The glamorous Breeders’ Cup meeting takes places at Keeneland racecourse in Louisville, Kentucky across Friday and Saturday.
Both days are brimming with top-class races and a host of UK and Irish hopes are Stateside bidding for success. Our tipster has got selections in all 14 Breeders’ Cup races across both days.
Breeders’ Cup – Friday
7.30 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 2, 5½f, turf)
Wesley Ward’s ability to handle a precocious juvenile is well-documented and GOLDEN PAL is the one to beat here. Nailed late on in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, the Uncle Mo colt had no problems getting on the board at Saratoga in August and has the early speed to dominate if he wants. Stablemate After Five is a live danger.
Selection: Golden Pal @ 6/4
8.10 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America (Grade 1, 1m, turf)
This race has been farmed by European trainers, claiming six of the last nine winners. Again it is a strong hand and while Battleground and New Mandate are much-respected, CADILLAC can get the job done for Jessica Harrington. A soft-ground Dewhurst didn’t go his way at Newmarket but he’s looked very smart on a decent surface and can rubber-stamp his Classic credentials for next spring with a win here.
Selection: Cadillac @ 5/1
8.50 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1, 1m½f, dirt)
Bob Baffert’s Princess Noor is 3-3 and a major threat following on from her easy Grade 2 success at Santa Anita in September but DAYOUTOFTHEOFFICE might be the one to go 4-4. The Timothy Hamm-trained filly toughed into out after cornering with a lead in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park over a mile last month and may be even stronger now upped slightly in distance.
Selection: Dayoutoftheoffice @ 7/2
9.30 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1, 1m turf)
A host of clear chances with Aunt Pearl leading the betting after a smooth success over C&D last month for Brad Cox made it 2-2. She won’t get things easy with Group 1 Prix Morny winner Campanelle in this field under Frankie Dettori for Wesley Ward, though the latter must see the trip out effectively – the same query that hangs over Miss Amulet. PLUM ALI could be the closer that foils them all after impressing in a Belmont Grade 2 en route here.
Selection: Plum Ali @ 5/1
10.15 – TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (Grade 1, 1m½f, dirt)
The main event on day one and hard to get away from the claims of dual Grade 1 winner JACKIE’S WARRIOR for Steve Asmussen and Joel Rosario. He’s been toying with his rivals and swept away from Reinvestment Risk to win at Belmont last time. The improving Sittin On Go might take advantage if there’s a pace collapse.
Selection: Jackie’s Warrior @ 11/8
Breeders’ Cup – Saturday
5.02 – Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (Grade 1, 7f, dirt)
Gamine (third) had Speech (fourth) when suffering the first defeat of her career in the Kentucky Oaks in September and Bob Baffert’s filly is more than capable of bouncing back to winning ways in this contest. BELL’S THE ONE, meanwhile, won the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs over 7f last time with Serengeti Empress and Sally’s Curlin right behind. She may not be done improving and is an each-way alternative to the jolly.
Selection: Bell’s The One @ 11/2
5.39 – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1, 5½f, turf)
Wide open sprinting here with any of Leinster, Imprimis, Oleksandra and Got Stormy – a Group 1 performer over further taking well to this discipline – considered. Glass Slipper represents Kevin Ryan and is also shortlisted but trainer Peter Miller has a stellar record in this contest (won the last three) and maybe first-time blinkers will see TEXAS WEDGE improving enough for place money at a massive price.
Selection: Texas Wedge @ 25/1
6.18 – Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1, 1m, dirt)
The market is headed by Complexity and Knicks Go for Chad Brown and Brad Cox respectively. Both arrive in winning form but three-year-old ART COLLECTOR may give them something to worry about. His winning sequence ended in the Preakness but this test will be more speed-orientated and that plays to his strength.
Selection: Art Collector @ 6/1
6.57 – Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (Grade 1, 1m1½f, turf)
Jessica Harrington’s CAYENNE PEPPER could become the fourth European-trained three-year-old to win this in five years. After playing second fiddle behind high-class rivals like Magical and Tarnawa (leading contenders in the Breeders’ Cup Turf later on this card) she got back to winning ways on Irish Champions Weekend in September with a decisive Group 2 score. She’s drawn wide but everything else sets up well for Shane Foley’s filly.
Selection: Cayenne Pepper @ 9/1
7.36 – Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1, 6f, dirt)
The unbeaten Yaupon is favourite but goes right up in class now and, arguably, C Z Rocket has the best claims for a trainer with a fine recent record in this contest in Peter Miller. FRANK’S ROCKETTE gave weight and a solid beating to some older rivals last time at Belmont. Bill Mott’s filly is on the upgrade and should give the boys a scare.
Selection: Frank’s Rockette @ 10/1
8.15 – FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF (Grade 1, 1m, turf)
American horses have won this eight times in nine years since Goldikova completed her hat-trick. Ivar beat last year’s winner Uni recently in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at this track and heads up the home team but KAMEKO is a major player for Andrew Balding. The 2,000 Guineas winner got back on track last time at Newmarket and should be well-suited by a fast mile on this ground. If Oisin Murphy can poke his head in front in the home straight, they’ll be tough to get past.
Selection: Kameko @ 4/1
8.54 – Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Fillies and Mares’ Grade 1, 1m1f, dirt)
The betting says this is a shootout between 2018 winner Monomoy Girl (3-3 this season after missing all of 2019) and Preakness winner SWISS SKYDIVER. Kenny McPeek spurned the Classic for this race and his up-and-coming filly can make the most of her weight allowance and the best of the draw to score.
Selection: Swiss Skydiver @ 9/4
9.33 – Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1, 1m4f, turf)
A betting market dominated by European runners. Magical and Mogul (both Aidan O’Brien) are leading players, though there are doubts over the former (second in 2018) given the length of her season. Tarnawa looked good last time in France but has lost Christophe Soumillon, a blow for trainer Dermot Weld. LORD NORTH meanwhile gains Frankie Dettori after a rare below-par run in Ascot’s Champion Stakes. John Gosden didn’t come here lightly and the Royal Ascot winner could reward him with a second Breeders’ Cup Turf in three years for the Clarehaven supremo.
Selection: Lord North @ 8/1
10.18 – Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1, 1m2f, dirt)
Bob Baffert has attempted to make this race his own lately and he saddles three of the ten runners. Improbable upset Maximum Security last time in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita and looks the favourite on paper, while Authentic denied TIZ THE LAW in the Kentucky Derby in September.
It’s well documented that Barclay Tagg’s runner has suffered both career losses at Churchill Downs so that run is forgiven. The trainer elected to skip the Preakness in favour of waiting for this, while Authentic had another hard race there in finishing second.
Tiz The Law’s Travers Stakes win at Saratoga in August was a thing of rare beauty and the Belmont Stakes winner can become the fourth three-year-old Breeders’ Cup Classic winner in seven years.
Selection: Tiz The Law @ 7/2
