Looking back on all the past Breeders' Cup races I noted something: The favorites usually suck.

So, there it is, after exhaustive research on all the past Breeders' Cup races, I can recommend that you don't bet on favorites.

Of course, this will be the year the chalk goes 8 for 8. But the point of this racing thing is to use past performance as a guide and it is a facts that the payoffs aren't typically 80-1.

Just to prove my point, last year at Belmont only one race paid off a winning ticket at lower than 5-1. That's all the historical research I'm willing to provide. If you don't like it, consult Hank Goldberg or Randy Moss.

But there is deeper research to do and this goes way back to the original Breeders' Cup in 1984.

To protect the woman's identity, (and just so I'm not sued in that this is the year I'll hit the Pick 6) I'll make up a name for her. Let's call her "wife of rich horse owner."

Many years after rich horse owner and wife of rich horse owner competed in that original Cup, I had occasion to meet wife of rich horse owner. It was minutes after I'd hosted the Eclipse Awards in Los Angeles.

I stepped outside to grab some air. Just then, Muhammad Ali walked by. This has nothing to do with racing other than the fact he's from Kentucky. But how do I let a meeting with the champ go undocumented?

Ali entered the hotel and crossed paths with wife of rich horse owner.

Wife of Rich Horse Owner: You caught me.

Me: Caught you what?

Wife: Caught me smoking.

Me: Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Wife: I'm not supposed to be smoking.

Me: Well, if you want to hide your habit, not that I want to enable you, but there's a corridor over there leading to a swimming pool. You can smoke like Bob Marley.

Wife: Over where?

Me: Follow me.

It was at this point I questioned whether this was my best PR move, leading the wife of a rich horse owner into a darkened corridor. But it was with good intentions.

So I took her to the ad-hoc smokers' lounge, wished her well and advised her to join a 12-step program.

As I walked away I noticed the pool was under repair. It was a 15-foot drop to cement.

Headline: ESPN anchor leads wife of rich horse owner to her demise. Smoking blamed.

So I went back to check on her welfare.

Headline: ESPN anchor seen with wife of rich horse owner. Smoking blamed.

Ultimately it never made the papers. She finished her cigs, escaped injury and returned to her rich husband. He was smoking a cigar. At least I think he was. The room was cloudy with smoke.