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Breeders' Cup bettors stung by favorite's injury

When 4-year-old thoroughbred Dubai Millennium suffered a career-ending injury while training in England this past weekend, the aftershocks were felt half a world away on the Las Vegas Strip.

Dubai Millennium, perhaps the most talented racehorse on the planet, had been bet from an opening line of 75-1 all the way down to 2-1 in the Breeders' Cup Classic futures book at Bally's.

At that price, he was a solid favorite in the Classic -- the centerpiece of Breeders' Cup day, which is set for Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

He was favored, that is, until he broke his right hind leg Saturday.

"Needless to say, there was a ton of money wagered on him," said John Avello, director of race and sports operations at Bally's and Paris.

Avello's lines on the Breeders' Cup are carried by all Park Place properties, including those in Reno and Laughlin as well as Las Vegas.

"We wrote a lot of tickets on Dubai Millennium," Avello said. "After opening him as one of the longer shots on the board, we had him sitting there at 2-1."

As is always the case with this type of wager, all bets are lost on a horse who does not start for any reason.

But this is one "win" Avello won't be celebrating.

"I have mixed emotions," said Avello, a racing aficionado as well as an oddsmaker. "The sport needs horses like him to step into the limelight and grab the attention of the public. This was a horse that could have grabbed the imagination of people who are new to racing.

With Dubai Millennium off to the breeding shed, Lemon Drop Kid assumes the role of favorite in the futures book.

Fresh off his win in Sunday's Whitney, the "Kid" is a 3-1 shot at Bally's.

Also creeping back into the spotlight is Kentucky Derby champ Fusaichi Pegasus. He was bet heavily early in the year but has been resting all summer with a hoof injury.

Fu-Peg's connections have suggested they will race him once more -- in the Classic -- before retiring him to a lucrative stud career.

"It's clear that this horse's future is in breeding," Avello said. "I don't think (trainer Neil) Drysdale is going to push him on the racetrack. He doesn't want to take any chances."

General Challenge is a 7-1 third choice in the Classic, followed by Stephen Got Even and Behrens at 12-1. Defending champ Cat Thief hasn't attracted much interest and is listed at 25-1.

"It's become a wide-open field again," Avello said.

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