Bernardini Braces for Breeders Cup
Saturday is -- as one Las Vegas bookmaker observed -- Thoroughbred racing's Super Bowl and World Series rolled into one. "It's racing's crowning day," said New Frontier bet shop boss Tony Nevil. This year's $20 million, eight-race Breeders' Cup card will be contested at Churchill Downs, horse racing's Mecca and site of the Kentucky Derby. Spring's Run for the Roses remains the Sport of Kings' single most popular event and brings out bettors and non-bettors alike, while the Breeders' Cup appeals to true Thoroughbred buffs who have followed the various classes all year. The Breeders' Cup gradually has been gaining prestige over the past two decades and now is horse racing biggest wagering day. "It will be this year, anyway," predicted Wynn Las Vegas Race and Sports Director John Avello, who fashions futures on the full menu. "It's a sign of the quality of the field." While the Derby focuses on 3-year-old colts and a rare filly, the Breeders' Cup showcases racing's best of both sexes competing on surfaces and at distances with which they are most comfortable, from turf to grass and the six-furlong Sprint to the 1 1/4th-mile Classic. The 2006 cast widely is regarded, from top to bottom, as one of the best ever. Focus of the day, of course, will be the $5 million Classic, where Bernardini will try to establish himself as a superstar ala Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed, en route to being proclaimed Horse of the Year. Bernardini skipped the Derby, won the Preakness, bypassed the one-and-three-quarters mile Belmont and then went on a spree that produced five more victories, including the Jim Dandy, Travers and Jockey Gold Cup. He's expected to be day's shortest-priced entrant -- perhaps 1/5 or lower -- and everybody and their brother, including mine, will seek to knock the Dubai wonder off his pedastal. Bernardini is ridden by Javier Castellano and trained by Tom Albertrani. Even players who detest chalk are conceding the race to Bernardini and instead attempting to find horses with which to pair him in exotics, though some still insist the horse can be upset. Lou D'Amico, who heads Plaza race and sports operations and also oversees table games, looks to 7-year-old Perfect Drift, a true veteran of racing wars, including the 2002 Triple Crown. "He's a good long shot at 20/1, he's seven and if he's ever going to do it, this is the year," D'Amico, who formerly ran race books at Caesars Palace and the Hilton, said. He'll hook Perfect Drift up with Bernardini and Sun King, who was 15/1 on the morning line and is trained by Nick Zito. Avello believes Bernardini, who will break from the No. 3 spot, is in a class by himself, but notes the fact he's moving up to face older horses for the first time could be an impediment. "I don't think so, though," said Avello, whose second and third picks are Argentinian invader Invasor, the 5/1 second choice, and Sun King. The New Frontier's Nevil is tabbing a familiar face, 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, who is 30/1 after hitting the comeback trail following an injury. "Let's see," he said. "Bernardini has won his last six races by more than 40 lengths, but I'm going with good ol' (jockey) Mike Smith and Giacomo. "He's got speed and we'll see if he tires out." Many horse racing enthusiasts have raised eyebrows while checking out the bio of Irish-bred George Washington, who crossed the Pond specifically to run in the Classic. "I'm not so sure, I don't know much about him, but he's shipping from overseas, so you have to give him respect," D'Amico said. Nevil noted George Washington has a 132 Time Form Rating, which can be equated with a Beyer speed figure. "That's very good," Nevil said. "A lot of people like George Washington. "He won his last race convincingly." Avello agrees the horse will draw action, but points out, "He's unproven on dirt." Another horse expected to get his fair share of support is 5-year-old West Coaster Lava Man, who swept this year's Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic. Lava Man was the morning line's 6/1 third selection. "He runs very well in California, but we don't know how he'll handle this track," D'Amico said. Others anticipated at the post include Brother Derek, 30/1; Premium Tap, 30/1; Lawyer Ron, 20/1; David Junior, 10/1; Flower Alley, 30/1; and Suave, 30/1.
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