Friday Breeders' Cup Selections From Martha

First of all, I am so pleased that my good friend Michael Chamberlain landed the announcer gig at Turf Paradise.

Michael and I go waaaay back and truly enjoy our competitive handicapping battles. He states with great conviction, that he is the greatest Breeders’ Cup handicapper in the universe. There is no point arguing with him; I have learned just to ignore him when he goes on and on. However, one year, he was truly insufferable, so I wrote a press release entitled “Track Announcer Michael Chamberlain Recovering from Injury”. It went on to say that he had to undergo treatment for his shoulder and back after strenuous back patting had taken its toll. I also enjoyed rendering him speechless at least once during each handicapping seminar when I went on a rant about two of my favorite topics: Godolphin and geldings.

Anyway, on to Friday’s BC stakes!

$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon
Man of Iron is an Aidan O’Brien colt who ran well on Polytrack in Ireland. Nite Light ran lights out at Turfway two back. Nod to the Euros with a potential good showing from Todd Pletcher's Night Lite.
Man of Iron, Mastery, Father Time, Nite Light

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Love the breeding of Junia Tepzia (Ire) and her gutsy rider Kieran Fallon. Rose Catherine stepped up big time in her turf debut and can’t be ignored.
Junia Tepzia, Lillie Langtry, Rose Catherine, La Nez

$2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Always a Princess looks like she is peaking just at the right time for Baffert. Will be interesting to see how Devil May Care handles the synthetic surface as the Grade 1 winner looks like a very talented filly.
Always a Princess, She Be Wild, Negligee, Devil May Care

$2 million Emirates Filly and Mare Turf
Would love to see defending champ, Forever Together win, but she has not found the same closing kick in her last two stakes. I think the Juddmonte Farm homebred Midday will prevail. Maram, winner of the Filly and Mare Juvenile Turf will likely be overlooked and will be flying late under Jose Lezcano.
Midday, Visit, Forever Together, Maram

$1 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
I do believe defending champ Ventura will score again this year. She loves the downhill turf course and has been on her A game all year for Frankel and Gomez. The Wertheimer & Frere connections breed VERY classy turf runners, so at 20-1, she may be worth a saver and inclusion in exotics.
Ventura, Informed Decision, Sara Louise, Only Green

$2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic
No Zenyatta this year, so I look for a mild upset by Proviso (GB) and trainer Bobby Frankel. She should improve off her DQ in the Grade 1 Spinster. Lethal Heat ran second to Zenyatta and should outrun her 20-1 morning line.
Proviso, Careless Jewel, Music Note, Lethal Heat