Breeders' Cup - Day One Thoughts

With the Day 1 of the Breeders' Cup behind us, what did we learn about the horses that ran?

Since the day went without a favorite, you have to think we'll see a favorite or two on Saturday's card come home triumphant.

It appears that the NY contingent is not comfortable in Southern California. I am certain it has something to do with the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita but even on turf, it was not a great showing for the horses based in Northeast. The best effort was for trainer Todd Pletcher as Rose Catherine was the runner-up in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Life Is Sweet's (left) victory in the Ladies Classic certainly bodes well for Zenyatta in the Classic. Life Is Sweet was beaten three times by the undefeated star mare this year and today's easy victory over what appeared to be a good group of contenders is a good sign.

The Europeans again proved that they are very tough. They won two races on Friday (Man of Iron - Marathon and Midday - Filly & Mare Turf) and will have a big shot in the Mile, Turf and Classic. The only disappointment was Lillie Langtry in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was sent off as the post-time favorite but never fired and ran ninth.

The Juvenile Fillies was a good race but don't think we've seen next years Kentucky Oaks winner. She Be Wild (right) loves the synthetic tracks and being a daughter of Offlee Wild doesn't make me think she'll stretch out in distance. The horses to watch in that race are Biofuel and Zilva who had horrific trips.

Sad that Ventura did not win the Filly & Mare Sprint. Trainer Bobby Frankel reportedly has been sick for a while and this would have been a nice way to pick up his spirits.

Informed Decision might be the biggest synthetic track lover since the surface made its debut a few years ago. She is now 7-for-7 on the artificial dirt. The great news is that she will run again next year but the Breeders' Cup moves back to the conventional dirt at Churchill.

It was nice to see Cloudy's Knight (left) run so well in the Marathon. He's a 9-year-old gelding, which ties for the oldest horse ever to run in a Breeders' Cup.

Day one was a lot of fun and Saturday should be even better.