Breaking down the Breeders' Cup: Friday's races

Friday's Breeders' Cup graded entries

Marathon

$500,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 3/4 miles

PP Horse Jockey Odds

1 Atoned Robby Albarado 20-1

2 Prince Will I Am Javier Castellano 4-1

3 Million Seller Jeremy Rose 50-1

4 Eldaafer John Velazquez 12-1

5 Romp Martin Garcia 50-1

6 Gabriel's Hill Julien Leparoux 20-1

7 Awesome Gem David Flores 7-2

8 Giant Oak Garrett Gomez 4-1

9 Bright Horizon Johnny Murtagh 10-1

10 Alcomo Rafael Bejarano 6-1

11 Precision Break Jamie Spencer 15-1

12 A. U. Miner Calvin Borel 9-2

This year marks the fourth appearance in a Breeders' Cup race for veteran Grade I winner Awesome Gem, with his best finish being a third-place run in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic. The 7-year-old gelding still has some class going for him after he won the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap in July.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

$1 million, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf)PP Horse Jockey Odds

1 Dos Lunas Jon Court 30-1

2 Tale Untold Ryan Moore 15-1

3 Quiet Oasis Frankie Dettori 8-1

4 Kathmanblu Julien Leparoux 10-1

5 Forest Legend Ramon Dominguez 30-1

6 Arch Support Edgar Prado 20-1

7 Winter Memories Jose Lezcano 2-1

8 Wyomia Rafael Bejarano 12-1

9 Fancy Point Kent Desormeaux 15-1

10 New Normal Javier Castellano 10-1

11 More Than Real Garrett Gomez 10-1

12 Flood Plain William Buick 20-1

13 Together Johnny Murtagh 5-1

14 Allure d'Amour John Velazquez 15-1

Also eligible

15 Nina Fever Robby Albarado 30-1

Always a challenging one to dissect, and this year is no different. Winter Memories caught people's attention when she rallied from the back of the field to win the Grade III Miss Grillo Stakes by 51/4 lengths over a yielding Belmont turf in October. The gray filly is also out of multiple Grade I winner Memories of Silver, who finished fifth in the 1996 Mile against males as a 3-year-old filly.

Filly and Mare Sprint

$1 million, fillies and mares, 7 furlongsPP Horse Jockey Odds

1 My Jen John Velazquez 15-1

2 Sara Louise Frankie Dettori 15-1

3 Secret Gypsy Robby Albarado 12-1

4 Informed Decision Julien Leparoux 7-2

5 Evening Jewel Victor Espinoza 15-1

6 Moontune Missy Alan Garcia 30-1

7 Gabby's Golden GalMartin Garcia 15-1

8 Sweet August MoonMike Smith 30-1

9 Switch Joel Rosario 20-1

10 Rinterval Rafael Bejarano 20-1

11 Jessica Is Back Javier Castello 12-1

12 Dubai Majesty Jamie Theriot 6-1

13 Rightly So Cornelio Velasquez 3-1

14 Champagne d'Oro Miguel Mena 6-1

Also eligible

15 Tidal Pool Mike Smith 50-1

16 First Passage Garrett Gomez 50-1

Informed Decision was a monster when she won this race a year ago, but the daughter of Monarchos has four losses in seven starts this year including a third-place effort in the Grade I Humana Distaff at Churchill in May. Since being shortened up after her 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks, Champagne d'Oro has racked up two Grade I wins including a 41/2-length triumph in the Test Stakes over the 7-furlong distance. Gabby's Golden Gal won the 7-furlong, Grade I Santa Monica Handicap in January, but she is making her first start since that time.

Juvenile Fillies

$2 million, 2-year-old fillies, 1 1 ⁄ 16 milesPP Horse Jockey Odds

1 x-Indian Gracey Rafael Bejarano 15-1

2 Theyskens' Theory Frankie Dettori 10-1

3 R Heat Lightning John Velazquez 4-1

4 Awesome Feather Jeffrey Sanchez 6-1

5 Harlan's Ruby Julien Leparoux 15-1

6 Joyful Victory Ramon Dominguez 15-1

7 Izshelegal Mike Smith 30-1

8 A Z Warrior Martin Garcia 7-2

9 Delightful Mary Shaun Bridgmohan 8-1

10 Believe in A. P. Garrett Gomez 15-1

11 Soundwave Robby Albarado 20-1

12 Tell a Kelly Calvin Borel 9-2

13 Jordy Y Joel Rosario 30-1

x-scratched

It's another wide-open edition of the race as Grade I Frizette winner A Z Warrior is the tepid 7-2 pick in the morning line. Though she doesn't have a graded stakes win yet, undefeated Awesome Feather is one of just two horses in the 12-horse field with a win at the 11⁄16-mile distance (Harlan's Ruby being the other), that coming in the form of an 81/4-length victory in the My Girl Stakes at Calder on Oct. 16.

Filly and Mare Turf

$2 million, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 3 ⁄ 8 milesPP Horse Jockey Odds

1 Plumania Olivier Peslier 8-1

2 Eclair de Lune Junior Alvarado 15-1

3 Miss Keller Javier Castellano 8-1

4 Keertana Jose Lezcano 30-1

5 Shared Account Edgar Prado 30-1

6 Harmonious Joel Rosario 6-1

7 Midday Tom Queally 6-5

8 Hot Cha Cha James Graham 30-1

9 Hibaayeb Frankie Dettori 8-1

10 Red Desire Kent Desormeaux 8-1

11 Forever Together Rosie Napravnik 10-1

On paper, this is Midday's race to lose. The defending winner of the Filly & Mare Turf has won three straight Group I races in Europe and comes in off a three-quarter-length score over fellow entrant Plumania in the 11/2-mile Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on Sept. 12. Forever Together, the 2008 race winner, hasn't found her best form this year, but she is almost always in the mix at the end.

Ladies' Classic

$2 million, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1 ⁄ 8 milesPP Horse Jockey Odds

1 Life At Ten John Velazquez 7-2

2 It's Tea Time Julien Leparoux 15-1

3 Malibu Prayer Garrett Gomez 8-1

4 Milwaukee Appeal Rafael Bejarano 30-1

5 Acting Happy Jose Lezcano 20-1

6 Persistently Alan Garcia 12-1

7 Seeking the Title Calvin Borel 30-1

8 Unrivaled Belle Kent Desormeaux 8-1

9 Acoma Robby Albarado 20-1

10 Blind Luck Joel Rosario 9-5

11 Havre de Grace Jeremy Rose 4-1

They don't come much tougher than Kentucky Oaks winner Blind Luck, who has shipped to seven tracks this year. The late-running 3-year-old filly has won four races in photo finishes this season, but she will face a stiff test against her elders with Grade I winner Life At Ten and the Churchill-loving Acoma challenging her. By the way, no 3-year-old filly has won the Ladies' Classic (formerly the Distaff) since Ashado in 2004.

This story was originally published November 5, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Breaking down the Breeders' Cup: Friday's races."