Joe Torre couldn't help Dodgers' kids, but can help these kids

Don't worry, kids, this has nothing to do with who comes out of the bullpen.

The Breeders' Cup, a two-day racing extravaganza at Santa Anita, begins today with five championship races for the females followed by nine races for the guys on Saturday.

Torre will be here the next two days because he sent the Phillies to the World Series, taking the time now for the kids' benefit to make a pair of selections for each race. That makes what he's doing here far more interesting than anything the Phillies are doing.

A winning selection in one of the Classic races will earn $5,000 for the children's cancer ward. If his second choice also finishes in the money, Breeders' Cup Charities will donate an additional $2,000.

Zenyatta is favored to win the Ladies Classic, Curlin the Classic, and that's $10,000 easy dollars for the kids as long as Torre doesn't fall in love with some nag who reminds him of Chan Ho Park.

As for the other dozen races, a Torre winner will earn $2,000 for the kids along with a $1,000 bonus if his second choice finishes second or third.

If Torre is perfect, and remember how long it took him to identify Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier as winners, he can collect as much as $50,000 for the hospital.

Now I know what the kids are thinking. What, was Gary Stevens, Bob Mieszerski or someone who knows something about horse racing not available?

Well, let me tell you, kids, Torre is not only a race horse owner -- eight at last count -- but owner of Vineyard Haven, who looks like the favorite to win next May's Kentucky Derby.

So we're talking a legitimate horseman here, kids, and more important than that, when he first came to L.A. he moved into the home of trainer extraordinaire Bobby Frankel.

Frankel is his friend, and I know this, because as soon as I get here, Frankel wants to chew me out for never writing anything nice about Torre. I mention something about the Juvenile, and he says what's wrong with Torre going to Clayton Kershaw?

It's a good bet, though, Frankel dropped a tip or two on Torre, so it's not like he's making these picks with his eyes closed. Only does that while filling out his lineup.