Most casual racing fans know about the Triple Crown and the pageantry and prestige that surrounds three Saturdays in late spring. Full time fans and bettors know the best action of the year with the strongest fields happen at The Breeder’s Cup. The event returns to Del Mar for the second time after its debut there in 2017. Del Mar is one of my favorite venues in the country and they should put on a fantastic show for us this weekend.
The event starts Friday following five opening races with The Juvenile races and Race 9 features some of the horses that could be making the run for the roses the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
Here we go…
Race 6 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint -Grade II – 5 Furlongs (TURF). Purse: $1,000,000. Post Time – 4:50 CST
A full Field in a Turf Sprint means there is going to be a ton of speed out of the gate and plenty of bumping to get in front, especially from the horses on the outside. There is plenty of speed to be showcased with the 9 Horse One Timer putting up a field best at this distance last time out at 55.2 at Santa Anita. Trainer Wesley Ward who has posted the winner in this race the first two times it has been run has three horses in the field. Favorite the 8 Horse Averly Jane, 6 Horse Twilight Gleaming and 2 Horse Kaufymaker. I could also see the 4 Horse Vertiginous making some noise in this one or possibly the 11 Horse Derrynane as an off the pace closer. For me it’s all about the best pairing in this one and for me that’s the best turf sprint trainer in Ward paired up with the best Turf Jockey in Irad Ortiz Jr.
Picks:
To Win – I like the 6 Twilight Gleaming
My Top 4 if playing exotics – 6, 8, 9, 11
Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – Grade I – 1 &1/16 Miles- Purse: 2,000,000 Post Time 5:30 PM CST
The Smallest field for Friday features 6 horses in this two year old fillies dirt race. Big morning favorite unbeaten 6 Horse Echo Zulu will stretch out and extra 1/16 mile here for the first time but holds the fastest speed of the field in the 1 mile flat race. Main contenders will be the 2 Horse Hidden Connection who is also undefeated and the 5 horse Juju’s Map who has won her last two and looked good in doing so. 1 Horse Desert Dawn is the longshot to look at here as she has the pedigree to compete at two turns, but is lacking up to this point to compete with the favorites. For me there’s likely to be no value on Echo Zulu, and I think Juju’s Map can beat her if she stays inside of her on the trip.
Picks:
To Win – 5 Juju’s Map
My Top 4 if playing exotics – 5, 6, 2, 1 -Not much value here.
Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – Grade I -1 Mile – Purse: $1,000,000 Post Time 6:10 PM CST
I think this is the most wide open of the races on Friday with a big field and plenty of strong contenders. 5 Horse Bubble Rock will stretch out to 2 turns for the first time, but has shown to be a good off the pace closer thus far, and could be sneaky good with the extra 2 furlongs. The best speed at 1 mile has come from 2 horse Cairo Memories who is unbeaten in 2 starts and will have Kent Desormeaux in the saddle again. 1 Horse Pizza Bianca comes off a 1:35 flat mile in her last run. If 14 Horse California Angel breaks well from the outside and gets a nice run she has also shown ability to close from distance and could be a factor late. 7 horse Consumer Spending has been running well at 1 1/16th and could also be out in front here late.
Picks:
To Win – 5 Bubble Rock, 2 Cairo Memories – Use a Dutching Tool to balance your wagers.
Top 4 if Playing exotics – 5, 2, 1, 7, 14 – I will have quite a few going here. Hit me up on Twitter if interested in how I end up breaking them out later today. @thegreatknoche
Race 9 -Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I- 1 & 1/6 Mile – Purse: $2,000,000 – Post Time 6:50 PM CST
Back to the dirt for 1 1/6 miles of excitment. Couple of heavy favorites in this large field. 1 Horse Jack Christopher at 9-5 and 12 Horse Corniche at 5-2. They both have 2 starts and a Maiden and Grade I victory under their belts, all by margins. Corniche a Baffert horse gets Mike Smith, EDIT: Jack Christopher gets scratched this AM. In looking for value outside those horses I landed on number 9 Horse Pinehurst. Coming off a Grade I victory of his own this is another Baffert Horse he gets Johnny V in the saddle, a combo I like. I could also see longshot 3 Horse Oviatt Class or 8 Horse Barossa hitting the board
Picks:
To Win – 9 Pinehurst
Top 4 if playing exotics – 9, 12, 8, 3 – Make sure you get the 12 in some Exactas
Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – Grade I – 1 Mile – Purse: $1,000,000 – Post Time 7:30 PM CST
Final Race of Day 1 features a heavy influence from across the pond with 1 Horse Modern Games and 2 Horse Albahr both coming in off a string of victories in Ireland and GB. 3 Horse Dakota Gold is unbeaten in two starts. 7 Horse Slipstream has put up some solid speed numbers, but us stretching out to 1 mile for the first time. 8 horse Glounthaune did not run much this summer and may not be in best form yet, but Aidan O Brien has done well in this race in the past and wouldnt have entered if there wasn’t a chance to win. 6 Horse Mackinnon has won the last 3 times out including a great showing with a 1:33.4 at Santa Anita on October 3rd. This one is wide open.
Picks:
To Win – 2 Albahr, 3 Dakota Gold, 6 Mackinnon. Use a Dutching Tool to balance your wagers.
Top 4 if playing exotics – 6, 2, 3, 1, 8, 14 (I went a little deeper here. Depending how the day goes I could be looking to try and hit some bigger plays by this point. Hit me up on Twitter if interested in how I end up breaking them out later today. @thegreatknoche
