Dutrow gambles with Diamond Stripes in Breeders' Cup Classic

[The General]

Trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr, acknowledges to "taking a shot" with Diamond Stripes in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic when an easier spot existed in the $1 million Dirt Mile.

The Classic is the richest of the 11 Breeders' Cup races spread over Friday and Saturday at Monmouth Park.

"Chances like this don't come along every day," said Dutrow, who won the 2005 Classic with Saint Liam.

While Saint Liam was the 2-1 betting favorite, Diamond Stripes is a 15-1 long shot.

"He's a gelding so you have to try and grab all the money you can," Dutrow said. "You can make more money finishing third in the Classic than we can winning the Dirt Mile."

Dutrow also feels the 4-year-old who won the Meadowlands Cup earlier this month is still improving while some Classic rivals have already peaked.

"Some of the Classic horses are faster than us on paper but they are not reaching freakish territory," Dutrow said. "They're kind of just holding their form. We believe Diamond Stripes has more to give."

Diamond Stripes will break from post No. 7 with Cornelio Velasquez aboard.

TWO DAYS

The Breeders' Cup was to kick off Friday with three $1 million races that gave the season-ending championships a second day of racing for the first time in the event's 24 years.

Discreet Cat was the glamour horse Friday in the Dirt Mile, which was actually be run at one mile, 70 yards to accommodate Monmouth's short run from the start to the first turn.

The 4-year-old trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin Racing has abundant international experience. Purchased following a victory in his debut at Saratoga in 2005, Discreet Cat reeled off five consecutive wins for the new owners including Grade 1 victories in 2006 in the UAE Derby in Dubai and the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

He is winless in two starts this year, a campaign compromised by a severe throat abscess. Most recently, Discreet Cat was third in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park, his first start in six months

"He's really come on since the Vosburgh," assistant trainer Rick Mettee said. "The race has really helped him."

Discreet Cat has the rail with Garrett Gomez set to ride.

In the other Breeders' Cup stakes on Friday, Dream Rush, winner of six of eight races, was the 2-1 favorite in the Filly & Mare Sprint, while Prussian, unbeaten in two starts, was the 3-1 favorite in the Juvenile Turf.

A fan favorite in the Filly & Mare Sprint was to be Oprah Winney, a 6-1 choice.

TWO SCRATCHES

Attila's Storm and Dixie Chatter were scratched Thursday.

Attila's Storm was slated to make a third-straight appearance in the $2 million Sprint before injuring a left front ankle.

"He has some filling in there and he was a little sore this morning," trainer Rich Schosberg said. "It's nothing major, but he's not 100 percent. We are the protectors of these horses and there is no way I could even consider running him."

In two prior Sprint appearances, Attila's Storm was fourth in 2005 and fifth last year.

Dixie Chatter was flown in from California on Monday for the $2 million Juvenile before spiking a fever Wednesday that persisted into Thursday.

"We've got to err on the side of caution," trainer Richard Mandella said.

The colt has won two of four starts, including the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30.

TOUGH TURF

Much of the focus of this Breeders' Cup has centered on the deep and talented field in the Classic, which features Street Sense, Curlin, Hard Spun, Lawyer Ron and Any Given Saturday.

However, the $3 million Turf also sports a stellar lineup that includes two previous winners, Better Talk Now (2004) and Red Rocks (2006), as well as leading U.S. grass horse English Channel, who has done well at Monmouth, having won the last two runnings of the United Nations Stakes over this course.

In this strong group, Dylan Thomas is the horse to beat. At 7-5, the 4-year-old is the shortest-priced favorite in the 11 Breeders' Cup races. He has won four Group 1 stakes in Europe this season, including the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Dylan Thomas arrived at Monmouth on Tuesday night following a flight from Aidan O'Brien's training center in Ireland.

John Murtagh will ride the winner of 10 of 18 career starts from post No. 7 in the eight-horse field.

This will be Dylan Thomas' ninth start of the season, creating hope among rivals that fatigue might catch up with him.

"You don't know until he runs," Murtagh said. "Aiden is great at getting them ready. He's got great faith in the horse and I have great faith in him to have a horse ready for the day."

O'Brien sees a horse with remarkable recuperative powers.

"Every race, he's bounced back better than the one before," O'Brien said. "He seems to be in good form. He just keeps getting stronger and stronger, physically and mentally. He's been an amazing horse."

This will likely be Dylan Thomas' final race. He is slated for retirement at the end of this season.

ALL WET

Check out the mudders during Breeders' Cup weekend.

Rain is predicted for Friday and Saturday, with the chance of precipitation Saturday very high. Temperatures are expected to range from the upper 50s on Friday to the upper 60s Saturday.

Dutrow gambles with Diamond Stripes in Breeders' Cup Classic - Horse Racing - Yahoo! Sports