2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic Ante Post Part 3

After completely dismantling the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (which will be referred to as the “Distaff” this year), many are expecting Royal Delta to opt for the Classic this year and take on the boys - something that has been done successfully at Santa Anita before. She showed complete class by capturing the Personal Ensign at Saratoga with Mike Smith in the irons that day. She had plenty of quality to flash that day and will be looking to make a major statement this year by taking on the best runners in the world. 

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Orb and Palace Malice, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winners, will be representing the three-year-old division in the Classic and looking likely to race on again next year. While their Preakness-winning counterpart Oxbow was pulled up in the Haskell (won by Verrazano) they are going to be pushing the best runners in the country all the way in November. 

Their prices are probably not high enough to attract a huge amount of volume - they both trade at 10/1 listings - but there is still lots to like about this gutsy pair. Palace Malice knows a thing or two about winning at Santa Anita so you have to like his ability to show his quality on home soil as well. Many American racing observers are still up in the air about how this year’s three-year-old crop measures up, and you get the suspicion that the bulk of the fans will be opting for the older colts and geldings (and even the odd mare) on display in the Classic. 

Declaration of War is the main international shipper looking to come over and do some serious damage in the Classic and he was removed from contention in the Irish Champion Stakes last weekend thanks to unsuitable going. The Fugue made the big statement that day and captured the big victory against the likes of Al Kazeem and many will be wondering how Aidan O’Brien’s charge will do with the travel time and whether or not he will get Lasix. 

The European books have Declaration of War trading at 12/1 and looking a bit short in regards to price so expect him to be a bit higher on the day, at least in the state-side markets. 

Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge are both at 12/1 and looking sharp selections - Will Take Charge in particular. He was able to capture the Travers Stakes at Saratoga after just missing out on the Jim Dandy a month previous. Another Unbridled’s Song, he represents a real feather in the cap of legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Expect him to play a prominent part in the 2013 Classic.