Can Zenyatta win the Breeders’ Cup?
The Breeders Cup World Championships is this Saturday.
Dubbed as one of the most prestigious events in horse racing, the 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships will run run Friday, Nov. 6 through Saturday, Nov. 7 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
The Breeders’ Cup annually attracts the best horses from North America and Europe. It is the richest prize-money event in sports, consisting of 14 races and purses totaling to $25.5 million. Once again, this year’s Breeders’ Cup will be highlighted by the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, the feature race of the weekend.
Opening odds have listed Zenyatta as the favorite with 7/2 odds. Other favorites include Rip Van Winkle (5/1) and Summer Bird (6/1).
Zenyatta holds wins this year in the Milday Handicap, the Vanity Handicap, and the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap. Last June, Zenyatta won the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park for the second straight year. She carried 129 pounds, spotting her rivals 13 to 18 pounds, and became the first horse to win under such a weight assignment since 1977.
In 2008, she won it under 126 pounds.
On August 17, 2009 Zenyatta’s connections ruled out Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar on September 6. On October 10, she won her second Lady’s Secret in her same, come from behind fashion. Zenyatta will be looking to become the first filly to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic since its inception. Zenyatta won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic in 2008, but has yet to run against males in her career.
Other big hitters include Rip Van Winkle, who carries a 4-1 record in his career. The colt holds two wins in 2009, taking the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
We also have Summer Bird, the 2009 Belmont Stakes winner and the same colt who finished sixth in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Summer Bird has also won the Travers Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup this year.
He had his first work over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 last week. Summer Bird, who likely will be one of the favorites for the Classic, was timed in 1:01.96 by trainer Tim Ice, who said the son of Birdstone handled the surface in fine order.
Summer Bird became the first horse since Easy Goer in 1989 to sweep the Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup.
This is the first time the event will be held at the same site two years running, the Breeders’ Cup has been in the same market in consecutive years. Three of the first four Breeders’ Cup events were held in southern California, beginning in 1984 at Hollywood Park, at Santa Anita in 1986 and again at Hollywood Park in 1987.
Who will win the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.
Awesome Gem 51.00
Bullsbay 26.00
Colonel John 21.00
Einstein 21.00
Gio Ponti 10.00
Mastercraftsman 11.00
Mine The Bird 21.00
Quality Road 12.00
Regal Ransom 26.00
Richard’s Kid 19.00
Rip Van Winkle 2.50
Summer Bird 7.00
Twice Over 11.00
Zenyatta 5.00
Chocolate Candy 51.00
Girolamo 31.00
Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more Breeders’ Cup betting odds. Want to watch the 2009 Breeders’ Cup live? Get sporting events tickets online now.
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