Goldikova

While the world waited for Zenyatta and the last dramatic race, two other horses grabbed their share of Saturday's Breeders' Cup limelight. The Irish mare, Goldikova, became the first to win three Breeders' Cup races. And the pride of trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Michael Repole , 2-year-old wonder Uncle Mo, emerged as next year's Kentucky Derby favorite. Goldikova rallied down the stretch, as she usually does, to win her third straight Breeders' Cup Mile. The Irish horse, a five-year-old handled by French trainer Freddie Head, played nicely off an early pace set by California horse Sidney's Candy, winner of last year's Santa Anita Derby.

How about ghost of boyfriend past? Game On Dude was within yards of making Chantal Sutherland the first female jockey to win the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday when Sutherland's ex-boyfriend Mike Smith and his colt Drosselmeyer surged past on the outside to win the $5-million race before 65,143 at Churchill Downs. "I looked up, saw white and said, 'You've got to be kidding me, it's Mike Smith,' " Sutherland said. For Smith, who was aboard Zenyatta last year in a heartbreaking Classic loss to Blame at the wire, the redemptive victory tied him with now-retired Jerry Bailey for the most Breeders' Cup triumphs in the event's 28-year history with 15. "Last year, I sat here just devastated, thinking my life was over," Smith said.

How about ghost of boyfriend past? Game On Dude was within yards of making Chantal Sutherland the first female jockey to win the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday when Sutherland's ex-boyfriend Mike Smith and his colt Drosselmeyer surged past on the outside to win the $5-million race before 65,143 at Churchill Downs. "I looked up, saw white and said, 'You've got to be kidding me, it's Mike Smith,' " Sutherland said. For Smith, who was aboard Zenyatta last year in a heartbreaking Classic loss to Blame at the wire, the redemptive victory tied him with now-retired Jerry Bailey for the most Breeders' Cup triumphs in the event's 28-year history with 15. "Last year, I sat here just devastated, thinking my life was over," Smith said.

Reporting from Louisville, Ky. — For trainers with the good fortune of sending several horses to the 15-race Breeders' Cup that runs Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs, hopes for a financial windfall start in the first day's fillies and juvenile races. California-based trainer Bob Baffert has nine entries, including four running Friday, after withdrawing the feverish 30-1 longshot Prayer for Relief from Saturday's $5-million Classic. The country's top trainer, Todd Pletcher , also has nine horses running, including three Friday and Classic threats Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty.

Irish-bred Goldikova defended her title in the Breeders' Cup Mile with an impressive late charge Saturday, providing French trainer Freddy Head with an accomplishment not likely to be matched any time soon. Head, a former jockey who rode Miesque to consecutive victories in the Mile in 1987-88, became the only person to win the same race twice as a jockey and trainer. "It's something I don't have the words to try to say what I feel," he said afterward. "Because having ridden a horse like her . . . and now to train a horse like her, it's something you can't dream of."

There have been plenty of ups and downs in the racing career of jockey Patrick Valenzuela, but at 48, he's looking revitalized and reenergized. On Saturday, he earned his 100th career stakes victory at Hollywood Park by guiding Courageous Cat to victory by a neck over Caracortado in the $300,000 Grade I Shoemaker Mile. Valenzuela won the Santa Anita Derby when he was 17 in 1980. He won the Kentucky Derby aboard Sunday Silence in 1989. He has fought back from substance abuse problems to return to Southern California to ride full time.

Reporting from Louisville, Ky. — A mare is seeking a horse racing accomplishment for the record books. So is a woman. And a group of men have put their faith in a young female horse that has performed as if their late Southern California friend is orchestrating the outcome. These are some of the stories leading into the Breeders' Cup as the sport's largest collection of international thoroughbreds compete in 15 races Friday and Saturday worth a combined $25.5 million at Churchill Downs.

