The order in which the Breeders Cup races ran was rarely tinkered with in the events early days. Things change, however, and the Breeders Cup has evolved. The race order is no longer semi-untouchable.This is good. The Classic will always be the final race of the event, and should be. But it makes sense to capitalize on the popularity of some of the stellar horses who compete in other Breeders Cup races by putting those races in prime spots adjacent to the Classic, when the most eyeballs are watching.The lineup got me thinking when the order for this weekends event at Santa Anita was announced last week. The Breeders Cup Turf, which has always been the second-richest Breeders Cup event behind the Classic [and this year, it received a purse boost to $4 million] is positioned three races before the Classic. For the Breeders Cups first 27 years, it owned the events prime supporting spot right before the Classic.But for five of the last six years -- counting this one -- the Turf hasnt exactly been treated as the second-richest and, by association at least, the second most important Breeders Cup race.In 2011, the Turf was first moved out of its traditional position as the lead-in for the Classic and was instead run three races before the Classic. No one could argue with this particular move. Goldikova was going for her fourth consecutive victory in the Breeders Cup Mile, so the Mile was promoted to the spot immediately preceding the Classic. (Goldikovas amazing pursuit fell short and resulted in a third-place finish.)In 2012, the Turf again was run three races before the Classic, and the Mile again got the prime lead-in spot to the Classic. That time, however, the reasons for the move were unclear.But the reasons for the same placement of these two races in 2013 were quite clear. Wise Dan, who won the 2012 Mile en route to Horse of the Year honors, was going for a repeat in 2013. As in 2011, it made sense for that particular Mile to get the prime supporting role. And, of course, Wise Dan was successful.In 2014, for the fourth straight year, the Turf was run three races before the Classic and the Mile was run right before the Classic, and I still cant figure out why. The horses involved in the Mile certainly didnt have much to do with it, and there was no compelling storyline, such as with Goldikova or Wise Dans second Mile victory.Last year, the Turf was back in its traditional pre-Classic spot. And for me, all felt right with the world again as Found sprung a memorable upset on Golden Horn.But this year the Turf is back to three races before the Classic, and the Mile is again the race before the Classic, and again, there doesnt appear to be a compelling reason.I know Tepin is popular, and she is going for a repeat in the Mile. But her situation isnt anything like the circumstances that surrounded Goldikova or Wise Dan the second time. And frankly, I think quality is higher at the top in this years Turf than it is in the Mile. Even the Filly & Mare Sprint will be run closer to the Classic this Saturday than the Turf.Okay, if you cant or dont want to run two grass races such as the Turf and Mile back to back, then at least put a traditional Breeders Cup race such as the Juvenile between them. Running the F&M Sprint so late in the Saturday Breeders Cup card is just ? weird.Purse boost this year aside, it almost seems as if the Turf has fallen out of favor with Breeders Cup management. But even if appearances dont reflect reality, with the Mile having been run in the top supporting slot right before the Classic five of the last six years, perhaps its best to close the $2 million purse gap between the Turf and Mile, if for no other reason than to make the Miles purse almost as valuable as its placement in the race order says.A few pre-final entry Breeders Cup thoughts** I think too much emphasis is placed on post positions, but I do think post positions might be very important to the Classics pace. Specifically, I think if California Chrome draws inside of Arrogate, California Chrome will go to the lead and Arrogate will sit off of him. Conversely, if Arrogate draws inside of Chrome, I think he goes to the front and Chrome sits.** Im very interested to see how Beholder does in the Distaff with Songbird a target to run at, because I do think shes at her best with someone to track. That is not meant to make excuses for Beholder when Stellar Wind beat her in the Zenyatta and Clement L. Hirsch. Beholder set very comfortable paces in both races, giving her huge tactical advantages, and Stellar Wind still beat her. But while it doesnt mean Im picking her to win, I do think Beholder gets her best trip Friday.** I was very surprised that Limato, the European sprinter who goes in the Mile, wasnt even cross-entered in the Turf Sprint. But Im gob-smacked that Mondialistes connections are eschewing the Mile with their miler in favor of the 12-furlong turf.** Given what I wrote in this space last week (Limato belonged in the Turf Sprint; the Turf is crazy thinking for Mondialiste; and Curalina should go in the F&M Sprint), I now fully expect Curalina to go in the Distaff, and indications Saturday were that she will. Selfishly, I hope she does. I think Curalina wins if she runs in the F&M Sprint. But without Curalina, the F&M Sprint becomes a very juicy betting race.** I realize Holy Lute is the first also-eligible in the Turf Sprint, meaning hes got a good chance of starting, but I dont understand why he was even on the also-eligible list at all. Holy Lute won the second and fastest by 34 hundredths of a second division of the Eddie D., and yet Ambitious Brew, who won the first and slower division, was in the body of the Turf Sprint. Yeah, Ambitious Brew has the reputation of being a downhill specialist, but guess what, Holy Lute has finished first or second in 5 of 9 career downhill starts.Moreover, when the Turf Sprint is run at Santa Anita on the downhill course, it becomes a very unique animal. And I think that makes the Eddie D., the local prep over the downhill, especially important as preps go. In this situation, horses coming out of the Eddie D. should be given greater deference. 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PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Slade Jarman completed 17 of 23 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns and Mississippi Valley State routed Arkansas-Pine Bluff 41-7 for its first win of the season on Saturday.The win snaps a nine game losing skid for the Delta Devils (1-8, 0-6) dating back to last season and was their first victory since a 27-24 overtime win against Alabama A&M on Nov. 7, 2015.Austin Bray provided a duel threat at quarterback with Jarman, finishing a perfect 6 of 6 for 96 yards and three scorees.dddddddddddd Joshua Banks added seven catches for 108 yards and a score for Mississippi Valley State.Jarman and Bray each threw two first half TDs and the Delta Devils had a comfortable 27-0 lead at the half.Brandon Duncan threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jaelen Collins for the Golden Eagles (1-8, 1-6) lone score.Duncan finished with 200 yards passing and one touchdown. ' ' '
