Bet Twice hasn't won in four months. Tonight's race is the kind he is supposed to win and should win. Now, all he has to do is win.
Tomorrow's Woodward Handicap is the race of the weekend. Forty Niner and Brian's Time represent the 3-year-olds and Alysheba and Cryptoclearance the 4- year-olds in the first serious matchup between last year's crop and this year's. Waquoit and Personal Flag, two very talented 5-year-olds, add more spice to the 1 1/4-mile race. Talinum (4-year-old) and Roi Normand (5-year- old) will be along to fill out the field.
I love Forty Niner's style but the speed figures say he is going the wrong way. The numbers also say Alysheba is back to tops. The danger is Waquoit, perhaps the most underrated top horse in America. The rest have had their moments but never have been able to handle a field of this depth.
The race has speed, closers, former divisional champions and perhaps future champions. It is a Breeders' Cup Classic (less a few horses) preview nearly two months in advance.
GOVERNOR'S CUP SUNDAY
Entries will be drawn today for Sunday's $65,000-added Governor's Cup at Penn National.
The purse for the 16th Governor's Cup should exceed $70,000, making it the track's richest race ever.
A total of 54 horses were nominated for the 1 1/16-mile grass race.
MINUTEMAN AT PHA
Snake Oil Stevie, a star on the New England circuit, local summer hero Terrific Breeze and Maryland stakes winner Trap Line head a field of eight in tomorrow's Minuteman Stakes at Philadelphia Park.
