Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade 1) (Dirt) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner $2,860,500 - 11 run
Advice: 1 pt win Mucho Macho Man (4/1 general), Will Take
Charge (12/1 general), Palace Malice (10/1 general)
Last Gunfighter: Won seven of nine since being moved to Chad
Brown by no Grade 1 successes for him in that time and flat behind Flat Out,
Ron The Greek and Palace Malaice in the Jockey Club, his first try at this
trip; Easy to look elsewhere. 
Paynter: Looked a serious horse when running out an easy
winner of the Haskell Stakes (has been a Belmont Stakes winner time before
that) but brushes with deather through severe colic and laminitis blighted him;
Credit that Bob Baffert has him back at all but Grade 2 second to Mucho Macho
Man was a top effort can can do better still (carried wide 2 furlongs out) and
interesting for all that Mucho Macho Man looked to have his number. 
Planetur: Has got plenty of polytack form but never ran on
dirt and no breeding suggests it would suit; Shocker at Longchamp last time
after Group 3 success at Windsor and while he’s a useful horse, looks
overmatched before even taking on the surface.
Moreno: Very smart 3yo, wide margin winner of Dwyer Stakes before third to Palace Malice in
July at Saratoga; Closely matched with Will Take Charge on two recent runs in
Travers (set favoured pace for himself) although margin much more comprehensive
at Parx latest. 
Declaration of War: Bred for dirt (by War Front and dam a
triple dirt winner) and broke maiden going 9 furlongs on sand surface at Deauville
for jean Claude Rouget; Has fulfilled full potential for Ballydoyle this
season, winning Queen Anne Stakes but improving with every start since,
culminating with hardfought, game, Juddmonte Stakes win; If takes to surface,
no reason that he can’t put up a massive showing. 
Mucho Macho Man: Fort Larned slipped clear on the final turn
and stayed clear by half a length in last year’s classic, and then posted some
rather lacklustre efforts (ran below best every time since) until romp over 9
furlongs around this very course with Paynter well beaten in second; With more
front end speed likely here closing could be even better and has to be
considered and given a big chance of turning around the form. 
Fort Larned: Broke best, got to the lead, kicked clear when
others napping around the turn and never caught in last year’s Classic, with
only Mucho Macho Man able to come close; Been very on and off since then,
destroying field in Stepehen Foster before disappointing at Saratoga; Theory
that he’s best backing up his runs so win at Churchill should have put him spot
on for this and must be considered for all that it’s unlikely that he gets a
generous 
Palace Malice: Has taken his time to get to peak form but a
convincing and clear cut winner of Belmont Stakes, a performance that he backed
up with Jim Dandy win before his desperate Travers Stakes trip (wins with clear
run); Wide draw did him no favours behind absent Ron the Greek when he was
thrashed in Jockey Club Gold Cup and not out of question he can go well here
with plenty looking for the lead. 
Game On Dude: Was a hot favourite for this last year (2nd
in 2011) after string of successes last year, but broke badly, could never
dominate and flat seventh beaten out of sight; Unbeaten this calendar year and
if breaking and getting to the lead has to be given a chance but feeling that
he’s been beating up on poor fields and vulnerable here. 
Flat Out: Fifth in this at Churchill Downs (2011) and third
last year when best of the rest behind Mucho Macho Man and Fort Larned; Once
again saved his best for Belmont when comprehensive winner of the Suburbian
Handicap, although well behind Palace Malaice at Belmont last time and needs
far more here.
VERDICT: Game on Dude is a hot favourite for the second year
running but he’s proven little since last year’s defeat despite his easy wins
and he seems best when able to lead at the rail – something that won’t happen
from stall 9. A hot pace wouldn’t be to the benefit of last year’s winner Fort
Larned but it should prove perfect for MUCHO MACHO MAN, who loves it around
here and has peaked based on his latest run when smashing Paynter in a Grade 1
here on his prep run. A fast pace should also be to the benefit of thee year
olds PALACE MALICE and WILL TAKE CHARGE, and they to can get involved with the
shakeup.
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