BREEDERS’ CUP / RACE AT A GLANCE

Race: Turf.

Purse: $2 million.

Distance: 1 1/2 miles.

Track Record: 2:22 4/5, by Hawkster in 1989.

Field (in post-position order): Fraise, Fairy Garden, Wemyss Bight, Opera House, Hernando, Luazur, Dernier Empereur, Hatoof, Serrant, Apple Tree, Solar Splendor, Bien Bien, Kotashaan, Intrepidity.

Morning-line Favorite: Kotashaan, 2-1.

Record of Favorites: Three winners in nine runnings (Pebbles, 1985; Theatrical entry, 1987; In The Wings, 1990).

Average $2 Win Payoff: $34.80.

Race Analysis: When asked recently about the Santa Anita turf course, one jockey said it was the worst he had ever ridden on. Given all the sand that is kicked up during races, it might be best to compare it to Del Mar--not the racetrack, but the nearby beach.

Obviously, some horses have handled Santa Anita’s grass and others haven’t during the Oak Tree meeting and that Kotashaan is proven over the surface makes him the horse to beat in the Turf.

The gelded son of Darshaan has won five of eight on grass, most recently by four lengths in the Oak Tree Invitational on Oct. 10.

Kent Desormeaux, who will be seeking his first Breeders’ Cup victory, is confident in Kotashaan and so is trainer Richard Mandella, who is having the best year of his career.

Kotashaan’s love for the course is an advantage, but the competition will be much tougher than what he has been seeing.

The European contingent is strong, with Hatoof, Hernando, Intrepidity and Opera House all sporting excellent credentials.

A 4-year-old filly trained by Criquette Head, Hatoof has won three of five this year, including consecutive victories most recently, and the prime concern with her is how she will handle the 1 1/2 miles.

Hernando was favored in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and his disappointing effort as the favorite can be tossed out because of the condition of the course. He will be dangerous off his best, and so will Opera House, who hasn’t been worse than third in six starts this year.

A winner of four of six in 1993, Intrepidity has the advantages of being trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Gary Stevens. They teamed up for a victory with In The Wings in the 1990 Turf at Belmont Park.

Bien Bien could be overlooked. The son of 1986 Turf winner Manila was beaten by a nose by Kotashaan on this course in the San Juan Capistrano in April and his last race can be tossed out because it was over an extremely soft course in New York. He has worked well lately and the price should be right.