With the possible exception of Goldikova, all former winners will be hard pressed to retain their titles in 2011and her quest for a four-timer may out-shadow the Classic as the premier event on the card.
Goldikova has won nearly $7 million, with a career record of 26-17-5-2 and has been installed the 7-5 morning line favorite for the Mile. Her main challengers are the second-place finishers in the last two editions of the Mile, Gio Ponti and Courageous Cat, who was second best in the 2009 Mile.
However, another French miler, Byword, is the biggest threat to Goldikova's record bid. Trained by Andre Fabre, best known as the architect of Arcangues' 65-1 upset in the 1993 Classic, Byword beat the leading horse in Europe at Longchamp in October. Despite losing to Goldikova in May, Byword takes on the mare again at Churchill Downs, and they can complete an all-French exacta in the Mile.
The matchup in the Classic between Uncle Mo, the 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace and international star So You Think is compelling, but the race is more open than in most years and looks primed for an upset.
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