US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 20 October 2007 /

Nick Shiambouros looks at a light weekend ahead of the Breeders Cup

Sometimes a quiet weekend is really appreciated and that certainly was the case with regards to last weekend's racing on both coasts. One horse that again made the headlines for all the wrong reasons was The Green Monkey who failed abysmally in his attempt to lose his maiden tag at Belmont Park .This time the son of Forestry tried to make all but faded in the lane to finish fourth.

On this evidence I think he will struggle to win any kind of a maiden at Belmont. As previously reported I don't know why he set foot on the track when he could easily have been retired without racing and gone to stud to be supported by some Coolmore mares and given some sort of chance of recouping some of the ridiculous purchase price they paid for him.

Over at Keenland Bit of Whimsey swooped late to beat Dreaming Of Anna in The Queen Elizabeth Cup. Costume finished quite well but was never going to trouble the judge in this valuable Grade 1.

Over on the west coast Daytona put up the performance of the weekend for me with a dazzling display in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby. He is still lightly raced and he is one for the notebook after showing a rare turn of foot to dispose of a quality field.

Even with the Breeders Cup just over a week away there are still a couple of good races to look forward to this weekend. At Keenland, The Lexus Raven Run is a nice Grade 2 affair run over seven furlongs for three year old fillies. I do like the look of the unbeaten West Coast Swing and Seaside Affair who makes the long trip from California for this contest. I just favour the former at around 3.5 but if you can get around 6 for Seaside Affair then I would have a saver on her.

Up in Canada at Woodbine, The Pattison Canadian Invitational takes place over one mile and a half on the turf. This $2m event has attracted plenty of international competition including Honolulu for Ireland but I think Sunriver win and place may be the one here at around 4.5.Ever since Todd Pletcher switched him to the turf he has been a revelation and went down fighting against Doctor Dino in The Man O' War last time out at Belmont. The home team is represented by Sky Conqueror and Ask makes the journey from Newmarket for the Stoute team. Both must be rated as dangers.

With the Breeders Cup just over a week away I am counting the days to this truly great event. I have been lucky enough to have attended several Breeders Cup meetings and seen some outstanding champions like Cigar, Sunday Silence, Unbridled, Pebbles, Invasor just to name a few. If I have missed out your favourite I am sorry but I suppose you always remember the big tickets you cash and not the ones that jump a shadow yards from the line to deny you!

Every year Monmouth Park puts on a great show for The Haskell Invitational and I am sure they will for the Breeders Cup. I usually stay in Manhattan when I go to The Haskell and the drive is a piece of cake. Or for those of you with a bit of extra cash the black limo is always a good idea. Sit back with The Daily Racing Form on the way down to the track and open a cold one on the way back to town with your winnings and hit the town. If you are dining out in the New York area and you like your red meat then get on the phone to Peter Luger's Steak House in Brooklyn and try and book it now. Simply put it is the best Steak House on this planet bar none.

Next week I will be giving you my thoughts on every Breeders Cup race over the two days at Monmouth Park and hopefully we can make a few bucks in what is always one of the best weekends racing you will ever see anywhere in the world.

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