Time for the show. All the preliminaries and morning-training prognostications in the books, the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships are ready to roll.
Everything kicks into gear with Future Stars Friday at Del Mar, the appetizer lead-in to Saturday’s main event. Don’t discount the star power on display Friday at the place “Where the Turf meets the surf.” Take a plane, take a train, take a car. And all that.
Five Breeders’ Cup races are on tap, the first going at 2:45 p.m. Pacific/5:45 p.m. Eastern. Wherever you are, you know you’ll watch even if the Juvenile Turf Sprint isn’t what the founders had in mind for American racing’s biggest day.
Who does the team from This Is Horse Racing and The Saratoga Special like on the day? We’ve got all the picks from The Special’s Power Grid handicapping team of John Shapazian, Charles Bedard, Rob Whitlock, Jessica Paquette and Tom Law. Joe and Sean Clancy are back in action, along with Paul Halloran and Alec DiConza. Who comes out on top?
Here are the picks for Friday, November 1 at Del Mar. Be safe out there and good luck.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). $1 million, 2-year-olds, 5 furlongs, turf. Post time 5:45 p.m. ET.
Wow, what a start to this year’s World Championships. Truly worthy of the name with abundance of overseas invaders in the field of 12. The Americans are longshots – Governor Sam being the shortest price at 12-1 on the early line – against the likes of Ecoro Sieg from Japan and Big Mojo, Aesterius and Whistlejacket from Europe. Time to get paid.
Paul Halloran: Whistlejacket, Aesterius, Ecoro Sieg.
John Shapazian: Ecoro Sieg, Governor Sam, Gate To Wire.
Jessica Paquette: Ides Of March, Gate To Wire, Shareholder.
Rob Whitlock: Aesterius, Gate To Wire, Ecoro Sieg.
Alec DiConza: Big Mojo, Shareholder, Governor Sam.
Charles Bedard: Whistlejacket, Ides Of March, Magnum Force.
Tom Law: Governor Sam, Whistlejacket, Ides Of March.
Joe Clancy: Aesterius, Ides Of March, Whistlejacket.
Sean Clancy: Shareholder, Aesterius, Big Mojo.
NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). $2 million, 2-year-olds, fillies, 1 1/16 miles. Post time 6:25 p.m. ET.
A bit of a twist this year with the best from the East taking on the best from the West but also a pair from Japan in Otomena Shacho and American Bikini. Knowing or predicting how those two will perform could hold the key. Otherwise it’s Immersive, 3-for-3 and winner of the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades and Grade 1 Spinaway for Godolphin and Brad Cox, in the expected featured role. Scottish Lassie and Snowyte, 1-2 in the Grade 1 Frizette, complete the stronger East contingent.
Paul: Immersive, Scottish Lassie, Quickick.
John: Immersive, Non Compliant, Scottish Lassie.
Jessica Paquette: Quickkick, Immersive, American Bikini.
Rob: Non Compliant, American Bikini, Quickick.
Alec: Scottish Lassie, American Bikini, Quickick.
Charles: Otomena Shacho, Scottish Lassie, American Bikini.
Tom: Immersive, La Cara, Scottish Lassie.
Joe: Immersive, Scottish Lassie, Snowyte.
Sean: Immersive, American Bikini, Scottish Lassie.
John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). $1 million, 2-year-olds, fillies, 1 mile, turf. Post time 7:05 p.m. ET.
The puzzles continue with loaded deck here led by the unbeaten Lake Victoria for Aidan O’Brien, who also sends out capable understudy Heavens Gate. They top the European group that includes Fiery Lucy and Anshoda. Plenty of American threats to like, including Rusty Arnold’s pair of Totally Justified and Kilwin (both big prices), Thought Process, Scythian and perhaps Nitrogen.
Paul: Lake Victoria, Thought Process, Vixen.
John: Thought Process, Lake Victoria, Nitrogen.
Jessica: Correto, Scythian, Vixen.
Rob: Corretto, Heavens Gate, Anshoda.
Alec: Lake Victoria, May Day Ready, Virgin Colada.
Charles: Lake Victoria, Thought Process, Anshoda.
Tom: Lake Victoria, Nitrogen, Abientot.
Joe: Thought Process, Totally Justified, Lake Victoria.
Sean: Lake Victoria, Totally Justified, Thought Process.
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). $2 million, 2-year-olds, colts and geldings, 1 1/16 miles. Post time 7:45 p.m. ET.
Super salty renewal of the day’s “featured” event with East Avenue, Chancer McPatrick, Jonathan’s Way, Ferocious, Gaming and Citizen Bull all looking like potential winners. Seriously, look at the form of those six and imagine a victory here. Not a stretch. Throw in the Japanese though and it’s another story. But again, how will Shin Believe and Ecoro Azel handle U.S. racing?
Paul: East Avenue, Chancer McPatrick, Ferocious.
John: Jonathan’s Way, Chancer McPatrick, East Avenue.
Jessica: East Avenue, Chancer McPatrick, Ferocious
Rob: Johnathan’s Way, Shin Believe, Getaway Car.
Alec: Ferocious, East Avenue, Chancer McPatrick.
Charles: Gaming, Shin Believe, Jonathan’s Way.
Tom: East Avenue, Jonathan’s Way, Ferocious.
Joe: East Avenue, Jonathan’s Way, Chancer McPatrick.
Sean: East Avenue, Jonathan’s Way, Chancer McPatrick.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). $1 million, 2-year-olds, colts and geldings, 1 mile, turf. Post time 8:25 p.m. ET.
All signs point to European domination of this with major players New Century, Al Qudra, Henri Matisse and Aomori City all with serious chances. New Century already owns a win in North America, that coming last time out in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes over Al Qudra and Dream On. They’re back for more, the latter for trainer Mark Casse. Don’t count out Zulu Kingdom, the winner of his last two in graded stakes, or Japan’s Satono Carnaval.
Paul: Al Qudra, Noble Confessor, New Century.
John: Al Qudra, New Century, Zulu Kingdom.
Jessica: Mentee, Al Qudra, Zulu Kingdom.
Rob: New Century, Zulu Kingdom, Al Qudra.
Alec: Henri Matisse, Al Qudra, Noble Confessor.
Charles: Henri Matisse, Seagulls Eleven, New Century.
Tom: New Century, Dream On, Al Qudra.
Joe: Al Qudra, New Century, Dream On.
Sean: Aomori City, New Century, Al Qudra.
