Who beats Zenyatta if the BC was at SA this year?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Obviously there are only 3 relevant preps for the BC Classic when it's on synthetic. They are...

California: The Goodwood
New York: The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
Kentucky: The Kentucky Cup Classic

Anyone with half a brain realizes that the likely "Breeders Cup Classic" winner - if male - is going to either come from out of one of those 3 races or will come from Europe.

Last year, longshot Euro shipper Gitano Hernando upset the Goodwood. Mega longshot Interpretation turned back Gio Ponti to stun the Joe Hirsch. Furthest Land took the 9f Ky Cup Classic over Dubious Miss.

Amazingly, not a single winner of the 3 most important preps showed up in the BC Classic. Gitano Hernando passed to point for Dubai. Interpretation passed for Japan. Furthest Land opted to cut back - and he won the BC Synthetic Dirt Mile at 21/1 next out.

One of the great mystery's of all-time is why the Euro's only sent over 2 horses for the Classic. The 3yo Rip Van Winkle - and the older Twice Over. Rip Van Winkle had major health issues going into the race - and a 9th place Mine That Bird beat him by over 6 lengths. Twice Over ran 3rd despite appearing to struggle a bit with both the surface and the turns.

Considering that the 1-2 finishers for the Santa Anita Handicap this year were Misremembered and Neko Bay.. and both haven't run back since. Considering that Awesome Gem won the Hollywood Gold Cup after getting dusted in stakes at Charles Town and Lone Star in his prior two starts.

I know they haven't run the Pacific Classic yet ... but you can count on some terrible plodding bum from the East Coast winning that race for the 4th year in a row. I honestly have no idea why Shirreffs wanted to duck those three laughable races this year. Rail Trip might be "the highest mountain to climb" .. but his sire was an early sprinter/miler and he's out of a Carson City mare. You need a lot of stamina to stay 10fs on synthetic.

Basically, Zenyatta would be a near cinch to be the top finishing American based horse if the BC Classic was run at SA again this year.