Purses Point to Ortiz, Casse and Tam Tam as the Breeders' Cup Draws Near

Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, Mark Casse at the barn and a runner named Tam Tam each turned in a standout showing on the Equibase earnings leaderboard this week, the industry's running tally of purse money won. The timing gives the numbers extra weight: the Breeders' Cup is now under three weeks away, the point on the calendar when every rider, trainer and horse in form draws the closest attention from the American turf. For readers who follow the sport by its ledger, the earnings column is the plainest measure of who is winning right now, and this week it belongs to those three names.

With reporting from America's Best Racing.