GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - My master plan has been foiled. Dumped. Discarded, like yesterday’s newspaper.

Oh, how I was salivating about the juicy prospects of a well-executed betting bonanza in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup. My intended target was the Filly and Mare Turf race, where 14 horses were pre-entered including three European shippers — Yesterday, Ouija Board and (drum roll, please …) Nebraska Tornado.

For the plan to be carried out, the three-year-old filly Ouija Board had to enter the BC Turf (she was pre-entered in two races) and Nebraska Tornado stay in the Filly and Mare Turf, rather than try the main track in the Distaff (she, too, was pre-entered in both). If that occurred, my pockets would have been drained of every nickel and dime to be wagered on Nebraska Tornado in every betting pool Lone Star Park could offer — that’s how little I think of the North American-based horses in this race.

So what happens? Not only does Ouija Board take the easy way out and stay in the Filly and Mare Turf race as the 8-5 favorite, but the object of my gambling affections, Nebraska Tornado, opts out to try the dirt for the first time in the Distaff.

Foiled again.

I wish there existed a Plan B.

Anyway, as for this year’s races ...

The Distaff
Owner Michael Paulson (Azeri) has opened up this race by inexplicably entering his former Horse-of-the-Year in the Classic, rather taking on her own gender in the Distaff.  This leaves Ashado (7-2 morning line), Island Fashion (5-1), Society Selection (4-1) and Stellar Jayne (6-1) as the logical contenders with little to separate the group in ability. Although Storm Flag Flying (9-2) whipped Azeri in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga, she exploited a suicide pace by the leaders that day — thus she is removed from wagering consideration.

With the race looking so competitive, a plan to use Bare Necessities (30-1) or Hollywood Story (20-1) in “underneath” positions in the trifecta and superfecta pools is a potential moneymaker and eliminating the over-matched pair of Indy Groove and Tamawheel will cut down your investment.

But what about Nebraska Tornado?

While I know she oozes with class, it’s difficult to back a grass horses trying the dirt for the first time against quality competition. I only wish Juddmonte Farm entered her in the race where she truly belongs — the Filly and Mare Turf event.

The Juvenile Fillies
Projecting two-year-olds at this time is a crapshoot. Logical favorite Sweet Catomine(5-2) has drawn the lousy 10 post and must deal with a short, quick run to the first turn. She ran an outstanding speed figure in the Oak Leaf at Santa Anita but must avoid the ever-present, dreaded “bounce” or regression after a big effort. Those who witnessed her latest workout in California were convinced she’s still A-OK. But, the potential “bounce” and bad post opens the race up for an upset.

Trouble is, who will it be? Balletto (5-1), Dance Away Capote (20-1), In The Gold (10-1), Play with Fire (15-1) and the speedy Sis City (10-1) all will compete off personal bests with relatively short rest, the kiss of death for inexperienced fillies.

At least Culinary (12-1) has enjoyed ample recovery time since her impressive score in the Arlington-Washington Futurity. This gray/roan daughter of El Amante is worth a flyer if she goes to post at double-digit odds. Runway Model (12-1), Sense of Style (7-2) and  Sharp Lisa (15-1) could also deliver in this wide-open heat.

Thank goodness this one is not part of the Pick 6 sequence.

The Mile
Talk about competitive, you better spread thick to survive the first leg of the Pick 6. The three-year-old Artie Schiller has a nice post (6), lucrative odds (12-1 morning line) and a nifty record of seven wins in nine tries on the grass. His stalking style should put him in good position for the all-important “trip” at this distance, where traffic jams often rule the day.

Defending champion Six Perfections is back to defend her crown, but she drew the lousy 11 post and is looking for her first win of the 2004 racing season. Trainer Bobby Frankel’s Nothing to Lose is rated at 7/2 odds and is in top form, but he drew the outside 12 post — no bargain.

