NEWS » , scoring -- and he is as good as any of the forward

In the wake of California Chromes devastatingly easy score in Saturdays Awesome Again Stakes, more than a few people wondered why anyone would want to face the worlds best racehorse in next months Breeders Cup Classic.Its a reasonable question. California Chrome is now 6 for 6 this year, including powerful victories in the Dubai World Cup and Pacific Classic, and he has not lost a race in 18 months. And on Saturday, he took serious early pressure from a very good multiple Grade 1 stakes winner in Dortmund while being pinned down inside, where he has never really wanted to be, at least in the past, and brushed it off like it was nothing. Absolutely nothing.In the end, California Chrome won the Awesome Again by 2-1/4 lengths, but it would have been much, much more than that if he hadnt been completely geared down late to keep plenty in reserve for his Breeders Cup engagement. Now thats a scary thought.But regarding the question of why anyone would want to face California Chrome in the BC Classic, heres the answer: Because the best horses are supposed to run in the best races. Period.They dont always do, however. And part of the problem here in a Breeders Cup context was brought on by the Breeders Cup itself when it created the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile.While the general concept of the Dirt Mile was a good one, it just hasnt panned out in practice. There is no coherent series of races in the U.S. for dirt milers, nor has the creation of one been spurred since the Dirt Mile was first run in 2007. Moreover, there is no Eclipse Award category for dirt milers, nor should there be, because that would only serve to water down our championships.But the biggest issue here is, the Dirt Mile has acted as a siphon, taking away talent from other, far more established Breeders Cup events such as the Sprint, and most troubling, the Classic.Only last year, we saw Liams Map decline to face American Pharoah in the Classic, and opt for the Dirt Mile, instead. I understand that the prospect of facing American Pharoah in the Breeders Cup last year was not a pleasant one, but a horse like Liams Map, who won the Woodward and was a giant second in the Whitney, belonged in the Classic. Liams Map was much the best winning the Dirt Mile, but frankly, I feel a strong second in the Classic to American Pharoah would have enhanced his stature more.The Classic/Dirt Mile political football after California Chromes dominating performance Saturday was Frosted. Many on social media opined that after California Chromes latest performance, Frosted should run in the Dirt Mile, because he has no shot in the Classic.That might be true. Frosted, and maybe no one else, has a chance to beat California Chrome in a truly run Classic. But thats almost beside the point. Frosted, winner of the Whitney and Met Mile, and third in the Woodward after a terribly overconfident ride, belongs in the Classic. His credentials warrant running in that race, and make him overqualified to run in the Dirt Mile, which is essentially a rich consolation prize.Also, Frosted is owned by Sheikh Mohammeds Godolphin. The front end of a $1 million Dirt Mile purse probably wont change Godolphins fortunes, nor, I think, will a Dirt Mile victory greatly enhance Frosteds already well-established stallion credentials. Godolphin, to its great credit, has always been about running in and attempting to win the very best races. For that reason alone, I would be disappointed if Frosted didnt run against California Chrome in the Classic.Saturday notes:* Beholder has been a tremendous three-time champion. But Stellar Wind is simply better than her now. Stellar Wind ran a better race than Beholder did when she won the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar, and she did the same in the Zenyatta. Stellar Wind had the tougher trip Saturday being three wide on the first turn and having to be used early to negate Beholders natural pace advantage, and yet she still prevailed.* Cant find an apparent excuse for Klimt, who had to settle for second at 1-5 behind Gormley in the FrontRunner. Gormley was decidedly best. He also ran his 1-1/16 miles a gaping 1.31 seconds faster than Noted and Quoted did winning the Chandelier four races later, and that after similar early paces.* Its easy to be excited about Three Ruless 10-length destruction of his field in the Florida Sire In Reality Stakes, which made him unbeaten and untested in five starts. But keep in mind, he was 1-5 in a 12-horse field Saturday, which says almost as much about his opposition as it does about him.* Im giving Flintshire a pass for his second to Ectot at 1-5 in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Flintshire just wasnt himself on the yielding going, and he will be expected to rebound in the Breeders Cup Turf on the firm footing he is certain to get at Santa Anita.That said, take nothing away from Ectot. Ectot was a disappointment in his first two U.S. starts, but he set a legitimate pace for the footing and 1-1/2-mile distance, and he kept on going.