2018 Breeders’ Cup: An early look at the Contenders

By Matt Pappis
Tracksideview Staff Writer —-

Friday

Juvenile Turf Sprint

Strike Silver – Really took to the turf in his first attempt in the Indian Summer Stakes, he could see a similar set up in this race.

Shang Shang Shang – Has not been seen since beating the boys at Ascot in June, Wesley Ward has been point to this race for some time now.

Sergei Prokofiev – Comes over for top class connections and is the best of the non-Americans.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Newspaperofrecord – Chad Brown has won this race 3 of the last 4 times and has the top contender in here; if she steps forward again she will be hard to beat.

Just Wonderful – Looks to be the best of the Europeans coming in off a dominating win for Aidan O’Brien and Moore.

Concrete Rose – Has been very impressive in her two career starts and should be considered one of the primary contenders.

Juvenile Fillies

Restless Rider – With two wins over the track and coming in third off the layoff in sharp form, she is the one to beat for me.

Serengeti Empress – She won her prep in dominating fashion over the Churchill surface; not many win like that on this track.

Jaywalk – Ran a huge race in the Frizette and Rosario elects to go here over Sippican Harbor.

Juvenile Turf

Line of Duty – Winner of back to back races after being narrowly defeated in his first two, Appleby only comes when he has a big shot.

Anthony Van Dyck – Looks to be the best of the Aidan O’Brien contingent.

Current – Has shown versatility winning both off and on the pace, this is the American in with a big shot.

Juvenile

Code of Honor – Had a ton of trouble in the Champagne and should put in a big effort with a good draw.

Game Winner – The one to beat for Baffert who comes in loaded once again.

Complexity – This one has all the talent in the world but not sure the distance is for him we will see.

Saturday

Finley’sluckycharm – Has fired some of her best races off the layoff and is 6/7 over this course.

Marley’s Freedom – Has always been a talented horse but has turned into a freak since joining the Baffert barn.

Anonymity – Very quick filly who could find herself on the lead turning for home and see if they can run her down.

Turf Sprint

Disco Partner – Clement has this one peaking as he attempts to win his first Breeders Cup race.

Stormy Liberal – Comes in off three straight wins and gets back to a distance he’s never lost at.

Will Call – Has two wins over this course and could get an ideal set up with tons of speed signed on as always.

Dirt Mile

City of Light – He has been in top form since winning the Malibu last December and I love his brief freshening from summer to now while working up a storm.

Catalina Cruiser – Will be heavily backed based off his undefeated record but he is largely untested and Sadler does not win outside of California; we will see if he can get it done at a short price

Limousine Liberal – Not sure if he will go in here or the Sprint so we will only talk about him here but he fits in either and loves this track.

Filly and Mare Turf

Magic Wand – Narrowly defeated in her last two but the 1 3/8 distance should hit her right between the eyes.

Wild Illusion – Coming in off back to back Euro wins and looks to be the best of the Euro’s.

Sister Charlie – The best of the American based horses though she did start her career in France.

Sprint

Roy H – With a good draw this is the one to beat for me, he is peaking now that he is back in the states and fresh.

Promises Fulfilled – This is one fast horse and he doesn’t give in easy, whoever is trying to run him down better be ready for a fight.

Imperial Hint – In some of the best form of his career but it seems that when he steps up to this class he typically underperforms.

Turf Mile

Polydream – Had a very bad trip in his last when going off favored in a deep field, he will be in with a big shot here for a trainer who’s won this race twice in the 80’s.

Mustashry – Winner of 3 races from 4 starts this year and has a nose for the wire.

One Master – Winner of back to back races while upsetting the Qatar Pros de La Foret.

Distaff

Abel Tasman – Her best race wins this race, though her last effort was not like her showing little. Baffert doesn’t come here if he doesn’t believe she’s ready.

Blue Prize – She loves Churchill and this distance, she is a big player and should be a bit of a price.

Vale Dori – The other Baffert in here who re-found her winning ways in the last, she has some big numbers to reach back to which make her a player her.

Turf

Crystal Ocean – Coming off a second place effort last weekend at Ascot vs the champion Cracksman. He has run and beat some of the best in the world and has a big shot in here to upset.

Enable – The super mare comes in off yet another Arc win and has won 9 of 10 starts, she’ll be a handful here.

Magical – Comes off a win last weekend in Ascot but will have to make up 10 lengths from the Arc to beat Enable, O’Brien has pulled off impressive upsets in the Breeders Cup before.

Classic

Mckinzie – This was Baffert’s Derby horse before Justify came into the mix and now he’s back in top form and looking to give Baffert another Classic.

West Coast – The other Baffert in the race he will be second off the layoff where Baffert excels.

Yoshida – If the race falls apart this is definitely one I want on my tickets, he showed in the Woodward that he has no problem handing the dirt.