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This may be the most competitive bunch of Breeders' Cup races since the Olympics of Horse Racing was launched in 1984 at Hollywood Park.

Many of the 11 contests spread over two days starting Friday at Monmouth Park are up for grabs in my mind. That should be a good omen for some attractive odds and great payoffs.

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Here's the way I see Friday's three BC races:

$1 million Filly and Mare Sprint at six furlongs: It should be a battle between 3-year-old fillies La Traviata, 3-for-3 with a win at Monmouth, and Dream Rush, 2-for-3 at the distance. Miss Macy Sue, 9-3-1 of 16 at six furlongs, could surprise in 10-horse field.

$1 million Juvenile Turf at a mile: Probably the most wide-open race with 11 entries. Better hope Luck is a Lady this afternoon. I don't have a clue. Main contenders, all with grass experience, are: Prussian, undefeated in two routes, boasting the best Brisnet speed figure at the distance; Cherokee Triangle, working well since winning by 10 ¾ lengths at 1 1/16 miles at Louisiana Downs; and The Leopard, impressive winner by nearly three lengths in his turf debut at Belmont.

$1 million Dirt Mile: Monmouth's track configuration forces this to be staged at a mile and 70 yards. Gottcha Gold, 3-2-0 of 5 in routes at Monmouth, edges Discreet Cat in nine-horse field.

Saturday's eight BC races:

$2 million Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles: Spin the guess wheel. Half a dozen of the 14 can win it -- A to the Croft, Cry and Catch Me, Indian Blessing, Proud Spell, Smarty Deb and Zee Zee.

$2 million Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles: Champagne winner War Pass is colt to beat. Pyro and Z Humor, second and third in same stakes, could upset, while Wicked Style could hit the board in 13-horse field.

$2 million Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles: Too close to call. The contenders are unbeaten Nashoba's Key, 7 for 7 and 4 for 4 on grass, Honey Ryder, Danzon, Lauhudood and Wait a While. Longshot possibility: Precious Kitten, 3-3-0 of 6 on the turf.

$2 million Sprint: The deepest field of all the races. Eight of 13 horses have three or more victories at six furlongs and nine have won at least once this year at the distance.

Morning line favorite Midnight Lute comes off an impressive seven-furlong triumph in 1:21 at Saratoga. However, I've found horses that consistently win at six furlongs perform much better in the Sprint.

I like Idiot Proof who defeated Greg's Gold at Santa Anita running the six furlongs in 1:07 2/5 after breaking Monmouth's 15-year-old track record for the same distance in the same time. Smokey Stover will make the trifecta off all five of his trips at the distance, including a victory at the track by the Jersey Shore.

$2 million Mile Turf: Foreign invader Excellent Art will do well even if showers fall while After Market, Remarkable News and Trippi's Storm could complete the superfecta in the 14-horse field.

$2 Million Distaff at 1 1/8 miles: Unbridled Bell and Ginger Punch fight it out with Indian Vale, 6-1-0 of 7 at the distance. Among the dozen horses not out of it: Lady Joanne, Octave and Teammate.

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$3 million Turf at 1 ½ miles: English Channel, 2-for-2 on Monmouth's grass and last year's runner-up, battles Irish-bred Dylan Thomas, 3-for-4 at the distance and winner of this year's L'Arc de Triomphe. Don't count out Better Talk Now, '04 champ and '06 runner-up.

$5 million Classic at 1 ¼ miles: Six of nine horses captured Grade 1 races in this country. The hottest of five 3-year-olds: Any Given Saturday, who defeated Hard Spun and Preakness winner Curlin in Monmouth's Haskell.

The top older horse: Lawyer Ron, who captured two stakes with the highest speed figure before losing by a neck to Curlin in Belmont's Jockey Gold Cup.

The winner: Kentucky Derby/'06 BC Juvenile champ Street Sense, who captured both stakes after hitting the board in preps on synthetic surfaces. His final prep for the Classic was a second-place finish on another synthetic surface. He just might win top 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors.