Breeders' Cup: The hidden optics at Del Mar

Record number of international horses have pre-entered into the 38th Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar next Friday. Lasix is banned from all championships for the first time since the Breeder”s Cup was launched in 1984. Aidan O‘Brien has four horses pre entered. The language barrier between America and England can be pronounced. The $28 million total purse is a big carrot. When the race was held at the DelMar four years ago, favorites went only 2-for-13. Seven of the surprise winners carried double-digit odds to win.

Only three of the 2017 winners could call Del Mar or Santa Anita their home track. The dirt is very real at DelMar. The dead rail could be a problem for the horses. If the rail is dead, the horse might try to get closer to the fence. It's not slot-car racing. There are other horses on the track and jockeys who know where the bad spots are. They might want to put you in there. This year's Classic is at 1¼ miles distance. Only three winners of this race have ever gone that far. Ghostzapper did it in 2004 at Lone Star Park and Raven’s Pass and Zenyatta at Santa Monica in 2008 and 2009.