Newspaperofrecord, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf on Breeders’ Cup World Championship Friday at Churchill Downs (Photo credit: Jessica Morgan/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM/Breeders’ Cup).
Futures Stars Friday is in the books and we did see a star in the making in Newspaperofrecord, who stole the show on Friday with an impressive victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
There were no shocking winners, the mutuel win payoffs returning $10.60, $3.20, $13.00, $9.00 and $4.00. The 50-cent Pick 5 paid a decent $627.40.
After a deluge of rain hit Churchill Downs on Wednesday and Thursday the main track was in pristine condition and the turf course was labeled as yielding but held up well for the first day of the Breeders’ Cup considering how much rain fell.
Pletcher Saddles Winner of Inaugural Juvenile Turf Sprint
Trainer Wesley Ward sent out four runners in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, but it was Todd Pletcher’s Bulletin who jumped out of the gate and took the field gate to wire, returning $10.60 to win with Javier Castellano in the irons.
We got a thrill with my top pick Chelsea Cloisters pressing the early pace and nice odds of 25-1 but had to settle for the runner up spot, completing a $2 exacta that paid $239.40.
Soldier’s Call was sent off as the 3-1 betting favorite but had to settle for sixth after getting away poorly when hopping at the break.
Special Delivery in Juvenile Fillies Turf
The Chad Brown trained Newspaperofrecord was hammered in the betting for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and ran to her odds. She was my top pick in the race.
Under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr she quickly cleared the field and took them gate to wire to win by 6 ¾ lengths and the margin could have been much larger.
She returned $3.20 to win with the Euro invader East rallying to finish in the runner up spot, completing a $32.40 exacta.
Jaywalk Wires Field in Juvenile Fillies
The John Servis trained Jaywalk won her fourth race in a row taking the field gate to wire to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The Ken McPeek trained Restless Rider came with a good late rally and looked like the winner, but Jaywalk put that rival away and went on to win by 5 ½ lengths. She paid $13.00 as the fourth choice in the race. The $2 exacta with Restless Rider paid $50.40.
My top pick Bellafina was sent off as the 9-5 favorite but was off poorly and was never a real threat in a fourth-place finish.
Euros Score With Line of Duty
The Charles Appleby trained Line of Duty was my top pick and the 10-1 morning line looked generous. But we had to settle for $9.00 in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
The colt got a good ride from William Buick and had to wait out a steward’s inquiry as the colt bumped with runner up Uncle Benny in the stretch. The $2 exacta paid $75.20.
Uncle Benny was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and while they did bump in the stretch it was incidental contact despite Ortiz’s display after the race in which he told everyone within earshot he could have won the race. It was poor form, made worse by Buick’s showing class and grace while they waited out the result.
Baffert Has Another Derby Threat
Game Winner was sent off as the betting favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) but after four furlongs he looked as if he did not have much of a shot.
Under jockey Joel Rosario he came with a good late rally and ran down a stubborn Knicks Go to prevail and return $4.00 for the win.
A parade of longshots ran behind him in Knicks Go (40-1), Signalman (67-1) and Mr. Money (41-1). The $2 exacta paid $113.20, the .50 trifecta paid $482.80 and the .10 superfecta returned $1,627.98.
Baffert has another serious Kentucky Derby contender.
Chad Brown sent out two major threats in Complexity and Standard Deviation but they both misfired, fading to finish 10th and 12th.
