Handicapping: Friday Breeders’ Cup “Stars of the Future” Contests

Breeders’ Cup Friday – Future Stars Day
Bob Hill, TSV staff writer

The handicapping of the Friday card at the BC is always a tough proposition because many of these two-year-olds are trying something just a little different from what they’ve done before. For instance, many of the best Euro turf sprinters have never negotiated a turn – something will have to do in the BC. Many of the best Euros entered in route turf races have made their mark at less than eight furlongs. Most of these young horses are travelling a long distance for the first time. The bad news is that these factors make handicapping very tough. The good news, if you can it right, is that the payoffs are somewhere between good and boxcar territory. Good luck to all.

For this card I am gibing my top four picks, plus one value play for each race.

Race 5 – BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at 5 furlongs G1
Speed galore in this field, mostly drawn inside except for the speed of the speed, Slider (11). May set up for a closer. Value Play is Givemethebeatboys (5) at ML odds of 15-1

9 – Amidst Waves Value on top after second at Kee after being blocked
4 – Big Evs (Ire) Repeat of G2 win last out makes her very hard to beat
12 – Committee of One Beat Amidst Waves last out at Kee closing from last
11 – Slider Speed of the speed on home course

Race 6 – BC Juvenile Fillies at 1-1/16 miles G1
If there is a Friday superhorse she may be in this race. Tamara (7) is short odds favorite.
Value Play is Scalable (3) at ML odds of 20-1.

7 – Tamara Anything close to last effort outs her in winner’s circle
1 – Candied Still room for improvement for Pletcher’s lightly raced entry
6 – Chatalas Must avoid being too close to pace while being forwardly placed
12 – Just F Y I Top connections for lightly raced filly

Race 7 – BC Juvenil Fillies Turf at 1 Mile G1
Wide open affair that is short on Euro tar power, thus making a U.S. win more likely. Value Play is Content (Ire) (5) at ML odds of 15-1.

12 – Hard to Justify When in doubt turn to Chad Brown
11 – She Feels Pretty Was sensational last out at Woodbine for DeVaux
6 – Porta Fortuna (Ire) Young O’Brien’s G! winner must prove merit at distance
3 – Buchu Bauer is very underrated turf trainer. Could win this

Race 8 – BC Juvenile at 1-1/16 miles G1
Two strong Baffert entries, plus good ones from the barns of Cox and Pletcher makes this a U.S. slugfest. Any of them could win. Value play is Noted (11) at ML odds of 20-1.

10 – Muth Must top stable mate, but distance is in his favor
6 – Locked Slight ML fave has been sensational so far
4 – Timberlake Only blemish came in the G1 Hopeful, which was a strange race
2 – Prince of Monaco The only question is distance. Wouldn’t be first Speightstown to
win at 8.5 furlongs

Race 9 – BC Juvenile Turf at 1 Mile G1
The Euros brought some good ones for this race. Still see it as wide open. Value Play is Tok Tok (5) at ML odds of 20-1 getting bliners for first time.

8 – Unquestionable (Fr) Just missed in G1 at Longchamp for O’Brien
2 – River Tiber (Ire) ThisI is just the type of O’Brien entry that proves to be best
14 – Carson’s Run Clement trainee getting better by the day. Tough post.
4 – Can Group Last to first in G2 Bourbon for top trainer Mark Casse