Reporting from Louisville, Ky. — For trainers with the good fortune of sending several horses to the 15-race Breeders' Cup that runs Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs, hopes for a financial windfall start in the first day's fillies and juvenile races. California-based trainer Bob Baffert has nine entries, including four running Friday, after withdrawing the feverish 30-1 longshot Prayer for Relief from Saturday's $5-million Classic. The country's top trainer, Todd Pletcher , also has nine horses running, including three Friday and Classic threats Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty.

Breeders' Cup favorites Horse; Jockey; Trainer; Morning-line odds; FRIDAY RACES Juvenile Sprint Secret Circle; Rafael Bejarano; Bob Baffert; 6/5; Juvenile Fillies Turf Elusive Kate; William Buick; John H.M. Gosden; 2/1; Filly and Mare Sprint Turbulent Descent; David Flores; Mike Puype; 6/5; Juvenile Fillies My Miss Aurelia; Corey Nakatani; Steven M. Asmussen; 5/2; ...

It's going to be a busy final three weeks of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, with major stakes races each weekend, starting Saturday with two Grade I stakes, the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on the turf and the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap at seven furlongs. Next Saturday, July 9, is the $500,000 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, followed by the $250,000 Grade I American Oaks Handicap on July 16. One obstacle to the final weekend on July 16-17 is that it takes place when a 10-mile stretch of the 405 freeway will be closed between the 10 freeway and the Sepulveda Pass.

Reporting from Louisville, Ky. — A mare is seeking a horse racing accomplishment for the record books. So is a woman. And a group of men have put their faith in a young female horse that has performed as if their late Southern California friend is orchestrating the outcome. These are some of the stories leading into the Breeders' Cup as the sport's largest collection of international thoroughbreds compete in 15 races Friday and Saturday worth a combined $25.5 million at Churchill Downs.

There have been plenty of ups and downs in the racing career of jockey Patrick Valenzuela, but at 48, he's looking revitalized and reenergized. On Saturday, he earned his 100th career stakes victory at Hollywood Park by guiding Courageous Cat to victory by a neck over Caracortado in the $300,000 Grade I Shoemaker Mile. Valenzuela won the Santa Anita Derby when he was 17 in 1980. He won the Kentucky Derby aboard Sunday Silence in 1989. He has fought back from substance abuse problems to return to Southern California to ride full time.

While the world waited for Zenyatta and the last dramatic race, two other horses grabbed their share of Saturday's Breeders' Cup limelight. The Irish mare, Goldikova, became the first to win three Breeders' Cup races. And the pride of trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Michael Repole , 2-year-old wonder Uncle Mo, emerged as next year's Kentucky Derby favorite. Goldikova rallied down the stretch, as she usually does, to win her third straight Breeders' Cup Mile. The Irish horse, a five-year-old handled by French trainer Freddie Head, played nicely off an early pace set by California horse Sidney's Candy, winner of last year's Santa Anita Derby.

Irish-bred Goldikova defended her title in the Breeders' Cup Mile with an impressive late charge Saturday, providing French trainer Freddy Head with an accomplishment not likely to be matched any time soon. Head, a former jockey who rode Miesque to consecutive victories in the Mile in 1987-88, became the only person to win the same race twice as a jockey and trainer. "It's something I don't have the words to try to say what I feel," he said afterward. "Because having ridden a horse like her . . . and now to train a horse like her, it's something you can't dream of."

The Times has put together a U.S. vs. Europe showdown, Ryder Cup-style (or is it Rider Cup?) for the Breeders' Cup. In each of the Breeders' Cup races two European horses will be matched against two U.S. horses. If one of those four horses wins the race, one point will be awarded to that team. If none of the four horses wins, half a point will be awarded to the highest finishing horse among the four. If only one European horse is entered, the U.S. will enter only one horse. The horses are drawn by morning-line odds.

When the synthetic dust settles late this afternoon, the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships will be in the books. Nine races will have been run and $17.5 million will have been divvied among the competitors. And the biggest question will have been answered: Whether Robby Albarado was able to coax defending Classic champion Curlin to victory on a surface he's not partial to. Oddsmakers have listed Curlin as the morning-line 7-5 favorite.