ITV Racing are broadcasting live from the Breeders’ Cup for the first time and the first race that will get us underway this evening is the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Del Mar – Friday
9:50PM: Juvenile Turf
When it comes to sprint races in America you get drawn to what Wesley Ward has entered in the race. He has 3 runners this year and the unbeaten Averly Jane heads the market. She beat Kaufymaker her stablemate who is also entered in this race eased down last time out and I can’t see anyway that she can reverse the form with Averly Jane here today.
The main danger could be the other stablemate Twilight Gleaming, who was second in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. A repeat of that run will definitely put her in the mix, but Averly Jane does look very special indeed.
Ryan Moore rides Armor, who leads the way for British and he is not without a chance. He was a close third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last time out and has also won a Group 3 at Goodwood this season.
Selection – Averly Jane – 5/2
10:30PM: Group 1 Juvenile Fillies
The next race is the Group 1 Juvenile Fillies and this looks an easy race to solve. The unbeaten Echo Zulu has had 3 runs to date and she has already won 2 Group 1s. She looks an absolute superstar and I’m pretty sure she will enhance her reputation here again tonight.
Juju’s Map is the one to likely fill second position. She won a Group 1 at Keenland last time out in great style, kicking clear entering the final furlong. But a lot more will be needed to trouble Echo Zulu.
Selection – Echo Zulu – 10/11
11:10: Juvenile Fillies Turf
The Juvenile Fillies Turf race is up next and it’s a wide-open race. David Loughnane has the Rockfel winner entered in this race, Hello You. He travelled very strongly in the Rockfel beating Cachet, who is also entered in this race. A repeat of that form would see him go very close to winning.
Ryan Moore takes the ride on the French filly Malavath. She has won her last two starts, one of them being a Group 2 at Chantilly. Both of her wins have come on soft and very soft, so the fast ground in Del Mar is not likely to be in her favour.
Pizza Bianca heads the challenge for the home team and she looked very good in her last run, finishing second to Wild Beauty in the Group 1 Natalma Stakes. I think she can take another step forward here and win this race.
Selection – Pizza Bianca – 9/4
11:50PM: TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Jack Christopher was a late non-runner which now gives the race a more open feel to it. Corniche is now the new favourite, but he is not helped by the wide-draw.
Pinehurst is still unbeaten and has won both starts at this track. He is drawn in stall 9 and he is likely to try and get to the front and attempt to make all, like he did last time out.
Selection – Pinehurst – 5/1
12:30:AM: Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf
The last race of the night on ITV is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and the market is headed by the Charlie Appleby trained Modern Games. William Buick takes the ride and he was impressive at Newmarket last time out in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes. The wide-draw won’t help Dubawi Legend, who was second in the Dewhurst Stakes when last seen.
I think Charlie Appleby will win this race with the other horse he has entered, Albahr. He was mightily impressive in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine and he will continue his partnership tonight with Frankie Dettori. I think he will make this his fifth victory in a row.
Selection – Albahr – 6/1
Del Mar – Saturday
7:40PM: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
We kick off on Breeders’ Cup night with the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and Kevin Ryan has a great chance of winning this race. Emaraaty Ana won the Group 1 Sprint Cup last time out at Haydock, beating one of the top sprinters in the UK this season, Starman by a short head.
We also have Golden Pal for Wesley Ward at the top of the market. He was very disappointing in the Nunthorpe at York and I think we can put a line through that run as that was not his true running. Since then, he has won a Grade 2 at Keenland, but he will need to improve again to win this race tonight.
I’m going to take a chance on last year’s winner Glass Slippers, who is also trained by Kevin Ryan. The ride Tom Eaves gave him last year was incredible, sneaking through the gaps to win by half a length and this fast ground will be ideal for him. What an achievement it would be for Kevin Ryan to win this race back-to-back.
Selection – Glass Slippers – 15/2
8:19PM: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Life Is Good should be in a different league to all these in this field. He won a Grade 2 last time out at odds of 1/20, making all the running and coasting home easily.
His main danger his Silver State, who is drawn in stall 1. He was beaten by a head last timeout and he should have won that race, but he was eased up close to line and lost by a head.
Selection – Life Is Good – 8/11
8:59PM: Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf
The Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares’ race is up next, and I think we will get to see the real Love turn up today. Aidan O’Brien has been very bullish in the lead up to this race and he thinks Love will show everyone that she still has that touch of class, which seen her win the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Oaks at Epsom, in her three-year-old season. Her last run at the Curragh should have put her spot on for this race and I think she will take all the beating here tonight.
War Like Goddess can’t be ignored though, as she has won her last 4 starts. She won a Grade 1 last time out in great style, even though she was very keen at the start of the race.
Selection – Love – 4/1
9:38PM: Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1)
Jackie’s Warrior has won 4 of his last 5 starts, ranging from 6-furlong to a mile. I expect him to break fast from stall 2 and go hard and make all the running. He could have a battle on for the lead as Following Sea likes to make the running, so they could both set it up for a hold up horse and get caught late.
That could be Dr Schivel, he has won his last 5 starts and came through the field last time out to win going away, in what looked a visually very good performance, against older horses.
Selection – Dr Schivel – 9/2
10:20PM: Breeders’ Cup Mile
The Breeders’ Cup Mile is one of the best races on the card here tonight and Space Blues heads the field. William Buick is again on board and he comes into this race in brilliant form, after winning the Group 2 City of York Stakes and then the Group 1 Prix de la Foret last time out by 2 lengths.
Mo Forza will be a big danger though, as he has won his last 4 starts and he stays the mile trip very well. I expect him to be coming late to challenge Space Blues, but I think Space Blues will have the speed and the class to win this race.
Selection – Space Blues – 5/2
11:00PM: Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Hot favourite Letruska for Irad Ortiz Jnr has won 9 out of her 14 starts, amassing a huge 1.5 million pounds in prize money so far. She will be extremely hard to beat and will be a lot of punters idea of a banker on Breeders’ Cup night.
Frankie Dettori rides Blue Stripe and she could be the each-way play in this race.
Selection – Letruska – 11/8
11:40PM: Breeders’ Cup Turf
It’s now time for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Tarnawa is back to try and defend her crown, she beat the Aidan O’Brien trained Magical last year in a thriller, staying on strongly to win by a length. She just got beat in the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe last month, and as long as that has not taken to much out of her, she has a really good chance of retaining her title.
David Egan gets another chance on the big stage, as he rides the three-year-old filly Teona for Roger Varian. She was impressive last time out in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp, beating the hot favourite Snowfall by one and half lengths.
Yibir will be ridden by William Buick, who will be hoping to top an incredible season by winning the Breeders’ Cup. Yibir travelled very strongly last time out at Belmont Park and this race has always been the plan for him, according trainer Charlie Appleby. I’m going to stick with him and hope he can make it a great day for Buick and Appleby.
Selection – Yibir – 7/1
12:40
The final race of the night is the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the question is, can anyone catch Knicks Go?
Knicks Go has the edge over the other horses in this year’s field, as he will go hard from the gates and not stop. Any horse trying to go the pace he will go, will surely be affecting their chances of winning the big race. I can’t see any horse getting near him, if he gets into a nice rhythm in-front.
Art Collector could be the main danger, he has won his last 3 starts and improved each time. He will most likely sit just behind the speed and try and catch Knicks Go late, if he is still within catching distance.
Selection – Knicks Go – 5/2