Historic Churchill Downs to Host 23rd Breeders' Cup

The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships is being held for the sixth time in 16 years at historic Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

In an effort to keep BC races competitive with other major stakes throughout the world, total purse money was jacked up $6 million to $20 million for the eight stakes televised globally.

Seven of the eight races were increased from $500,000 to $1 million. No purse will be lower than $2 million.

The BC, which continues to increase in popularity, has enjoyed its best afternoons at Churchill Downs, playing host for the sixth time - the most of any track. A record crowd of 80,452 turned out in 1998.

When the BC returned to Churchill Downs in 2000, more than $108 million was wagered, the pari-mutuel record for the 22 programs first held in '84.

The Louisville track was supposed to host BC's 21st edition, but was forced to pass because of the 3 ½-year-long renovation. Lone Star Park got the gig and the Texas track was praised for its performance.

In addition to the enhanced purses, there was a reduction in entry fees: from 3 percent to 2 ½ of the total purse for nominated horses and from 20 percent to 15 for supplemental fees to each race.

"We're happy to have the first $20 million day at what we consider to be the home of the Breeders' Cup," said Churchill president Steve Sexton.

I've found over the years that it's a big plus to know how the dirt and grass surfaces are playing at the host track. Remember track bias changes, sometimes day to day.

For example, take a look at how Churchill Downs played during June and July of the summer meeting, according to weekly reports compiled by Brisnet.com:

June 1: The main track favored speed runners on Friday (May 26) and stalkers on Sunday (May 28). There was no apparent path bias last week. The lone turf bias occurred on Saturday (May 27) when off-the-pace runners fared best.

June 8: The main track played honestly to begin the week. It seemed somewhat biased toward early speed types on Friday (June2), but returned to normal over the weekend. There was no apparent path bias last week. The turf favored speed on Thursday (June 1) while come-from-behind runners did best on Saturday (June 3).

June 15: Speed did well on dirt when racing returned on Wednesday (June 7), with the track playing uniformly until Saturday (June 10). Stalkers and closers held the advantage in sprints over the weekend (June 10-11). There was no apparent path bias last week. The turf course favored off-the-pace runners on both weekend days.

June 22: Speed did well over the main track on Friday (June 16) and Sunday (June 18). No path bias was discernible last week. The turf course was definitely biased towards early speed in sprints.

June 29: The main track remained bias-free all week, as did the turf course. There was no pronounced path bias to report on last week.

July 13: There was no running style or path bias over the main track when racing returned on Friday (July 7). The grass course played honestly as well.

July 20: The main track was biased toward early speed on Thursday (July 13) and Friday (July 14). The track played uniformly over the weekend. There did not appear to be any detectable path bias last week. The turf course played honestly when in use.

During the meeting that opened April 29 through late June, early speed didn't do well at six furlongs as only 17 percent of 99 winners led at every call. However, 29 percent of 69 winners at 1 1/16 miles went wire to wire. In 86 turf routes, only 14 percent of pacesetters triumphed. Closers were at a disadvantage and inside posts were the place to be.

Here's what to look for when handicapping the eight BC races at the home of the Kentucky Derby.

$2 Million Distaff, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up: Favorites dominate as 17 of 22 winners were less than 3-1, which probably accounts for some of the smallest fields on the annual card.

However, 4-year-old Pleasant Home upset the 13-horse field by more than nine lengths last year at Belmont Park and returned $63.50 on the front end. Remember that no European-based filly or mare has visited the winner's circle while five 3-year-olds have won.

Of five Distaff contests at Churchill Downs, Spain in 2000 covered the 1 1/8 miles the quickest: 1:47 3/5. In fact, the best times on the dirt were posted six years ago when the Louisville track hosted its fifth BC.

$2 Million Juvenile for fillies, 1 1/16 miles: This is an all American race - no invader has won. Look for pedigree screaming stamina. Seven winners have returned double-digit payoffs.

But a dozen favorites scored, including Folklore, who led all the way in '05 covering the distance in 1:43 4/5 at the New York track. The best time posted at Churchill Downs was in '00 by Caressing: 1:42 2/5.

$2 Million Mile, 3-year-olds and up: Nineteen different horses have triumphed in this turf race, including nine bred in Europe. The event averages 13-plus entries.

While crowded fields usually lead to bad trips, chalk has finished on top about one-third of the time. Second choice Artie Schiller edged favored Leroidesanimaux last year in 1:36. The fastest mile posted at the Louisville track came in '94 when Barathea zipped 1:34 2/5.

Only Lure in '92 was in front at every call. He repeated in '93, but stalked the pace until taking over near the half-mile marker.

$2 Million Sprint, six furlongs, 3-years-old and up: Every winner had a victory at six furlongs and captured a stakes race. Eleven of the 22 scored after a loss, but no winner has come into the contest off an unplaced finish since Desert Stormer in '90.

No running style has dominated. There have been four wire-to-wire victories, another four horses led at nearly every call, nine turned for home in front and six closed from the back of the pack.

Last year's winner, Silver Train, challenged the fading Lost in the Fog in mid-stretch and took the lead inside the furlong marker, defeating Taste of Paradise by a head in 1:08 4/5. Fastest time at Churchill Downs was posted in '00 when Kona Gold established the track record: 1:07 3/5.

Most European-based runners make their first start on the dirt in this BC contest. Only Sheikh Albadou, bred in Great Britain, visited the winner's circle in '91.

$2 Million Filly & Mare Turf, 1 3/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up: Three of seven favorites triumphed, but there's no distinct pattern in this youngest of BC events so it's best to rely on form and class.

All winners were less than six lengths behind at first call. Intercontinental, however, led every step of the way last year, covering 1 ¼ miles in 2:02 1/5. That was the distance several years. In '00, Perfect won in 2:13 for 1 3/8 miles at Churchill Downs.

$2 Million Juvenile for colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles: Endurance plays a major factor. Seventeen winners were among the top three choices, including '05 second choice Stevie Wonderboy who covered the distance in 1:41 3/5.

Most champions owned at least one stakes victory and only two winning 2-year-olds were sent off at odds of more than 10-1.

$3 Million Turf, 1 ½ miles, 3-year-olds and up: A dozen European-bred horses won. Those making their last start overseas scored nine times, including the last six in a row, which is the same number of victorious post-time favorites. Class and form often point to the winner.

Eleven winners either broke from the inside three posts or from the eighth slot and outward. German-bred Shirocco, out of post 2, stalked the pacesetter until taking over at the quarter pole and won by 1 ¾ lengths on a good Belmont grass course in 2:29 1/5.

Tikkanen set the Churchill Downs track record of 2:26 2/5 for the distance back in the '94 contest.

$5 Million Classic, 1 ¼ miles, 3-year-olds and up: Post-time favorites won seven times, including last year's winner, Saint Liam, who surged past Flower Alley leaving the furlong marker and scored a length victory in 2:01 2/5.

Tiznow, who captured the first of two Classics in '00, covered the 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs in 2:00 3/5.

Eleven horses that visited the winner's circle returned more than $10 on the front end.

Only two horses triumphed from the rail, including Ghostzapper in '04 when he became only the second wire-to-wire winner since '91 when Black Tie Affair scored off the longest layoff - 49 days.

Outside is the place to be in the Classic. Only four horses have won from posts 1-3 while eight did from posts 10 through 14, including Saint Liam from post 12.

Late runners do well as the average lengths behind the pacesetter after a half-mile is five. So tactical speed is most important.