Horse Handicapping

Past Breeders Cup Winners

The Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Turf has not been around all that long but the foreign influence has been felt every year and this season should be no different. It was carded at a mile and three-eighths the first couple of years, went to a mile and a quarter in 2001 and is back at the original distance this season.

Stamina is obviously key to this race and only last season was Intercontinental able to take them the entire distance on the lead. The other winners came from three back to dead last to get the top portion of the purse. Only one horse really smashed up a field as Banks Hill crushed by five and a half in the third running but generally they are together at the wire.

The race has been usually short fielded and logical with five winners averaging a dime over 7-2 when it was all over but ironically one of the best trainers in the world, Bobby Frankel, was responsible for both upsetters as last year's winner paid $32.20 and his other winner Starine chipped in a $28.40. And both took different routes to success. Starine prepped in a win at Keeneland in the WinStar Galaxy, while Intercontinental parlayed a fourth in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl.

Three favorites won the first seven events including the fastest of the group in 2003 when Islington held on by a neck in 1:59.13.

This year, as the American-based runners seem to take turns beating each other with the exception of Wait a While, the logical one to fear is Quija Board, who is going great guns right now. Value will be there with Germance, who was troubled in the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup Stakes.