Breeders’ Cup Friday Picks
By Bob Hill,
Tracksideview Feature Writer —-
We get to see all five races restricted to two-year-olds on Friday. Three of those races on the turf, and two on the main track at Keeneland. Fair skies and a pleasant November day is in the forecast, so handicappers are free from worrying about a muddy dirt surface or a rain sodden turf course.
Race 6 – BC Juv Turf (G1) – 5-1/2 furlongs
Perhaps the most accomplished European entry since the inception of this race is on the grounds for this race. The 2yo filly The Platinum Queen (12) has been spectacular in Europe defeating older horses. She definitely looks like the one to beat in this race. The list of contenders is indeed long in this race, with as many as ten possible winners on my list. If you like one higher on your list than what follows, trust your instincts because this truly is a wide open betting affair. Love Reigns (2) is Wesley Ward’s top entry. Like many of his young turf sprinters she has already raced in the U.S and Great Britain. Ward has won this race numerous times with Irad Ortiz as his pilot. Persian Force (6) has three Group races to his credit, and he’s hit the board in each. At 14-1 on the ML, this colt could offer value. Another I like at a price is Sharp Aza Tack (9) for trainer Doug O’Neill. He’s very quick, and should be tough at this distance. The buzz horse in this field is the Iowa-bred Tyler’s Tribe (10. His namesake is a youngster battling cancer. He’s never run outside of Iowa or on the turf, but by the numbers he is the fastest horse in the field. I will make a win bet on him for sentimental reasons. Again, the list of ones not in my top four is longer than the ones named here. Picks: 12-6-4-9
Race 7 – BC Juv Fi (G1)l – 1-1/16 miles
Chocolate Gelato (10) is the ML favorite in this race for the King of Distaff, Todd Pletcher. She has won both on the lead and from off the pace, so her versatility is a plus. Chop Chop (7) just missed on this track in the G1 Alcibiades after a very slow break making up over eight lengths when losing by a nose. She started on the turf and is trained by Brad Cox. Leave No Trace (12) offers great value at ML odds of 20-1. She has hit the board in every start for underappreciated trainer Philip Serpe. You’re My Girl (2) should be part of the pace, and she ran on gamely after being passed by Chocolate Gelato last out. Picks: 7-10-2-13.
Race 8 – BC Juv Fil Turf (G1) – 1 mile
The ML favorite in this race has odds of 4-1, indicating the contentious nature and wide open betting opportunity. Meditate (10) is that ML favorite for Aidan O’Brien, one of the BC super star trainers of turf racing. Meditate enters here off consecutive second place efforts in G! races abroad. Last Call (3) won the G1 Natalma at Woodbine while still a maiden. She is the daughter of BC champ English Channel and offers value at 20-1. Shug McGaughey has a barn full of precocious 2yo this year, and Pleasant Passage (12-1) is one of them. She won the G2 MsGrillo going gate to wire on a yielding course. With Irad Ortiz aboard I’d love to get anything close to her 12-1 ML odd. Free Look (4) is from the barn of Chad Brown, meaning she is probably quite good and likely to be overbet. She did not have a great trip in the Ms Grillo and may not have cared much for the yielding surface. There are many options for filling out long exotics plays. Not a race to single in the P4. Picks: 5-4-10-3
Race 9 – BC Juv (G1) – 1-1/16 miles
Here comes Bob Baffert with what looks to be another super star in the making. Cave Rock (3) is a perfect three for three, including his last out dominating win in the G! American Pharoah. That race has produced BC Juvenile winners before. Forte (4) has been equally outstanding for Todd Pletcher. He most recently won the Breeders Futurity (G1) on this track four weeks ago. This son of Violence is the real deal. National Treasure (10) is another Baffert trainee, and his second lifetime start he challenged Cave Rock before losing ground late. He might be the favorite in this race is his stablemate were not entered. Verifying (5) is a much hyped son of Justify for Brad Cox who finished second in the G1 Champagne on a sloppy track. He broke his maiden on Travers Day and deserves contiued support. Value at 10-1. There are others to include in your deep plays as well. This race has a history of big exacta payouts. Picks: 3-4-10-5
Race 10 – BC Juv Turf (G1) – 1 mile
Charles Appleby has become this decade’s top Euro grass handler, and he enters Silver Knott (4) in this race. Appleby’s runners must be taken seriously every time they set foot on the BC track. Aidan O’Brien also has one entered here – Victoria Road (1). He is a G3 winner in France at a distance of 9 furlongs. No American entry has set himself apart from the others, so after the Euros the contention is deep. Jeff Mullins comes along once in a while with a good one, and Packs a Wahlop (2) has won three straight coming in here, including two straight at the 8 furlong distance. He’ll be forwardly placed. Because Wayne Catalano is such an easy guy to root for I’m including Andthewinneris (6), the last out winner of the G2 Bourbon on the Keeneland sod. He looks to be an improving sort. Another P4 race in which to get very deep. Picks: 4-6-2-1