Kat Kubik
and Bob Hill
Staff writers

Picking winners at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

The Goodwood, Grade 1, 1 1/8  miles,  Oak Tree at Santa Anita

This year the Goodwood is especially significant because it will tell us who likes the new Pro-Ride surface.  Any horse that thrives on it will have an advantage for the Breeder’s Cup.  Well Armed (7) is the horse to beat.  In the Pacific Classic he showed that he can settle behind the leaders, and he ran a huge race to finish second to Go Between by a neck.  This may be an easier spot.  The big question mark in the race is Spirit One (9), who will be trying something other than grass for the first time.  However, I am sure that they have worked him over a synthetic surface in France, so they must feel confident that he will make the switch successfully.  With the wide post, and the other speed in the race, his jockey probably will try to set him to relax and track the speed.  If he runs well he will go to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and it will encourage the connections of other turf horses to consider entering the Classic instead of the Turf.  Mast Track (11) should be able to hit the board for trainer Bobby Frankel.  He was third in the Pacific Classic behind Go Between and Well Armed, and before that he won the Hollywood Gold Cup (Grade 1) over Go Between.  He has been firing bullet works in preparation for this race.
1 1/8 is not the best distance for Surf Cat (4) and they are using it as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Mile Dirt.  However, you can’t ignore his fabulous record of 5 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 9 starts.  We know he’s got talent, and he might just hold on for a piece of it.  Tiago is another one with talent.  He won the Goodwood last year; however, he has not run since June.  If he is back to his old self he can hit the board.  Zappa(1), Tres Borrachos(2), Informed(3), Slew’s Tiznow (5), Albertus Maximus (6), and Mostacolli Mort (10) complete the field.  Kat’s picks:  9-7-11-4

Spirit One (9) probably would not have won the Arlington Million if Archipenko had not been trapped inside Mount Nelson for a long time during the stretch run, but the win was quite impressive nonetheless.  If he is to have a chance to win this race, based upon his past best races, Spirit One will have to be on or close to the lead throughout and on the lead at the top of the stretch.  Doing so will be quite difficult given that Well Armed (7) is drawn inside him.  However, the front two could knock heads earlier enough and fast enough to set up a closer in this edition of the Goodwood.  Tiago’s (8) biggest career win was in this race a year ago.  He has not run well on synthetic surfaces since that Goodwood victory, and he has been off since June.  He has worked well for his return, so I am going to take a shot with him on top.  I’ll use Surf Cat (4) to round out the superfecta.  Bob’s picks:  8-7-9-4

The Yellow Ribbon, Grade 1,  1¼  miles, Oak Tree at Santa Anita

Wait A While (10) is coming into this race perfectly, and she will love the firm course.  She won this race two years ago and she is probably even better now.  She will be the favorite.  Another mare who is at her best is Black Mamba (4). She really turned it on in her last two races with wins in a grade one and a grade two stakes.  Before that she was second or third in several other graded events.  She is a good mare, but I’m not sure that she can beat Wait A While.  Vacare (2), by the recently deceased stallion Lear Fan, looks to be rounding back into top form.  She won a Grade 2 last out, and she has beaten such mares as Precious Kitten and Mauralakana.  She will be closing in the stretch and she just might be able to catch them all.  Valbenny (5) will be attempting to reach the winner’s circle for the first time since 2007.  She is now under the care of Bobby Frankel, and she has been working well in advance of this race. Maybe she can finally put it all together. I Can See (3) is very game and she consistently runs solid races.  Trainer B.D.A. Cecil brings High Heel Sneakers (1), Solva (6) and Marzelline (8) to the race.  Gula Gold enters for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, and Live Life (9) is a graded stakes placed mare who should appreciate the extra distance.  Kat’s picks:  10-4-2-5

I see this race pretty much as Kat has described, although I’ll reverse the order of Vacare and Black Mamba and put I Can See in the top four.  Bob’s Picks:  10-2-4-3

Belmont picks

Flower Bowl (Grade 1) 1¼ miles on turf for Fillies and Mares three-year-olds and up, Belmont Park

The six fillies and mares in this field have run against one another often enough this year that comparative analysis is not difficult.  Mauralakana (4) has won five of six starts in 2008, finishing second to Hostess (6) in her only loss back in March at Gulfstream Park.  The steadily improving Communique (2) finished second to Mauralakana in the Beverly D at Arlington Park in August and appears to be the top challenger to the favorite in this race.  Communique probably would benefit from a little more pace than what is likely in this race, so I’m going to pick her to finish behind Mauralakana.  Dynaforce (3) and Hostess (6) should compete for the next two spots.  Palmilla (1) and Jade Queen (5) round out the field.  Bob’s picks:  4-2-3-6.

Mauralakana (4) clearly deserves to be the favorite, and she is well on herway to getting a Fillyand Mare Turf championship. I like Dynaforce (3) forsecond place. She is from France so we know she will like the wet turf andshe has made Mauralakana work in the past. Third place can go to Communique (2), with Palmilla (1) coming in fourth. Palmilla is a nicelong shot, and if she handles the wet turf she could surprise. Kat’s picks: 4-3-2-1

Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade 1) 1¼ miles for three-year-olds and up, Belmont Park

The only loss in Curlin’s (5) career at the classic distance of the Gold Cup was in the Kentucky Derby last year.  This is his race to win, and I believe he will become the all-time leading money winner in North America with a victory in this race.  Timber Reserve (3) and Wanderin Boy (4) should produce the pace in this field, with the latter having proven that he can go this distance. Mambo in Seattle (9) emerged as a star of the Saratoga meet this summer, with his thrilling stretch run in the Grade 1 Travers.  A.P. Arrow (7) has not threatened in any race since his trip to Dubai, but he could round out the superfecta in this race.  His competition for that spot should come from Timber Reserve or Merchant Marine (2).  Ravel (1), Angliana (6), and Stones River (8) round out the field.  Bob’s picks:  5-4-9-7

I agree with Bob’s picks, although I will switch the order of the last two. It is nice to see the connections of Mambo in Seattle taking on older horses and the horse of the year. All owners/trainers should be willing to take such risks. Kat’s picks: 5-4-7-9