It’s Ladies’ Day at the Breeders’ Cup (well, except for the Marathon), and it may be tough to top last year’s opening day at the Breeders’ Cup where Zenyatta stole the show with an impressive victory in the Ladies’ Classic.

This year she will take on the boys in Saturday’s $5 million Classic, and she won’t be the only female missing today.

The brilliant four year old filly Goldikova will race on Saturday, defending her title in the Mile against the boys.

In addition Dar Re Mi (Turf) and Fleeting Spirit (Sprint) have good shots of beating the boys tomorrow.

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Three females take on the boys in the Turf Sprint: Gotta Have Her, Diamondrella, and Canadian Bullet,

While some talented females will wait until Saturday, Friday’s card is excellent, with a couple of wide open two year old races, and we get to witness Forever Together (Filly & Mare Turf) and Ventura (Filly & Mare Sprint) attempt to win back to back Breeders’ Cup races.

The final Breeder’s Cup race today is the Ladies’ Classic, which features a very interesting showdown between Careless Jewel and Music Note.

The two fillies will vie for favoritism, but don’t overlook Rainbow View, who was second in the E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine on the grass last out, or Cocoa Beach, Life is Sweet, and Proviso.

As you can see below, I am giving Rainbow View the edge, as she likely is going to offer more value for the top spot than the two likely betting favorites.

There is a daily double combining the Ladies’ Classic with tomorrow’s Classic, which has the potential of producing a nice payoff.

With all the hoopla today, let’s not forget there is still racing at the Big A.

To purchase my full card report for Aqueduct that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.

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Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $12,500N1Y (12:30 ET)

#2 Ruff and Ready   5/2

#1 Hedge Fund   6/1

#3 The Vin Man   2/1

#6 Hey Now   3/1

Analysis: #2 Ruff and Ready checked in a decent third last out at this level, beaten 1 1/2 lengths for the top spot. The seven year old saved ground in the early going and swung out wide and made a good late run. Two back in his first go for the barn off the claim he was seventh against open $20K claimers. The winner of that race was Adagio, who came back to win his next two starts, last out beating $35K claimers on Nov. 4. He was going long on the turf in his previous four starts and figures to move forward off his last sprint try. He does have three in the money finishes in five starts at the trip.

#1 Hedge Fund was off a step slow, was rushed up to prompt the early pace and weakened in the stretch to finish fourth and 4 3./4 lengths back of our top pick. Draws the rail today and owns decent enough early and mid pace numbers. This guy has a habit of landing in the bottom half of the exacta and has done exactly that in half of his ten starts over the main track here and a dozen times in his career. It could be more of the same here in this spot.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 2/1 or better.

EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,6

TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,6 / 1,2,3,6,7

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 Alw $50,000s (3:48 ET)

#9 Elegant Bess  6/1

#4 Loxy Lady   10/1

#6 Goldie Lane   7/2

#3 Boxitup   3/1

Analysis: #9 Elegant Bess was not much of a threat last out trying state bred stakes company, checking in seventh in a race in which the winner and fourth place finisher came back to win next out. The filly was a good looking Alw-1 winner two back going 5 1/2 furlongs over soft footing. It looks like she finds an easier spot here and while both of her turf wins have come sprinting, she has plenty of pedigree to handle the extra ground. She is by Victory Gallop out of a Touch Gold mare. She is lightly raced compared to most of these and still appears to have some upside potential.

#4 Loxy Lady raced in traffic on the far turn and rallied strongly to beat $35K non winners of two last out. The effort was flattered when the third and fourth place finisher came back to win next out. The mare has landed in the exacta in 5 of 9 starts on the turf and her 10/1 ML looks generous.

Wagering

WIN: #9 to win at 4/1 or better.

EX:  4,9 / 3,4,6,9

TRI: 4,9 / 3,4,6,9 / 2,3,4,6,7,9

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Oak Tree at Santa Anita:

SA Race 8 BC Ladies' Classic G1 (3:45 PT)

#8 Rainbow View   6/1

#7 Music Note   9/5

#1 Careless Jewel   2/1

#6 Cocoa Beach   8/1

Analysis: #8 Rainbow View gets the call here in her second start since arriving in North America. She found the last furlong too tough last out in the E.P. Taylor (G1).  She took over the lead briefly with a furlong to go but could not hold off Lahaleeb, who is a  Group 2 winner overseas and missed winning the Irish 1000 Guineas by a neck. Our top pick was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Midday and in July was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths when fourth behind Goldikova. She tries Pro Ride for the first time for the Gosden barn that won last year's Classic with Raven's Pass and won the Juvenile Turf in '08 with Donativum. The trainer must have liked Leparoux's ride last out, calling Jimmy Fortune and telling him to stay home and take the day off. Fortune rode this gal in her first ten starts. She looks like the value of the race if we catch most of the 6/1 ML.

#7 Music Note looked sharp winning the Beldame (G1) last out at Belmont Park and earned a career top speed fig in the effort. The runner up in the race as Unbridled Belle, who came back to win the Turnback the Alarm (G3) in her next outing on Oct. 31. Her lone try on a synthetic surface came in this race last year where she was third, beaten three lengths by Zenyatta and 1 1/2 lengths behind runner up #6 Cocoa Beach. The filly has never been better and put in a couple of smart works over the surface here. She is going to be tough but expecting to see around 8/5.

#1 Careless Jewel comes in here riding a five race win streak. Her maiden and Alw-1 wins came over poly at Woodbine. She draws the rail and figures to be loose on the lead here.  There are a couple on here that can keep her honest early and if Landry can't rate this gal in the early going she could be in deep waters late. She just has the look of an underlay in here.

Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 4/1 or better.

EX: 7,8 / 1,6,7,8

TRI: 7,8 / 1,6,7,8 / 1,2,6,7,8

Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct

R3: #12 Quechee   15/1

R4: #1 Ravenous   8/1

R5: #6 System Restore   30/1

R8: #4 Loxy Lady   10/1

Oak Tree at Santa Anita (Breeders’ Cup)

R1: #3 Riviera Cocktail   15/1

R1: #6 Deal Breaker   8/1

R1:#1 Green Card James   8/1

R2: #10 Toro Bonito   8/1

R3: #1 Black Astor   12/1

R4: #10 Tapitsfly   8/1

R4: #11 Junia Tezpia   8/1

R4: #12 Lisa’s Kitten   12/1

R7: #3 Game Face   10/1

R8: #6 Cocoa Beach   8/1

R9: #2 Captain’s Lover   8/1

R9: #10 Tuscan Evening   8/1

Good luck today!