Euro shipper Diamond Green and Silver Tree ran stinkeroos in their most recent races. Julio Canani’s talented Special Ring will try to take this with just a single 2004 race on his resume, a wire-to-wire win in the Eddie Read at Del Mar. But his natural speed should be compromised by the early lick of Soaring Free — with the pair guaranteeing a lively pace. Front speed is generally death on the Lone Star turf course.

Whipper (post one) must be respected off a win over Six Perfections at Deauville in August and could be an upsetter at a price — a must use in the Pick 6.

The Sprint
While both are extremely gifted, Kela and Clock Stopper like to run from way off the pace, a style which may not play well at Lone Star. Our New Recruit at 10-1 drew the comfortable four post and will try for the “one prep and fire” strategy used by last year’s upset winner, Cajun Beat. Speightstown (3-1) stumbled in the Vosburgh at Belmont but has solid credentials — he’ll have to be sent from the two post with speedballs like Abbondaza and Cuvee in the field.

Midas Eyes (7-2) has prepped brilliantly but drew the outside 13 post.

Clockers are raving over the looks of Bwana Charlie (30-1) in Lone Star workouts this week while Champali (12-1) is no slouch — in other words, a typical BC sprint.

Filly and Mare Turf
Oh what might have been if the Juddmonte people entered Nebraska Tornado in this spot. Instead, they will shoot with the highly regarded Light Jig (7-2), who is certain to be overbet with Frankel. On speed figures, she is just another horse in the race, no better or worse than any of the North American candidates. That should make Ouija Board an absolute cinch in this event. Trouble is, she’ll be an extremely short price. My strategy will be to “single” her in the Pick Six and play a Ouija Board-all-all-all strategy in the superfecta and hope for long shots to hit the board. This is a layover special to be sure.

The Juvenile
As with all races involving two-year-olds, this one is a bit tricky. Bob Baffert’s Roman Ruler is the deserving 8-5 favorite off his double-digit pace-line form in the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita. He’s a solid 3 for 4 lifetime. Proud Accolade (5-2), Afleet Alex (7-2) and Sun King (8-1) all ran huge numbers in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont, but all three are subject to form regressions with insufficient  rest.  If you like speed, Consolidator of the Wayne Lukas barn maybe banging heads with Roman Ruler on the front end, possibly setting up a closer.

With a timeform rating of 108 in his last race in Europe, Scandinavia is an interesting long shot  for dangerous trainer Aidan O'Brien and the powerful Coolmore stud. Even money says Twice Unbridled finishes last.

The Turf
With Magistretti training poorly at Lone Star, this looks like a two-horse race — Kitten’s Joy (1-1) and Powerscourt (3-1). Kitten’s Joy has been almost flawless on the turf in the United States and is the best U.S.-based grass horse in years. Powerscourt was disqualified in the Arlington Million after a decisive win over a quality field. Proving this was no fluke, the son of the brilliant sire Sadler’s Wells put up an excellent third in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. He must be respected.

The Classic
Jockey Javier Castellano has never had a Breeders’ Cup mount, let alone a winner. But he will be the pilot on the likely favorite, Ghostzapper, a flat-out running machine.

This four-year-old son of Awesome Again is a racing freak, capable of putting up speed figures that seem almost incomprehensible. While he’s never gone the Classic distance of 1¼ miles, he may be so far in front that the extra distance will be a moot point.

From all reports, Roses in May is training like a champion at Lone Star. He has the tactical speed to hang with Ghostzapper through the early going and should the pair produce suicide splits, the hard-charging defending champion Pleasantly Perfect will be flying through the lane.

Top three
Distaff — Society Selection, Nebraska Tornado, Island Fashion
Juvenile Fillies — Sweet Catomine, Culinary, Sense of Style
Mile — Artie Schiller, Whipper, Soaring Free
Sprint — Our New Recruit, Speightstown, Midas Eyes
Filly and Mare Turf — Ouija Board, Ouija Board, Ouija Board
Juvenile — Roman Ruler, Scandinavia, Consolidator
Turf — Kitten’s Joy, Powerscourt, Better Talk Now
Classic — Ghostzapper, Roses in May, Pleasantly Perfect

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