It’s moment of truth time. I’ve read the Daily Racing Form front and back, listened to the opinions of private clockers and watched several of the horses train live and in person.
Now, I’ve got to make my picks!
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint:
1. Secret Circle (6-5)
2. Jake Mo (20-1)
3. Vexor (5-1)
I hate to pick a favorite in the first BC race*and a triple chalky one at that*but Secret Circle looks much the best in this newest addition to the Breeders’ Cup lineup. This Eddington colt is fast-fast-fast*how about a 1:08 1/5 in the Jack Goodman at Santa Anita two days after BC Sprint contender Amazombie won the Ancient Title (G1) in 1:08 1/5. This could be a romp! Remington Park shipper Jake Mo might be a useful bomber for exactas and trifectas.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf:
1. Pure Gossip (12-1)
2. Elusive Kate (2-1)
3. Dear Lavinia (30-1)
Now this is more like it. At double-digit odds, Pure Gossip is a must play. In her turf and route debut she obliterated an eight-horse field to win a Grade 3 stakes and has the tactical speed to get the first jump on the leaders. If I’m right about Pure Gossip and third choice Dear Lavinia, the trip will be paid in full!
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint:
1. Switch (3-1)
2. Tanda (20-1)
3. Turbulent Descent (6-5)
At 6-to-5, I have to take a stand against prohibitive favorite Turbulent Descent, who makes her first start against older horses. Switch, meanwhile, relishes the dirt and seven furlongs is her ideal distance, not to mention she’s kept company with the likes of Blind Luck and Havre de Grace. Runner-up in this race last year on this track, she gets all the candy this time. Tanda has a great style and is worth a look at a big price.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies:
1. My Miss Aurelia (5-2)
2. Miss Netta (15-1)
3. Wemissfrankie (4-1)
Undefeated in three starts, My Miss Aurelia had no problem stretching out in her last race, winning the one-mile Frizette (G1) by 5-½ lengths. She’s got loads of gas in a race that doesn’t feature a ton of speed. Expect her to be on or near the lead early and drawing away late. Miss Netta should like the distance and her daddy, Street Sense, won the Kentucky Derby over this strip in 2007.
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf:
1. Nahrain (7-2)
2. Announce (9-2)
3. Stacelita (2-1)
Nahrain is my top pick on Friday’s card! This lightly raced 3-year-old is undefeated in four career starts while competing against some of the top competition overseas. Historically, European Thoroughbreds tend to fare better on the turf than their American counterparts, which makes Nahrain the horse to beat.
Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic:
1. Ultra Blend (8-1)
2. Royal Delta (5-2)
3. Miss Match (10-1)
Ultra Blend looked fantastic on the track Thursday morning and just might be good enough to score the upset. While Royal Delta has impressed the local clockers, I’ll pick her second because Ultra Blend is too consistent to ignore, especially at a juicy 8-to-1. Notice I left 8-to5 morning-line favorite Plum Pretty off my list. Going against older horses for the first time while having to contend with loads of speed in a 1-1/8 mile race is a daunting task, even for this classy Bob Baffert trainee. Noted she won the Kentucky Oaks here in May, but I’d simply want bigger odds on a filly being asked to do so much.
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