Equine enthusiasts ready for Breeders' Cup Nov. 6-7

    Let's put you up on a thoroughbred racehorse. Your head is now nine feet off the ground and you are sitting on something that is just a little wider than your keyboard. Your toes are resting in little metal rings and you have a little leather strap to hold onto. The creature underneath you weighs a half of a ton. In a moment I'll open the gates, that creature is going to make one jump that will be longer than your car and then will be running the length of a football field ­ every four seconds. Fifteen more of these half-ton creatures will be running right behind you and your horse. Neither your horse nor the ones behind you have any brakes. I'll open the gates whenever you're ready. Just say when.

    Most folks know the Kentucky Derby is a thoroughbred horse race held every year in early May. Just about everyone knows the Kentucky Derby along with the Preakness (held in late May) and then the Belmont Stakes (held in June) races make up The Triple Crown of horse racing in the United States. Fewer people know about the Breeders' Cup World Championship races held in early November.

    The Breeders' Cup is actually a series of different races for different classes of horses held and televised over two days ­ being run this coming weekend (Nov. 6 & 7).  What makes the Breeders' Cup special is that it is the United States vs. The World. U.S. horses take on all comers from anywhere in the World. It is like the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup in Golf. Here is a "thumbnail" view of the race series.

Friday

The Marathon ­ Alas, this one-and-three-quarter mile bruiser of a race will be dominated by Europe. Though there is no hands-down choice for a winner, Great Britain's Father Time and the UAE's Mastery are the most logical candidates.

Filly & Mare Sprint ­ Likely to be another great "duel". Two American horses will be the stars here. Defending champion Ventura will try to hold off the very determined challenge from Informed Decision. The odds will be in Ventura's favor but horses don't read odds boards.

Juvenile Fillies Turf ­ This will be an exciting race as there are several very viable choices for winners. Junia Tapzia of Italy will get some play, as will Lillie Langtry of Ireland.  But my favorite (after seeing a tape of her latest workout) is the smooth-moving gray,  Tapitsfly. Juvenile Fillies ­ this race could go in any direction but watch for Beautician, Always a Princess and Hot Dixie Chick.

Filly & Mare Turf ­ This should be one of the more exciting races. It is likely to be a duel between our Magical Fantasy and Great Britain's Midday.

The Ladies' Classic ­ Zenyatta won it last year and wants to take on "the boys in the regular Classic this year. So this race will center on the favorite, Careless Jewel but my favorite. Cocoa Beach, will make her earn it.

Saturday

Turf Sprint ­ Handicappers everywhere will be predicting a gate-to-wire win by California Flag. For any other horse in the field to win will be an upset talked about for years and the race will be worth watching for that possibility alone.

Dirt Mile ­ This is probably the race for those who like to make money betting "against the odds". America's Midshipman will almost certainly be underrated against Mastercraftsman of Ireland in this race.

The Mile ­ the French filly Goldikova is back to defend her championship from last year and doesn't have any real clear competition at all.

The Juvenile ­ This race has a large field and is truly anybody's race. If there is a favorite it will likely be America's Looking at Lucky but, just between you and I, Ireland's Beethoven could be the surprise of the day.

Juvenile Turf ­ Todd Pletcher's American horse Interactif, even though new, will probably waltz away with this one.

Sprint ­ the fun in this race will be in watching the USA's Zensational take the early lead and then shift into his incredibly high cruising speed and leave all the rest of the horses farther and farther behind. If you want to cheer against the odds, do it for Fatal Bullet.

The Turf ­ this race will be dominated by entries from Great Britain and about the only way their horse, Conduit, can fail to win is if they make him race pulling a trailer.

The Breeders' Cup Classic ­ Likely to be a shoot-out between the American filly Zenyatta and Great Britain's colt, Rip Van Winkle.

  So there is a sneak-peek at what promises to be two fun days of horse races and my very amateur guestimation of how things will work out. I do not advocate betting money on races. But I have been known to have to do the dishes for a week because a horse didn't listen to me.