The Breeders' Cup breaks from the gate on Friday with four championship races. (Photo credit: Breeders' Cup Ltd.)
Four of the 13 Breeders’ Cup races will be contested on Friday at Santa Anita, with the $1 million Juvenile Turf kicking off the action over the two-day championship event.
The $1 million Dirt Mile (G1) and Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) follow, and then the ladies take center stage in the $2 million Distaff (G1).
The action will be televised on the NBC Sports Network in a three-hour telecast that gets underway at 5:00 eastern.
In addition to four Breeders’ Cup races, Santa Anita has put together an outstanding betting card on Friday that includes the $250,000 Las Vegas Marathon (G2), $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies, $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2) and $100,000 Damascus.
The highlight of Friday’s card is the Distaff, which drew a field of 11 fillies and mares led by Untapable and Close Hatches, with the winner likely to take down the Eclipse Award for top older filly.
Untapable bounced back from her lone loss this year when fifth taking on the boys in the Haskell Invitational (G1) by winning the Cotillion (G1) at Parx, her fifth win in six starts this year.
Close Hatches was humming along with four straight wins this year, but tossed in a read dud in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland as the chalk where she was fourth, beaten 7 ¼ lengths by Don’t Tell Sophia.
The Dirt Mile features the shortest priced favorite of the Breeders’ Cup with Goldencents at 6-5 attempting to defend his title. Something to keep in mind is the last six Dirt Mile favorites have finished out of the money.
The Juvenile Fillies Turf drew a full field and along with the Juvenile Turf are two of the trickiest races to handicap over the two days.
My Breeders’ Cup Report for Friday is now available and Saturday’s Report will be available Thursday evening.
Let’s head out to Santa Anita for the first of 13 Breeders’ Cup races:
Santa Anita Race 6 The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf G1 (2:25 PT)
11 Imperia 6-1
7 War Envoy 9-2
4 Commemorative 8-1
5 Hootenanny 3-1
Analysis: Imperia gets the call and would be just the third U.S. based juvie to win this race which has been dominated by Euros, Aiden O’Brien and John Gosden each saddling a pair of winners. Our top pick made a good late rally to miss breaking his maiden in his debut by a neck and then came back to win the Pilgrim (G3) at Belmont Park in a good looking effort. The runner up Vision Perfect came out of the race to win the Awad Stakes in his next outing at Belmont Park on Oct. 26.
This colt has a nice pedigree, by Medaglia d’Oro out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Cocoa Beach, who could run on turf or dirt. He is in good hands with the McLaughlin barn that has a pair of Breeders’ Cup wins with 29 starters. The Euros are going to take the betting action and this guy may end up getting overlooked in the wagering.
War Envoy is sent out by O’Brien who won this race in 2011 with Wrote and 20112 with George Vancouver, both coming to the U.S off losses. The colt is just 1 for 7 in his career but landed in the money in a couple of Group 2 races and a Group 3 and was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths in the Grand Criterium (G1) when fifth in his last outing. He adds lasix to the mix here and we have seen the Euros win all four times this race has been run here.
Commemorative makes his U.S. debut here for trainer Charles Hill, who shipped Chriselliam here last year to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). The colt broke his maiden in a 17 horse field at Doncaster and then won the Autumn Stakes (G3) going a mile over good ground at Newmarket in his last outing. He has the look of a typical Euro invader who seems to like firm footing. I doubt he goes off near his 8-1 morning line, have a hunch this guy will take some action.
Wagering
WIN: #11 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 7,11 / 4,5,7,11
TRI: 7,11 / 4,5,7,11 / 4,5,6,7,11
Michael Dempsey’s Breeders’ Cup Report $34.95
Michael’s Breeders’ Cup Report for Friday and Saturday includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for every race on the Friday and Saturday card from Santa Anita Park on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
The Breeders’ Cup offers 13 championship races over two days, bringing together the best top horses, trainers, and jockeys from around the world, this year to compete at Santa Anita Park.
Last year on Breeders’ Cup Saturday Mike nailed seven recommended exactas, paying $53.20, $19.00, $23.20, $58.00, $66.60, $107.80, and $33.60!
