BREEDERS’ CUP PREVIEW

By Matt Pappis
Tracksideview Staff Writer —-

Friday

Juvenile Turf Sprint

Kimari: Has been very impressive in two starts since returning from Ascot and showed a new dimension rallying from off the pace in her last start when tackling the boys.

Bulletproof One: First try on turf was impressive just missing over the course he will see in the Breeders Cup earning his best figure. Peter Miller can train a turf sprinter hes a must use if he elects to go here.

Four Wheel Drive: Has been impressive in his two career starts and brings the best numbers into the race.

Chimney Rock: A couple near misses in his last two but should get the pace to run at here.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Selflessly: Trainer Chad Brown has won this event 5 of the 11 times and the last 3 times so we will go with him until we are proven wrong.

Daahyeh: Looks to be the most talented of the Euros coming over for world class trainer Roger Varian.

Sweet Melina: Has been very impressive since making the switch to turf and looks to be the one they will all have to run down.

Crystalle: Very talented filly but she is also very pace dependent.

Juvenile Fillies

Wicked Whisper: Looks to be far and away the most talented of the group if she can handle the two turns she’s the one to beat for me.

Bast: Was not as visually impressive as she was in her last win when stretching out to two turns for the first time. We all know how Baffert gets on these big weekend everything is LIVE she’s the likely favorite.

Franks Rockette: Will be her first start around 2 turns after being the beaten favorite in each of her last 3 starts so I am willing to give her another shot stretching out.

British Idiom: She was very visually impressive in taking the Alchabides in a quick time and looking visually impressive.

Juvenile Turf

Wichita: This is the O’Brien runner I want of the pair if he shows up with him and Arizona.

Structor: Has had two visually impressive runs and looks to be the real deal here.

Decorated Invader: Won relatively easy in Woodbine and should get an ideally pace scenario again here to make his one big run.

Vitalogy: Had an absolute disaster trip when running second in the G3 Bourbon at Keeneland and deserves a major shot here.

Juvenile

Dennis Moment: He tossed the jock in his first start and has dominated in his two races since showing he’s what we all heard he was before his debut. He will be a handful in this race.

Eight Rings: Lost his jock in his second start like Dennis Moment but came back to win by daylight in his prep over the SA surface.

Maxfield: His maiden race has come back to produce some winners and he was bet like a good thing in his last effort when romping in the BC Futurity.

Saturday

Filly and Mare Sprint

Come Dancing: Think about this she’s won 4 of her last 6 starts with a neck loss to Marley’s Freedom and loss to Midnight Bisou when going longer which is not her game. Someone will have to really step up to beat her with the right post draw.

Spiced Perfection: Ran a monster race when going to her knees at the start and still winning the TCA at Keeneland. She loves Santa Anita and has never finished off the board here.

Covfefe: She has gotten very good towards the back half of the year and is the one they will have to run down in the lane but it will be her first time vs the older.

Turf Sprint

*Note: This will be run at 5F and not 6 ½ down the hill as done prior*

Imprimis: Two disaster trips since returning to the states this third start off the layoff he should be primed and ready to roll, lets hope for a positive jockey change.

Sheeky Shebaz: Has improved significantly since arriving to the Servis barn and had to deal with a hot pace last time being pressed by a rabbit the whole way. Dangerous on the front end over a speed favoring course.

Belvoir Bay: Miller very good with the extended layoff and this one has an affinity for the SA turf course be careful when tossing him.

Final Frontier: Has been a totally different horse since coming off the layoff at Saratoga, another step forward here makes him very dangerous.

Dirt Mile

Catalina Cruiser: The one to beat he is fresh on his home track and has shown the two turn is not a problem even though he may be a better one turn horse.

Coal Front: When he is right he can run with anyone at 7F- 1 mile looks like he regained his form in his last and will be in with a big shot here.

Omaha Beach: Impressive return when running down Shancelot, many thought he was a cinch if he ran in the derby last year.

Improbable: Always have thought he would be a better miler than classic distance horse hopefully he proves me right here.

Filly and Mare Turf

SisterCharlie: Looking for back to back wins in this division after rattling off 6 straight G1 wins this year, she will be one of the shorter prices of the weekend.

Star Catcher: She looks like the only Euro who is coming in with good enough form to tackle SisterCharlie.

Edisa: Was impressive when winning her first start in the states but will have to step up to beat the older.

Sprint

Mitole: Was not able to compete in this last year due to injury but hes the best sprinter in the country and looking to go out on top.

King Jack: Undefeated sprinting with his only loss coming to improbable at a mile this will be the first test vs older.

Promises Fulfilled: He was up against the bias at Keeneland last time and should fair much better over a track that typically plays to horses close to the pace.

Imperial Hint: Has capability to run those big numbers as we saw at Saratoga but the last might have taken a lot out of him and he typical doesn’t show up this time of year.

Turf Mile

Circus Maximus: Looks to be the best of the Euros.

Mustashry: Returned to form in the last and will be a major player here.

Line of Duty: Two narrow missed vs top class company at Longchamp will be a major player if he shows up.

Bowies Hero: Doesn’t have the class as some of the others but always runs and loves this course.

Distaff

Midnight Bisou: This champ will be one of the shortest prices on the weekend and looking to end her career with a bang.

Paradise Woods: She re-found her form in the Zenyatta over a track she loves, I think she’s a major player for the upset.

Dunbar Road: Another in here who has a shot at the upset she’s improving in every start and I still don’t think we’ve seen her best.

Turf

Bricks and Mortar: He might be the horse of the year which is rare for a turf horse but he has been that good and shouldn’t see many of the top class Euros should up this year.

Old Persian: Looks like he is the top Euro coming from overseas this year and comes off a nice win at Woodbine.

Arklow: Ran the best race of his career when finally putting it all together in the

Classic

Vino Rosso: He was unjustly disqualified in the JCGC and this is his race for redemption. He has been in top form this year and holds a win over the track, the only poor effort he put in was at Saratoga where he’s shown he never liked.

McKinze: Many are totally tossing him out of his most recent work and loss in the Awesome Again however this is still Baffert’s house until someone beats him on the biggest stage he must be used.

Highest Power: His last can be totally tossed where he missed the break if he makes the lead he is a different animal and one to respect here.

Code of Honor: Won on DQ in the JCGC and showed grit, lets see if he can travel to the west coast and continue his push for 3yo of the year.