Breeders’ Cup preps in full swing

A phenomenal 21 grade 1 stakes races will be run the next two weekends as horses make their final start prepping for the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on Oct. 24 and 25. Saturday, in particular, will be loaded, with six grade 1 stakes at Santa Anita and five at Belmont Park.

At Belmont, overwhelming favorites such as Ginger Punch (Beldame), Mauralakana (Flower Bowl), Lucky Island (Vosburgh) and Curlin (Jockey Club Gold Cup) will be in the running. Since those are four of the pick 6 races, there’s potential for a small payoff.

All eyes figure to be on Curlin. If he wins, he’ll break Cigar’s North American career earnings record. Surprisingly, eight others will try to beat him. However, most purists are rooting for Curlin to win and for owner Jess Jackson to choose to run in the Breeder’s Cup Classic against Big Brown.

At Santa Anita, the early feedback on the new Pro Ride surface has been nearly all positive. Saturday will be the litmus test with the bulky Breeders’ Cup preview card.

Zenyatta in the Lady’s Secret will be the day’s big headliner. She could find the sternest test of her life in Hystericalady, a mare she never has faced.

Some other stakes offer more quantity than quality. I thought Stardom Bound in the Oak Leaf is the only other horse that could be a Breeders’ Cup favorite if she wins.

On Sunday, the Norfolk is an east versus west test. Del Mar Futurity winner Midshipman is a deserving favorite. But keep an eye on eastern invader Regal Ransom from trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

• BIG BROWN — Bodog online gaming is taking a strong stance against Big Brown winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

If Big Brown does win, they will refund any win bets they accepted on the rest of the Classic field.

• JIM McKAY — HRTV will feature the late Jim McKay on the next edition of Inside Information, to air at 6 p.m. Sunday.

I had the privilege of working for seven years with the legendary ABC Sports legend on the network’s horse racing coverage. As cordial as McKay seemed on camera, he was 100 times nicer in person.

• REACHING A NEW GENERATION — The lead panel on Monday at the NTRA Marketing Summit at Red Rock Casino was “Reaching a New Generation.” The panel recommended using social networking such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to appeal to a new audience.

• LEGENDS TOUR — The Breeders’ Cup announced an 11-city Legends Tour featuring Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero Jr., Pat Day and Laffit Pincay Jr.

The penultimate event will be Oct. 16 at Wynn Las Vegas.

Go to ntra.com for more information and the entire tour schedule.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.