Quick Breeders Cup review. Five top winners in the preview picks, but all short priced as predicted. My capping was actually pretty good, as a few more hit the board, but I struggled to connect in exotics and multi-race sequences. The races where i forecast chaos, it generally emerged, and I stand by my analysis of the main track biases at Santa Anita.

Fortunately the scars weren’t two deep, as the short priced winners mitigated the exotic casualties.

Scars R Cool, my Travers upset pick, got back on the winning track with an allowance win at Churchill. Hustled in to the Travers off a flashy score at the Spa, Scars split the field that day, then had a non-threatening finish in the Jefferson Cup on turf at Keeneland. I think long on the dirt is ultimately where he wants to be. He’s leggy and long striding, and yesterday sat professionally behind a wall of horses and a slow pace before Tyler Gaffalione was able to bull his way out, and just got by his foe late. He showed a bit of a finishing kick, but I think may ultimately be a bit more of a grindy type who may love the odd long distance races on the dirt. I’ll be keeping a strong eye to see if he can make the jump back up into stakes company, but I am already penciling him in to win a mile and a half (or longer) race at Belmont next year, and if I owned him would be targeting the Marathon next fall.

Definitely a quieter time of year now after the denouement of the BC. Will keep one eye on Aqueduct as long as they are on the turf, and I love the Bing Crosby season at Del Mar, as much for the sunny weather while we batten down the hatches for winter in the northeast, as for any particular race or horse.

Fore Left – in the Golden Nugget At Golden Gate this Saturday.