Tony Orlando and Dawn rocked the pop world with 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree' but racing fans this year will try to tie one on at Oak Tree during the meeting that includes the Breeders' Cup.

One of the best things a horseplayer can have is the ability to put a race, or a race meeting behind you and move on. That is what must occur before the Oak Tree meet that starts on September 30 and one must forget about everything that happened at the recently concluded Fairplex meeting.

Six Breeders' Cup races will kick off the extravaganza on Friday November 6 when the Marathon, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Filly and Mare Sprint, Juvenile Fillies, Filly and Mare Turf and Ladies Classic will be presented.

On Saturday, 8 BC events will culminate the card as the Turf Sprint, Juvenile Turf, Dirt Mile, Mile, Juvenile, Sprint, Turf and the granddaddy of them all, the Classic, will be showcased.

Astute players this meet will pay strict attention to any Eastern or European shippers that prep before the Cup. Obviously, they don't want to peak a race too soon but they also need to show an affinity either on the Pro Ride track or on the turf.

As far as the Oak Tree meeting as a whole is concerned astute handicappers would be wise to track the par Beyer ratings for each condition and compare them to the 2008 meet. This will give players an edge and a clue as to powerful races and will also clarify the surface differences from one year to the next.

Par for claimers from $10K to $14.9K were tabbed with an 83 par last Oak Tree. Sellers from $15K to $20K were par at 89. The jump from claimers at $21K to $35K was expected to be par at a 92 figure. From $35K to $50K sellers were in the ballpark at 96. And high priced sellers from $50K to $75K and first step allowance runners and non-winners of two allowance runners were par when attaining a 97 Beyer. Keep an eye on those figures.

As for the human element, John Sadler will be in his usual position near the top of the standings as he has been on a flat out roll of late. At last year's stand, he won a dogfight for leading trainer beating Mike Mitchell and Doug O'Neill by a winner and Bob Baffert by 2 winners.

Other potent barns that must be followed are stables headed by Jeff Mullins, Jerry Hollendorfer and Julio Canani.

The break out rider on the circuit this year has been Joel Rosario and he has not even come close to reaching his peak. He will once again have to fight off Rafael Bejarano and Garrett Gomez for top rider honors.

Joe Talamo is coming off a solid Del Mar stand where he was just 2 winners out of second while longshot value pilots include Alonso Quinonez, Jose Valdivia Jr., and Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

Players have to pay strict attention early in the meet as to where the winners are coming from and no matter how tempting it may be to go bonkers early in the meet; you have to save a bit of your bankroll for the Cup in November.