BC Ladies’ Classic

BREEDERS’ CUP
PREVIEWS

The $2 million Ladies’ Classic (G1) drew just eight, but the quality in this
field makes up for the lack of quantity. This race could belong to standout
sophomore CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit), who will likely be alone on the lead early for
trainer Josie Carroll. The rapidly-developing gray has proven adept on multiple
surfaces, beginning her career on the Polytrack before bringing her show to the
dirt, bagging the Alabama S. (G1), Delaware Oaks (G2) and Cotillion H. (G2) in
her last three, and her recent BRIS Speed ratings (103-104-110) are clearly good
enough to get the job done here. The Kentucky-bred has won five straight in
total by a combined 32 1/2 lengths while never facing a serious test, so it’s
hard to gauge how she will fare if another comes to her at some point in the
lane, but she’s not going to be facing serious early pressure here with no other
front runners entered. We feel that she will be gone late under Robert Landry.

We toyed with giving top billing to RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer) from the
outside post for genius European conditioner John Gosden. An otherworldly
performer when unbeaten at two, the sophomore came back to earth somewhat this
season but is still all class, as she proved in a concise tally in the Matron S.
(Ire-G1) two back. We loved the filly’s prep at Woodbine last out, when second
in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), and we think she’ll get a nice trip from midpack
under Julien Leparoux.

We’ve always thought highly of multiple Grade 1 heroine COCOA BEACH (Chi)
(Doneraile Court) and give her a decent shot on this day. The classy
five-year-old has not been in perfect form in 2009, but only some of that has
been her fault as she’s been awkwardly placed throughout this campaign. A big
second in this race in 2008 to Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]), the Godolphin
colorbearer had a nice prep for this and has reportedly been impressive in the
morning, so she could revert back to her performance last year. Richard Migliore
has the call.

PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]) appears to be peaking and could be a tough one to
hold off with any improvement for Bobby Frankel. The bay four-year-old was a
decent third behind Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) three back, prior to
knocking off the boys in a subsequent Group 3 event in France. Last out, the Juddmonte homebred ran a big one when crossing the line first in the Spinster S.
(G1), only to be disqualified for veering out late in the stretch under Rajiv
Maragh. A straight course here with John Velazquez could lead to a victory.

The intriguing MUSHKA (Empire Maker) is in career form and was rightly
elevated to first after encountering traffic late in the Spinster. Trained by
two-time Ladies’ Classic winner and Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the classy
four-year-old has a solid turn of foot that might be better on synthetic
surfaces, and the distance should be no problem for her. The lack of someone to
run with Careless Jewel, though, could be an issue for the stalker. We still
consider the well-bred lass to be an exotics threat at a nice price. The game
LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) will likely be closest to Careless Jewel early, but
we’re not sure that it will help her chances beneath Alex Solis. The hard-trying
California-bred has run quite well in 2009 without winning a race, and she has
yet to be worse than second at Santa Anita. We won’t endorse her for the win,
but the Barry Abrams trainee could easily sneak into the exotics at a price.

We don’t doubt the talent of MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy), but we simply can’t
endorse her at short odds against this deep field. The superb filly has looked
especially sharp lately, including a sterling score in the Ballerina S. (G1) two
back, and she was a solid third in this test last campaign. The filly, who will
be piloted by Maragh, is an obvious gimmicks player. Grade 1 queen LIFE IS
SWEET (Storm Cat) is always at the mercy of the early tempo, so this race
doesn’t set up well for the talented four-year-old. Trainer by John Shirreffs,
the late-running filly ran third against the boys in the Hollywood Gold Cup S.
(G1) three prior but hasn’t really fired since, so we have to look elsewhere.