Nine races but countless subplots

When the synthetic dust settles late this afternoon, the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be in the books. Nine races will have been run and $17.5 million will have been divvied among the competitors. And the biggest question will have been answered: Whether Robby Albarado was able to coax defending Classic champion Curlin to victory on a surface he’s not partial to. Oddsmakers have listed Curlin as the morning-line 7-5 favorite. But here’s a tip for bettors: The average win price for the Classic has been $30.60. What’s more: Overall, favorites have won only 64 of 180 Breeders’ Cup races. Today’s program:

$500,000 MARATHON

3-year-olds and up, 1 1/2 miles

Question: Will Sixties Icon (Great Britain), one of a record-tying 26 foreign-based horses in the Breeders’ Cup, prevail on a surface European horses have grown accustomed to.

Answer: His odds are 2-1, just ahead of Zappa at 5-2.

Worth noting: Delightful Kiss, who had been a Classic prospect, is 8-1 and fully recovered from a traffic mishap Tuesday, when he hit his head on the van and suffered a superficial wound.

Don’t count out: Cedar Mountain.

$1-MILLION TURF SPRINT

3-year-olds and up, about 6 1/2 furlongs.

Question: Will Get Funky get lucky at 9-2 odds, with a favorable No. 13 post position?

Answer: “He is very reliable coming down the hill and runs his race every time,” said trainer John Sadler.

Worth noting: This is a wide-open race with no prohibitive favorite.

Don’t count out: Storm Treasure, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, who called the race setup “ideal.”

$1-MILLION DIRT MILE

3-year-olds and up

Question: Has Lewis Michael, whom trainer Wayne Catalano described as “just a big old playboy early on,” matured enough to win at this level?

Answer: The 5-year-old, listed at 5-1, is coming off a 2 3/4 -length victory in the Pat O’Brien Handicap at Del Mar.

Worth noting: Mast Track has a small crack on the outside of a front hoof but has been training as though he doesn’t know it.

Don’t count out: Well Armed, who is favored at 3-1.

$2-MILLION MILE

3-year-olds and up, on turf

Question: Can defending champion Kip Deville hold off a four-horse Irish charge led by morning-line favorite Goldikova?

Answer: Kip Deville won on a soggy course last year at Monmouth, N.J., but has won twice at Santa Anita and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said, “I’m a horse-for-course guy and we know he loves it here.”

Worth noting: Goldikova is one of two fillies in the race. The other is Precious Kitten, a three-time Grade I winner who has never run against males.

Don’t count out: Whatsthescript (Ireland), who is fresh and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.

$2-MILLION JUVENILE

2-year-old colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles.

Question: Will Chantal Sutherland be able to coax Mine That Bird to victory?

Answer: Oddsmakers give the jockey a 30-1 chance. She says that’s bias against horses from Canada.

Worth noting: Square Eddie (9-2) and Street Hero (6-1) earned spots through the BC challenge series.

Don’t count out: Mine That Bird, who is trained by Richard Mandella.

$1-MILLION JUVENILE TURF

2-year-old colts and geldings, one mile

Question: Will Bittel Road remain undefeated after his fourth turf start?

Answer: He drew a very unfavorable No. 11 post, meaning tough access to the first turn.

Worth noting: There are three foreign-based horses, led by Westphalia, who has three wins and two seconds in six starts.

Don’t count out: Ninth Client, trained by legendary D. Wayne Lukas.

$2-MILLION SPRINT

3-year-olds and up, six furlongs

Question: Will Midnight Lute, trained by Bob Baffert, rebound from a 10th-place finish in the Pat O’Brien Handicap and defend his event title?

Answer: “I just want him to be able to get a clear run,” Baffert said.

Worth noting: Street Boss, whose works have been blistering, is favored just ahead of Midnight Lute at 3-1.

Don’t count out: Cost of Freedom, who has won four straight with Tyler Baze aboard.

$3-MILLION TURF

3-year-olds and up, 1 1/2 miles

Question: Will Better Talk Now or Red Rocks, event winners in 2004 and 2006, respectively, be able to get back into the winner’s circle?

Answer: The former is 9 years old and listed at 10-1. The latter ran third last year and defeated Curlin in the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont in July. Red Rocks is 5-1 on the morning line.

Worth noting: Seven of the 11 horses are foreign-based, led by 7-2 favorite Soldier of Fortune (Ireland).

Don’t count out: Eagle Mountain, who is back in form after recovering from a fractured pelvis.

$5-MILLION CLASSIC

3-year-olds and up, 1 1/4 miles

Question: Will Curlin defend his Classic championship and repeat as horse of the year?

Answer: If he races as well as he has trained on the synthetic track, perhaps. There are others more accustomed to this type of surface.

Worth noting: Garrett Gomez, who rides Go Between, will be aboard his 13th Breeders’ Cup mount.

Don’t count out: Any horse on the program. Even 50-1 Smooth Air, who has taken a liking to the fake dirt.

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