Future Stars Friday kicks off the two-day Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. (Photo credit: Photo by © Breeders’ Cup)
The Breeders’ Cup kicks off with Futures Stars Friday with five championship races restricted to the best juveniles in the world who will compete at Keeneland.
The two-day championship event will be held at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7.
The action kicks off with the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) which drew a full field. This will be the fourth edition of the race.
Trainer Wesley Ward, who won this race last year with Four Wheel Drive will saddle four runners this year including the 8-5 morning line favorite Golden Pal, who will break from the 14 post with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
The son of Uncle Mo was beaten just a neck in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot in June and won the Skidmore at Saratoga in his last outing on Aug. 21.
Ward will also saddle After Five (6-1), Amanzi Yimpilo (15-1) and Into the Sunrise (15-1).
After Five is the second choice on the morning line and is still a maiden. After running second in his debut, he then ran second in the Futurity (G3) at Belmont Park, beaten half-length by Second of July, the Phil Gleaves trainee who is listed at 8-1 on the morning line.
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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
The $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) drew a wide open full field with Mutasaabeq the tepid 5-1 morning line favorite.
The Todd Pletcher trainee won the Bourbon (G2) over the Keeneland turf course in his last outing, his first trip on turf. Luis Saez has the return call on the son of Into Mischief.
The Euros have won this race eight times and send out an outstanding group of runners. Among those is the 6-1 second choice Battleground from the Aiden O’Brien barn.
O’Brien has won this race a record four times, most recently with Mendelssohn in 2017 at Del Mar.
Trainer Chad Brown, who won this race last year with Structor will send out Public Sector (8-1), who ran second in the Pilgrim (G2) on Oct. 3.
The Pilgrim was won by Fire At Will, the Mike Maker trainee installed at 12-1 on the morning line with Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
The $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) drew the smallest field of the 14 races with a field of seven going to the post. The Bob Baffert trained Princess Noor is the 9-5 morning line favorite.
The filly drew the seven post with Victor Espinoza riding. She is perfect in her three career starts, taking the Chandelier (G2) at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 in her final prep.
While the field is small it has plenty of quality. Among the foes the favorite faces is Alcibiades (G1) winner Simply Ravishing (5-2) and Frizette (G1) winner Dayoutoftheoffice (5-2).
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Aunt Pearl is the 3-1 morning line favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) which drew a full field that will go one mile on the turf.
The Brad Cox trainee won the Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland in her stakes debut on Oct. 7. She drew the five post with Florent Geroux in the irons.
Plum Ali is the second choice on the morning line at 4-1. Trained by Christophe Clement, the filly is undefeated in three career starts, winning the Miss Grillo (G2) I her last start at Belmont Park.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
The shortest price over the two days may be Jackie’s Warrior, who is the 7-5 morning line favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
The Steve Asmussen trainee has won all four of her starts, winning in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park going a one-turn mile in his last outing. Joel Rosario has the return call and will break from post seven in the full field.
Essential Quality is the second choice on the morning line at 4-1. The Brad Cox trainee won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) over the Keeneland main track in his last start. He drew the five post with Luis Saez retaining the mount.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Post time for Friday’s card at Keeneland is 11:30am ET with the first Breeders’ Cup race carded to go to the post at 2:30 ET.
The NBC Sports Network will cover the action from 2:00 to 6:00 ET on Friday.
