in the Breeders' Cup. Mandella won the Classic

with 14-1 upsetter Pleasantly Perfect in 2003, and he's got the goods to do it

again with a short-priced selection. Rock Hard Ten is a much more mature now than the high-strung colt who refused to load prior to last year's second-place

finish in the Preakness S. (G1), and he won't have any trouble with the distance

at Belmont. There's plenty to like about his chances.