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By BRANT JAMES
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2001
Seventy-two days remain until most of the world's best thoroughbreds convene for the Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park. But because Breeders' Cup races are limited to 14 entrants and the top eight point-earners qualify automatically in each division, preliminary stakes such as Saturday's $1-million, Grade I Arlington Million become crucial stops.
Twelve horses are expected to enter the test over turf for 3-year-olds and older, run at 11/4 miles, including division-leader Bienamado and top-eight Hap and Redattore. Bienamado has 26 points; Hap, a winner of three consecutive stakes for trainer Bill Mott, and Redattore, winner of Del Mar's Eddie Read Handicap, each have 16.
Hap is the 5-year-old son of Eclipse Award-winning Turf champ Theatrical.
White Heart, lurking just outside the top eight with 10 points, could launch himself into contention with a strong finish. Breeders' Cup points are weighted and awarded for performance in graded stakes. Winning a Grade I is worth 10 points, finishing second worth six and third, four.
Bienamado, a 5-year-old by 1993 Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Bien Bien, has won six stakes in eight starts for trainer J. Paco Gonzalez since last summer, when he was fourth in the Million.
The Million's companion race, the 1 3/16-mile, Grade I, $700,000 Beverly D. Handicap, is similarly important for the Filly and Mare Turf division. Points-leader Astra (16) and top-eight Spook Express (12) and Penny's Gold (8) are entered, as are England's Legend (6) and Solvig (5).
BIG BOYS: The Classic Division, open to 3-year-olds and up and the showcase for former Triple Crown contenders, should see some questions resolved Sunday in the Grade I, 11/4-mile, $1-million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
Skimming, a 5-year-old son of Nureyev, is favored to retain his title because 2000 runner-up Tiznow, though training well at the track, is expected to sit out while recovering from a back injury. Tiznow won the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic and Eclipse as Horse of the Year. Skimming, eighth on the Classic points list with 22, last won the San Diego Handicap over Miller Trust's on July 29.
Contesting Skimming's repeat bid will be Futural, which beat him in the Hollywood Gold Cup but was disqualified for interference. Skimming finished third in that race.
Bob Baffert's Captain Steve, a loser of three straight since winning the Dubai World Cup, also is likely to enter.
NEXT WEEK: Even more Classic questions should be answered Aug. 25 in the Grade I, $1-million Travers Stakes at Saratoga, where Dollar Bill, A P Valentine, Scorpion and Balto Star are scheduled to run. Preakness and Belmont winner Point Given is tentative, but he indicated he might be rebounding from a lackluster (though victorious) Haskell by drilling 3 furlongs in 34.40 at Delmar on Tuesday.
Richard Mulhall, racing manager for the Thoroughbred Corporation, told the Daily Racing Form he expects a decision after owner Prince Ahmed Salman's visit to California this weekend.
"We have to make a decision before next Tuesday," Mulhall told the publication. "Because that's when the plane leaves for Saratoga."
THE SYSTEM: With so many horses vying for Breeders' Cup spots, ties often occur on the lengthy tally sheets. The Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel decides which horse earns the automatic bid if there is a tie for eighth. The panel then ranks the remaining horses to fill out the 14-horse field.
CALIFORNIA BETTIN': Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill allowing betting by phone or the Internet beginning next year. Davis vetoed a similar bill last year because he considered it an expansion of gaming. He approved this one because there was a change in federal law permitting account wagering. He said he also was convinced children won't be able to bet.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.