Friday’s Breeders’ Cup, Pick-4 Selections

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

These are my picks for the Breeders’ Cup races on Friday, Nov. 3 at Del Mar in Southern California.
I’m not going into a lot of detail on my selections; most of them are self-evident. I will list the picks in descending order with their post-positions. Where I want to make a point, I will. I’m also going to give you a “shot horse” just for thrills.

Friday starts with the Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 6) and this is where the Europeans usually shine. This race also starts a Pick 4.

Happily – 2 – She’s a powerhouse across the pond.
Capla Temptress – 7 – She won the Natalma at Woodbine.
Significant Form – 8 – A Chad Brown runner that East Coast folks like.
Rushing Falls – 11 – She’s the morning-line favorite.
Shot horse – September – 10 – It’s not a big shot, but she could be dangerous.

Race 7 is the Dirt Mile and this is as American as it gets.

Accelerate – 8 – Beat Arrogate over this course and is cutting back in distance.
Mor Spirit – 6 – He’s been off since winning in June; Baffert has him primed; six gate drills.
Giant Expectations – 2 – Wins at Del Mar.
Sharp Azteca – 3 – A threat from the East.
Shot horse – Cupid – 7 – If Baffert can’t win with one . . .

Race 8 is the Juvenile Turf and we go back to the Europeans.

Mendelssohn – 1
Masar – 6
James Garfield – 7
Beckford – 5
Shot horse – Encumbered – 9 – He’s a local boy with two wins at Del Mar.

Friday’s Cup races close with Race 9, the Distaff.

Stellar Wind – 2 – If she gets out of the gate OK (not like last year), she wins.
Elate – 5
Forever Unbridled – 6 – This is a bet because I like her maternal granddad.
Last spot is a tossup between Abel Tasman – 4 – and Paradise Woods – 7.

I would play two Pick 4s.

Race 6: 2,7,8
Race 7: 6,8
Race 8: 1,6
Race 9: 2,5,6
That is a $36 play for a $1 and an $18 play for $.50.

Second Pick 4

Race 6: 2,7
Race 7: 2,6,8
Race 8: 1,5,6,7,9
Race 9: 2
That’s a $30 play for a $1 and a $15 play for $.50.

Both can hit, but the second will pay more if the nine wins in the third leg.

Cover Photo: Stellar Wind (outside) edges Beholder in the Clement-L Hirsch; Benoit Photo