* Oscar Performance ran away with the Pilgrim Stakes just like he ran away from his maiden field at Saratoga in his previous outing, and he might be a very special 2-year-old turf performer. Still, he had very easy early leads in both of his wins, and I want to see how he responds to real pace pressure before I completely buy into him.* Joking has been a great $20,000 claim for owner/trainer Charlie Baker, and he earned a shot at the Breeders Cup Sprint with his closing score in the Vosburgh. But the Vosburgh made Joking 4 for 5 on wet tracks, which he wont get at Santa Anita. The Vosburgh also made Joking 6 for 9 at Belmont Park. He is 4 for 30 elsewhere.* Its difficult to be optimistic about Runhappys tired fourth in the Ack Ack. Yes, Runhappy was making his first start in nine months, and at a one-turn mile, which can be a difficult distance at which to return. But Runhappy was 1-5 against a field that looked outclassed on paper, and he is a horse who in the past has run big off workouts and layoffs.John Lynch Buccaneers Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Ronde Barber Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.authenticbuccaneerspro.com/John-lynch-buccaneers-jersey/ . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Sean Bunting Jersey . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. Lavonte David Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide.India face hosts Australia in the first league match of the Four Nations Tournament in Melbourne on November 23. The tournament also features Malaysia and New Zealand.The Indian men, who will have Dutchman Roger van Gent accompany them as strategic coach, will also feature in a two-Test series against Australia, with the matches held in Bendigo on November 29 and November 30.Former national team captain and coach Vasudevan Baskaran says this tour will serve as a good learning experience for both teams.A tour of Australia is always tough, just like it is for our cricketers. You have to adjust to the climate, the speed of the ball and the fitness levels of your opponents, Baskaran told ESPN. They must take this tour as a good experience, and enjoy their game. They will play six games within a week, and they have had a good year already, said Baskaran, adding that the Indian team, currently ranked sixth in the world, must now start aiming to be among the top three.Baskaran also felt the Indian team had done well to recover from a disappointing quarter-final finish at the 2016 Olympics to win the Asian Champions Trophy, and this would have done their confidence a world of good in a year when they lost the Champions Trophy final via shootout to Australia. If you dont finish on the podium, then that confidence doesnt come. In that sense, they didnt capitalise on the Champions Trophy finish in Rio, and Argentina, who werent as good as India in the preliminary stages, went on to win the gold, he said.The Indian team headed to Australia will not have PR Sreejesh in goal, and defender V Raghunath will step in as captain.Like Sree, Raghu as captain must push and stop the boys whenn needed, said Baskaran.dddddddddddd Like the goalkeeper, the defender also has a full view of the pitch and must observe all that is going on around him. With four quarters of hockey, he will have more opportunities to communicate between quarters about what needs to be done.This team will also feature a much younger forward line, with Affan Yousuf, Satbir Singh and Amir Khan all aged between 21 and 23, and Satbir the only one among them with more than 30 caps. Amir is a natural player and has very strong basics -- trapping and passing, reach, scoring -- and he is as good as any of the forwards who are playing for India regularly, said Baskaran. India doesnt get to play teams like New Zealand and Australia regularly, and he must be given more chances to stay on the pitch for longer against them.Womens team also begins campaignThe womens team will play the first of three Test matches against the hosts in Melbourne on November 23.Baskaran commended the Indian women for winning the Asian Champions Trophy, but highlighted the need for them to improve on physical fitness going into their three Tests against Australia. They must make sure they play better in the last 10 minutes. Overall, this is a chance to imbibe some great learning for them, said Baskaran. They did very well to qualify for the Olympics, and then to have beaten China during the Asian Champions Trophy was a massive boost to their confidence.Womens head coach Neil Hawgood will be with the team for the final time on this tour. His replacement is yet to be announced by Hockey India. ' ' '