There is a new Breeders’ Cup wager this year. Who will ride the most winners? There is a morning line for this bet. Garrett Gomez, who won four BC races, last year, is the 3-1 favourite. Jockey Gomez has ten rides this year. John Murtagh, Frankie Dettori and Julien Leparoux are all at 6-1. Murtagh has six rides. Dettori will be aboard seven runners. Jockey Leparoux will ride in 11 races.

You cannot ask for better weather in Los Angeles. The skies are overcast and there is a chill in the air as I type this report 6 30 A M Pacific time. There is absolutely no rain in the forecast. The Breeders’ Cup is an international event. There are people from all over the world. The success that the Europeans have enjoyed in recent years has made the competition more keen. There is a large press contingent from England, Ireland and France.

There are six BC races today, Friday. Post time for the first BC race is 12:35 P M local time. It is the Marathon. The first running of the Marathon was in 2008 and Muhannak, Pat Smullen up, won it. Muhannak, trained by Britain-based R M Becket, is back this year but his form leaves a great deal to be desired. Mastery is all the rage. The Godolphin runner comes off a win in the English St Leger at Doncaster in early September. Mastery’s comfort level on an artificial surface is open to debate. Aidan O’Brien sends out Man of Iron, the only Ballydoyle runner to get anti-bleeding medication. Father Time, winner of the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, takes his chances. Cloudy’s Knight, a nine year-old, has been in excellent form. I will go with Father Time whose lines show a win on the all weather in England.

The Juvenile Fillies Turf comes next. Post time is 1:08 P M. This is wide open. I will take Rose Catherine. After two disappointing races on dirt, she bolted in her grass debut. If that run is any criterion, Rose Catherine should take a lot of beating.

The third BC race on Friday is for Juvenile Fillies. Post time is 1 45 P M. Blind Luck, to be ridden by the promising Tyler Baze, has done everything right. She has home field advantage and may just be good enough.

The next race is at 2 23 P M and it’s the Filly-Mare Turf. Forever Together, last year’s winner, seeks an encore and will have the services of Julien Leparoux. I am going with Pure Clan, Garrett Gomez up. Pure Clan has had a productive summer. Her race in the Beverly D at Arlington Park needs to be overlooked. The track did not suit her. Pure Clan merits an each way wager.

Ventura and Informed Decision are the leading contenders in the next race. Post time is 3 02 P M for the Filly-Mare Sprint. Ventura won this race in 2008. She came from behind and beat Indian Blessing. Ventura, a Chester House five year-old mare, was highly impressive in the Woodbine Mile. She was in the rear and closed with a flourish. Jockey Gomez heaped praise on Ventura and mentioned the fact that the Woodbine Mile came after a layoff. Informed Decision, Julien Leparoux up, beat Ventura in a Keeneland Stakes race in April. However, Ventura is good on the pro ride and she’s my best wager for Friday.

Friday’s last BC race is the Ladies’ Classic. Post time is 3 45 P M. Zenyatta won the Ladies’ Classic last year. With Zenyatta opting to take the boys on in Saturday’s Classic, Friday’s Classic is up for grabs. I am reaching and I will say that Proviso has a good chance. Once trained in France, Proviso showed enormous potential as a freshman. After a hiccup or two, she has settled down. In her most recent start, she won and was disqualified. John Velasquez will ride Proviso who is 8-1 in the Santa Anita morning line. I believe she will be at much longer odds. A five-dollar bet should keep me involved.

A P Indy’s stud fee is down to $150,000 from $250,000. Smart Strike’s fee has dropped to $75,000 from $125,000. Curlin commands $60,000. If I have a mare and can afford A P Indy for $150,000, I don’t think that the economic downturn would be a concern.

Gulch has been pensioned. Declining fertility is the reason. Gulch was Horse of the Year in 1988. That was the year Gulch won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Gulch, a son of Mr Prospector, was trained by LeRoy Jolly and Wayne Lukas. Thunder Gulch, a son of Gulch, won the Derby, the Belmont Stakes and Saratoga’s Travers in 1995. Point Given, Thunder Gulch’s son, won the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes in 2001.

The Grey Goose party on Thursday was in downtown Los Angeles. It is an 18-mile trip from the hotel I am staying in. It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get there. Los Angeles traffic defies description. The party was at the ESPN building. The Staples Center is on the other side of the street. It was a well-attended party. I found out what a ‘screw driver’ is. It is Vodka and orange juice. The only food I could eat was salad, pasta and potatoes. The return trip took only 25 minutes.

I called my daughter in Chennai. I am planning my India itinerary. I called Chicago to speak to Mrs Krish. I hope Ventura, who is my main wager, will come through in the Filly-Mare Sprint.