by Ed DeRosa

The sun shined bright over Santa Anita Park as spectators began arriving for Championship Saturday of the World Championships program that Breeders’ Cup officials hope attracts equine and celebrity stars alike.

There are no changes in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), a race whose star power is enhanced by the presence of undefeated champion mare Zenyatta. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre will present the trophy for this year’s Classic.

Also enhancing star power at the 26th annual Breeders’ Cup is a list of celebrity spectators. Among those expected to walk the Purple Carpet are television personalities Jane Seymour, Angela Kinsey, Chelsea Handler, Eliza Dushku, and Andy Richter.

On the Championship Friday program, horses who had previously raced on a synthetic surface won all four main track races on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface while horses who had competed on dirt in their previous start managed no better than a third-place finish (Ladies’ Classic morning-line favorite Music Note).

Having an even better day than synthetic horses on Friday were those who bred their own Breeders’ Cup starters, as homebreds won five of the six Breeders’ Cup races, including Man of Iron in the Marathon and Ladies’ Classic winner Life Is Sweet.

Man of Iron is out of Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister, and Life Is Sweet is out of the Kris S. mare Sweet Life, who is now one of only three broodmares to produce multiple Breeders’ Cup winners (she produced champion 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Sweet Catomine).

Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times