Breeders’ Cup 2009 Turf Preview

Breeders’ Cup 2009 Turf Preview: Conduit Looks For Two Straight Victories

Race-day: 11/7/2009

Race-time: 5:57 pm EST

The terrific Conduit will enter the gate for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf looking for his second Grade I victory in his last three races as well as his second straight Turf victory.

Conduit is an exceptionally good horse. He’s won three Grade I races in his last 6 starts and finished 4 th to Sea The Stars in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, but as good as Conduit is, there are about two to three horses that figures to give him a run for his money this Saturday.

Let’s take a look at the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf

Breeders’ Cup Turf

** Current odds listed in the BetUS online racebook

Santa Anita Park

Nov. 7 th 5:57 pm EST

Spanish Moon - - +350 current odds

Conduit’s trainer, Michael Stoute, also saddles this exceptional turfer out of the Sadler’s Wells sired El Prado. Spanish Moon runs for Juddmonte Farms and has a record that would make any horse racing fan’s head spin. Out of 12 lifetime races, Spanish Moon is 6-2-1 including victories in the Grade II Qatar Prix Foy and the Grade I Grand Prix De Saint Cloud. Spanish Moon’s form is unbelievable having finished either 1 st or 2 nd in his last 6 races against terrific company. He can also lead or stalk which will definitely help him in this small field.

Presious Passion - - +700 current odds

This is a small field and in a small field speed becomes paramount. There’s none faster than Presious Passion who should get the lead in the Turf even if he breaks backwards. The key for success will depend on how far ahead jockey Elvis Trujillo puts the son of Royal Anthem in this race. Trujillo should try to get at least a 15 to 20 length lead because Conduit, Spanish Moon and Dar Re Mi are all much classier and no doubt will out run Presious Passion in the second half of this race. So, the more ground those stars have to make up on Passion, the better his chances of springing the upset. Don’t look past this guy, is my advice.

Dar Re Mi - - +300 current odds

She’s the lone filly in the field, but that shouldn’t bother horseplayers because trainer Jon Gosden is an expert with these turf monsters. Dar Re Mi is a turf monster. She won three Grade I races in a row before finishing 5 th to Sea The Stars in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe. That’s a pretty good record and if American horseplayers believe that mares and fillies can’t beat the boys, then they are sorely misguided. Dar Re Mi has a record of 5-4-3 out of 14 races and by all account will be going into the Turf in fine form. She deserves consideration in this.

Conduit - - +150 current odds

Conduit should win the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf. He is the best horse in the field and has run with the best in Europe. He’s a multiple Grade I winner and loves the Santa Anita Turf Course. The only reason not to bet Conduit to win is that his competition in Spanish Moon, Dar Re Mi, and Presious Passion as a potential lone front-runner, makes him an underlay at +150. If horseplayers are willing to take short odds, however, then he might be worth the play because he’s simply the best horse in the Turf.