As noted below, the number in parentheses following each race is Brisnet’s Prime Power rank in the race.

Mile: Not much in the way of affiliation in this race, so I guess I’d love to see My Typhoon beat the boys. I don’t really think she will, but it would be kind of cool in this Rags to Riches year. (10th)

Distaff: I love Lear’s Princess; I got to hang out with her and feed her carrots at McLaughlin’s barn at Saratoga, and I’ve had my eye on her since the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont in July. I love her, and I’d like to see her win.

But I can’t root against Teammate. She hasn’t run great in a while, though I thought that her finish at Keeneland a few weeks was impressive and showed how game she is. I’d love, just love, to see her win. (10th)

Turf: In the summer of 2004, I was at Saratoga with my brother on the day of the Sword Dancer, and as I was studying the program, I asked, “Who do you like?” He gave me Better Talk Now…wow. Bet him, won, followed him to Lone Star and hit the Better Talk Now/Kitten’s Joy exacta. When he’s good, he’s oh so good…I don’t know whether he’s that good anymore, and having this be his first race since July doesn’t fill me with confidence. But I gotta root for the eight-year-old. Better Talk Now. (2nd)

Classic: Most years, I go to Saratoga and I fall in love with a two-year-old. For some reason, that didn’t happen in the summer of ’06. I did have Any Given Saturday in the Derby futures, and I’ve always liked his heart—the horse seems to try every time he hits the track. I was terribly disappointed that he didn’t come to Saratoga.

I’ve never had any affinity for Street Sense; I respect him as a racehorse, but there’s nothing about him that speaks to me. Curlin’s heart wows me…he’s so big and beautiful and muscular, and he seems much more of a fighter than Street Sense, which I like.

All of that said: I’m hoping that Any Given Saturday gets this one. Plus, the guy won the Brooklyn—how could I root against him? (6th)

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I’m disappointed about Discreet Cat; I don’t want to know that he’s mortal, and it makes me sad to contemplate that we will quite possibly not see him on the track again.

I’m looking forward to checking out the new and improved Aqueduct tomorrow, and maybe to making some money. Alan from Left at the Gate is blogging live from Monmouth for the Breeders’ Cup website, and Jessica from Railbird is blogging live for the Daily Racing Form. I haven’t been able to reliably get on the DRF site today, but I’ll try to post the link. Both of them write great stuff, updated regularly—let them be your guides through tomorrow’s racing.