By Steve Sherack
ARCADIA, CA – Headlined by a highly anticipated showdown between two of the top juveniles in the country, 'Future Stars Friday' kicks off the two-day, 36th Breeders' Cup World Championships held for a record 10th time at picturesque Santa Anita Park in Southern California.
Ideal conditions are expected for both days, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s in the forecast.
With 168 horses entered and purses and awards totaling more than $30 million, the first five of 14 Breeders' Cup races, restricted to 2-year-olds, are set for Friday's program at the Great Race Place.
'TDN Rising Stars' Dennis' Moment (Tiznow) and Eight Rings (Empire Maker) are the main attractions in the featured GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The highly regarded 'Rising Star' Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo), favored on the morning-line at 3-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies following a dazzling debut win sprinting at Santa Anita, takes on Grade I winners Bast (Uncle Mo), British Idiom (Flashback) and 'Rising Star' Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map).
Full fields for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint make for intriguing handicapping puzzles on the day as well.
Saturday's card, of course, is anchored by the $6-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The wide-open affair includes: slight morning-line favorite and 'Rising Star' McKinzie (Street Sense), leading sophomore Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) and GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. winner Vino Rosso (Curlin). The talented mare and 'Rising Star' Elate (Medaglia d'Oro) takes on males for the first time on the 10-year anniversary of Zenyatta's unforgettable win in the big one.
Horse of the Year candidate Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) will look to make it a perfect eight-for-eight on the season in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) will put his undefeated season on the line as well against G1 Investec Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from the mighty Aidan O'Brien yard in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. O'Brien will also saddle GI TVG Breeders' Cup Mile morning-line favorite Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Omaha Beach (War Front) is certainly one of the weekend's biggest names in action as he continues his well-documented comeback in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) seeks his third straight victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint while Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) returns to defend her title in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
There will be no shortage of speed on display in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, led by Mitole (Eskendereya), Imperial Hint (Imperialism) and Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby). Covfefe (Into Mischief) and Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), meanwhile, figure to lock horns in the female equivalant, the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
The Breeders' Cup will be televised live by NBCSN and NBC.
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