Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Selections

By Rick Francis —-

SANTA ANITA

Race 5) Juvenile Turf Sprint 5 Furlongs

7) Kimari (Ward/Velazquez); has won two straight and missed by a head at Ascot, the only blemish on her record; Ward is over 20 percent with 2-year-olds and last out winners.

1) Chimney Rock (Maker/Ortiz,J.); was closing hard to Kimari in last missing by a 1/2 length; slight distance cutback helps today.

10) A’Ali (Crisford/Dettori); exits a Group 2 score at Doncaster, her third win from her last four starts; 1st lasix angle in play.

9) Four Wheel Drive (Ward/Ortiz, I.); American Pharoah colt is 2-for-2 posting some the field’s highest speed figures; will be forwardly placed and the one to catch.

12) Cambria (Ward/Gaffalione); Speightstown filly is a perfect 3-for-3 and is in top form; can’t overlook any Ward starter here.

Selections: 7, 1, 10, 9, 12

Race 6) Juvenile Turf (Colts & Geldings) 1 Mile

7) Andesite (Cox/Rosario); missed by a head last out, faces that foe again in here; will be just off the leaders turning for home.

2) Stroctor (Brown/Ortiz, J.); bested the aforementioned with a game effort in the G3 Pilgrim; trainer Brown has had one of his best years with his turf starters and this son of Palace Malice is a perfect example.

12) Arizona (O’Brien/Moore); Irish-bred gets first lasix; colt has been facing major group company in Europe; dangerous.

5) Vitalogy (Walsh/Castellano); dug himself a hole in the G3 Bourbon but came charging late only to miss by a neck, a cleaner trip here and they’re not going to catch him; Walsh with a beaten fave next out, 28 percent.

Selections: 7, 2, 12, 5

Race 8) Juvenile Filly Turf Mile

12) Sweet Melania (Pletcher/Ortiz, J.); filly has won 2-of-3 highlighted by a commanding score in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland; great spot for Pletcher.

9) Albigna (Harrington/Foley); winner of 3-of-4, her last a Group 1 victory at Longchamp; they’re not giving money away over there.

7) Crystalle (Kimmel/Rosario); after winning her first two, including the PG Johnson at Saratoga, Palace Malice filly closed from last to iss by less than a length in the Miss Grillo; she’s been working nicely on the lawn.

2) Croughavouke (Mullins/Prat); Irish-bred exits a pair of seconds here and at Del Mar; giving her a “home-field” flyer.

13) Selflessly (Brown/Castellano); Miss Grillo winner; nothing from this barn should be overlooked.

Selections: 12, 9, 7, 2, 13