BREEDERS’ CUP RACE AT A GLANCERace: Juvenile.*...

BREEDERS’ CUP RACE AT A GLANCE

Race: Juvenile.

* Purse: $1 million.

* Distance: 1 1/16 miles.

* Track record: 1:39 1/5, by Efervescente in 1993.

* Pre-entry field: Blumin Affair, Brocco, Creston, Dehere, Dove Hunt, Ferrara, Flying Sensation, Hot Number, Ramblin Guy, Shepherd’s Field, Tabasco Cat, Winning Pact.

* Probable Favorite: Dehere.

* Record of Favorites: Five winners in nine runnings (Chief’s Crown, 1984; Capote, 1986; Fly So Free, 1990; Arazi, 1991; Gilded Time, 1992).

* Average $2 Win Payoff: $9.

* Race Analysis: Most Eastern observers have already conceded Dehere the Juvenile and his price figures to verify that belief.

Dehere has been impressive in winning five of his six starts, but he will be trying two turns for the first time after shipping across the country. Although his pedigree suggests he could run all day, there is no guarantee Dehere will be as effective going this distance.

Brocco doesn’t have the seasoning of Dehere, but the Kris S. colt does have the benefit of a race over the Santa Anita track. After toying with maidens in his Del Mar debut, Brocco beat five overmatched allowance rivals by 8 1/2 lengths Oct. 7. He, too, will be trying two turns for the first time Saturday, but acts as if that will be no problem.

In terms of wagering value, Flying Sensation might be the way to go in the Juvenile. Winless in his first five starts, the Flying Paster colt put everything together in the California Cup Juvenile on Oct. 16, drawing away through the stretch and winning by five lengths in 1:42 2/5 at the Juvenile distance of 1 1/16 miles.

Followers of the Beyer Speed Figures published in the Daily Racing Form note that Flying Sensation’s figure that day, 93, was better than Dehere’s 90 when he won the Champagne the same day in New York. And Flying Sensation has already proved he can run the distance at this track.

Four of the horses--Winning Pact, Ferrara, Shepherd’s Field and Ramblin Guy--who ran in the Norfolk are back for this race, but all are going to have improve to compete with the top three. The Norfolk wasn’t anywhere near as good as the Oak Leaf for 2-year-old fillies the previous day. The remaining three who were pre-entered will be huge longshots.