2009 BREEDERS CUP DIRT MILE PICKS AND TIPS

We've got a Mastercraftsman and a Midshipman facing off against a Pyro in the dyanimic-looking Breeders Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita today. This is easily one of the most intriguing races happening during the entire two day session and this one looks to be absolutely anyone's game.

A relatively slim field of 10 is setting off for this one with A P O'Brien's Mastercraftsman being the main favourite at a morning line price of 6/5. He's on Betfair at 3.15 and that's a bit of a gulf. I expect Mastercraftsman to be at odds-on by the time we run and there are really only a handful of horses that can beat him here. He beat Delegator in the St James Stakes at Ascot back in June and had three shots at Sea the Stars this year, performing admirable 2nd place, 3rd place and 5th place against the world famous runner. He is at 2/1 with Blue Square and 3/1 with William Hill. 

Midshipman is a Godolphin horse, based on the west coast of the United States, and he has virtually everything its going to take to defeat Mastercraftsman. He has two Grade one victories, including the tough Del Mar Futurity and boasts a quality pedigree, sired by Unbridled's Song out of Fleet Lady. This Saeed Bin Suroor-trained chocolate-coloured colt could benefit from Mastercraftsman being handed the #1 stall. You'll find Midshipman at a juicy 6/1 in the morning line and a 5.8 listing on Betfair. He is at 7/1 with Ladbrokes.

Bullsbay is my spoiler here, he put in a quality show against Rachel Alexandra and Macho Again in the Woodward Stakes. He has a bit of an up-and-down record, but I think that Graham Motion could be in here to pick up a victory should the two contenders make mistakes or not get the trips that they needed. He's got wins in the Grade 1 Alysheba Stakes and the Whitney Handicap. He's a dirt specialist, but hasn't looked his best on the west coast.