FRANKEL & THE BC

[Bobtailnag]

Annually at this time, the dominant discussion among elite handicappers always centers on Bobby Frankel's dreadful record (of 2-for-57) in the Breeders Cup.

A good case can be made that Ghostzapper, Midas Eyes, and Nothing To Lose are each the best horse in the Classic, Sprint, and Mile. However, these Bobby Frankel trained horses will surely go off at odds of 8-to-1 or much less in the Breeders Cup. Frankel is a shocking 0-for-28 lifetime in the Breeders Cup with horses who go off at odds of 8-to-1 or less!

Conspiracy theorists believe that Frankel's "juice" doesn't get administered on Breeders Cup day because of the quarantine barns, tight security, and super tough drug testing in the Breeders Cup. Others just write the stats off (2-for-57 and 0-for-28)...and consider them to be first class statistical anomalies. The conspiracy folks looked sharp last year...as Frankel went 0-for-9 with 5 beaten favorites on the Santa Anita card.

It should be noted that Frankel has done pretty well with longshots though. He won the 2002 F&M Turf with John Velazquez up on Starine at 13-1. He was 2nd in the 2000 Breeders Cup Sprint with Honest Lady at 31-1. 2nd in the 1991 Mile with Vel Das Bois at 16-1. 3rd in the 2001 Classic with Milwaukee Brew at 24-1. 3rd in the 1998 Turf with Dushyantour at 58-1. And 4th in 1999 Classic with Chester House at 63-1.

If the top trainer in the country with the top horses in the country, year in and year out, went 0 for 13 or even 0 for 20 in the BC, it would still be easy to believe it was just a slump - but when the best trainer in the nation with the top stock in the nation goes 2 for 57, you might want to consider trying to beat him in every race he enters on BC day.