Back and better than ever?
It's one of the remarkable weekends in post-Breeders' Cup history, yet no one really is talking about it. How often do you get to see three returning champions in a singular weekend? With Juvenile hero Midshipman returning today at Belmont, and appearances by Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together and Filly & Mare Sprint champion Ventura at Woodbine in the coming days, it's a time to appreciate what we have.
A full dozen of the 14 champions from last year returned to action this year, an unfathomable number by today's win-and-breed standards. Sure, some have been sidelined for times, but only Dirt Mile winner Albertus Maximus is conclusively out of the Breeders' Cup discussion.
Let's take a look at the divisional champs from a year ago and rank their 2009 Breeders' Cup prospects as the event nears.
Cream of the crop
Zenyatta: The reigning Queen of the older filly and mare set, she's slated to prep at Oak Tree in the Ladies' Secret and then make what could be her final career start in either the Ladies' Classic or the Classic. I would not be shocked to see a change-up and see her try the Goodwood at 1 1/8 miles against the boys at Oak Tree and then return to the Ladies' Classic, accomplishing a historical win against the boys, but doing so at 1 1/8 miles instead, a more suitable distance.
Goldikova: As a 3-year-old filly she showed a burst of acceleration seldom seen in U.S. grass races when annihilating the Mile. Trainer Freddie Head has her in even stronger shape this year from all accounts and she figures to be one of the shortest-priced favorites in Mile history, ala Rock of Gibraltar. But unlike his losing fate at Arlington, Goldikova looks most likely to follow the great filly Miesque into the history books as a back-to-back Mile champ.
Forever Together: The Filly & Mare Turf champ has been as good, or better, than ever in 2009 and stands a major repeat chance. She'll get her final tune-up Sunday in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine. She's been masterfully managed by Jonathan Sheppard this year with the Breeders' Cup the crescendo.
Conduit: When last year's Turf winner walked onto the track in the post parade, I thought I had seen one of the most remarkable looking pre-race specimens in my lifetime. He had that "Wow, he looks GOOD factor" going on. It was a sign of a horse who had come into his own, and no doubt his form this year reflects that. A second Turf assault is in the works and he's going to be awfully strong once again.
Ventura: Just as she did last year, the Bobby Frankel trainee will use Sunday's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on grass as a prep to what figures to be a start in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The 2009 campaign has been awfully light, but the camp insists its working backwards from the Breeders' Cup and just trying to get her there in peak form. She'll need to be; the 2009 F&M Sprint field is looking like one of the absolute deepest of all divisions.
Needing two strikes of lightning
Desert Code: Since the Turf Sprint is on his home turf, and he's currently in training at Santa Anita, there's no reason to think last year's champion grass dasher won't be in the discussion come November. A spotty spring record and layoff since April work against his long shot chances of a long shot repeat.
Muhannak: Last year's inaugural Marathon winner has been dreadful in Europe this year, losing all 6 starts, many by open lengths. While he remains in active racing and could wind up in a return date simply because they know he has previously handled the surroundings, his form is so bad now it's impossible to recommend back.
Up in the air
Stardom Bound: The connections of last year's wonderful Juvenile Fillies champion have the Ladies' Classic still circled on their calendar of hopes. While it's been a long time since her spring meltdown and subsequent layoff, we know she loves the strip at Santa Anita and trainer Rick Dutrow has strong numbers with horses coming off of long rests. Obviously, Zenyatta moving to the Classic would be a big boost to her Ladies' Classic possibilities in terms of both appearance and winning chances.
Maram: Last year's Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine returned with a nice win this summer in New York and remains unbeaten, but was forced to scratch from last week's Grade 1 Garden City because of a soft track. She could be headed to the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland and then a decision on her Filly & Mare Turf chances could be assessed. It seems a stretch to get her there as a strong contender at age 3, and likely should be pointed to a 4-year-old run at Churchill next year.
Midshipman: There aren't a lot of places for him to go, and we'll know a lot more after his return Friday and next step in the process. Maybe he could be ready for the Jerome against fellow 3-year-olds and be considered for a Dirt Mile date. That seems awfully rushed and not in the Godolphin playbook. It's very doubtful that you'll see him this year at the Breeders' Cup. (Editor's note: Midshipman won in his return to racing by 3 1/4 lengths on Sept. 18, a third-level allowance at Belmont Park.)
Donativum: Just as is the case with Midshipman, the 3-year-old year of this Godolphin acquisition did not turn up as planned. He's struggled in Europe to advance his form, and it would very unlikely that he'd make the trip here.
Oldies, but goodies
Don't forget we still have a few past Breeders' Cup champions in training whose resumes weren't topped in 2008. Horses with 2007 titles like Indian Blessing, Kip Deville (sidelined since mid-summer), Nownownow (sidelined since spring) are still in the game. But of those, only Indian Blessing has a chance of regaining a title as one of the headliners in the highly competitive Filly & Mare Sprint division.
And while the ancient one, Better Talk Now, still punches the time clock five years after his 2004 Turf title, we'd be remiss if we didn't pat him on the back for a wonderful run and defiance of Father Time -- even if he's not being aimed at the Breeders' Cup this fall. He's likely to make his final start in the Oct. 3 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont.
Jeremy Plonk has been an ESPN.com contributor since 2000 and is the managing partner of the handicapping website Horseplayerpro.com. You can E-mail Jeremy about this topic or anything racing-related at Jeremy@Horseplayerpro.com.
