There are five Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita on Friday. The BC card begins with the filly-mare sprint over 1400 metres. Indian Blessing will be the favorite and for all the right reasons. She won the Eclipse award as the best freshman filly last year. Her sophomore form has been equally spectacular. She has won three consecutive races by huge margins and there is no knowing what her limits are. The Bob Baffert trainee, if she wins, would have won two BC races in two different categories in two years. John Velasquez has the mount. Ventura is the second choice. I expect Indian Blessing to be about 90 cents on the dollar.

Arcadia weather is all anyone can ask for. The sun is out. There is not a threatening cloud. The track is in great shape. The Pro-ride surface, according to most experts, has been playing fair. With no kickback, the Europeans should Pro-ride quite conducive. Going racing at Santa Anita is like going racing at Mahalakshmi on a warm day in March.

Juvenile fillies (turf) come next. This is a wide open event. Laragh is the lukewarm public choice. This is a new division. I have no opinion.

Stardom Bound should be a short-priced favorite in the next race, Juvenile fillies going over Pro-ride. Mike Smith and Stardom Bound have formed a formidable partnership. They have the advantage of exposure to California conditions. Jockey Smith has made no secret of his (high) confidence in Stardom Bound. Stardom Bound’s last victory came at Santa Anita. She should take all the beating.

The next event is the 2000-metre filly-mare (turf) and there is no clear cut favorite. Wait A While carries the American flag and John Velasquez is aboard. A reputed Grade I performer, Wait A While has an enviable record at Santa Anita. She has shown special fondness for the Arcadia track. She is sure to attract a lot of support.

I believe that this race will go to an Irish filly. My pick is Halfway To Heaven. The O’Brien filly beat Darjina in Newmarket’s Sun Chariotr in early October. Halfway To Heaven has beaten Lush Lashes, one of Europe’s premier fillies. She won the Irish 1000 Guineas. She is absolutely sharp. The distance is perfect for her. I do not think Pro-ride will pose any problems. John Murtagh gets the call.

Mauralakana, winner of the Beverly D at Arlington Park in August, seeks to rebound. She was a disappointment in her last outing. She has had a great summer. She has French roots but her top efforts have come in America. She is not out of it by any means.

The fifth and final BC race is the ‘Ladies’ Classic.’ Zenyatta has won eight races and she has raced eight times in her career. Now and then, she has had to work extra hard but she has always been equal to the task. Trainer John Shirreffs has Zenyatta, a Street Cry filly, in top condition. There are some who say Zenyatta is vulnerable but the morning line odds are 60 cents on the dollar. There is no question that Zenyatta will be the shortest-priced favorite this year. Mike Smith will ride Zenyatta.

Ginger Punch is back to defend her title in the Ladies’ Classic. She won the hard way last year and a major contribution came from jockey Rafael Bejarano who is back in the saddle. Trainer Bobby Frankel has said that Ginger Punch failed in her last start because she was taken to the front. Frankel believes that his filly does best when she has another filly to run at.

A huge crowd is expected over the weekend. All the BC races will be simulcast in America and Canada. All the racing jurisdictions will accept wagering on all the races. The two-day extravaganza is being widely advertised.

I have been told that you can watch the BC races on the internet. If you have the time, it will be time well spent. Fans in India are computer savvy. They should be able to figure it out.