One of the most important days regarding Breeders’ Cup prep races happens on Saturday. Over at Aqueduct, the Grade 1 Champagne and the Grade 1 Woodward take place. Then at Santa Anita, it’s the Grade 1 Awesome Again. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, October 1st. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Horse Racing Odds, Picks, and Betting Analysis | September 26th Edition
Aqueduct | Saturday, Oct. 1
Grade 1 Champagne – 1 mile dirt – 2 year olds
Grade 1 Hopeful winner Forte leads a strong field into the east coast’s top prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Todd Pletcher runner will go off the favorite.
Brad Cox trained Verifying and Gulfport from the Steve Asmussen barn will also attract action. Andiamo a Firenze, Blazing Sevens, Free Soul, and Champions Dreams should also run.
Grade 1 Woodward – 1 1/8 miles dirt – 3 year olds & up
Pletcher trained Life Is Good will enter the Woodward starting gate a less than even money chalk. It will be very difficult for any of Life Is Good’s challengers to beat the monster front runner.
Robertino Diodoro puts the saddle on Thomas Shelby. Connections for Twilight Blue, Law Professor, and Informative plan on running their horses.
Santa Anita | Saturday, Oct. 1
Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship – 1 ¼ miles turf – 3 year olds & up
Connections for 10 horses plan on running their charges in the Grade 2 John Henry. Trainer Phil D’Amato will saddle four: Cash Equity, Prince Abama, Cathkin Peak, and Gold Phoenix.
Trainer Neil Drysdale will have a couple of runners in the John Henry, Breakpoint and Viejos Tiempos. Tropical Terror, Dicey Mo Chara, Avenue, and possible chalk Beyond Brilliant should also break from the starting gate.
Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship – 6 furlongs dirt – 3 year olds & up
Seven runners are likely for the Sprint Championship. Forbidden Kingdom, from the Richard Mandella barn, projects as the race favorite.
Peter Miller trained duo None Above the Law and CZ Rocket should go off second and third choice. Todo Fino, Super Ocho, and Principe Carlo will also run.
Grade 2 Eddie D – 6 ½ furlongs turf – 3 year olds & up
The Eddie D is this weekend’s most popular graded stakes race. Already, trainers for 14 have said they plan on running their equines.
No doubt, the two favorites will be Gregorian Chant from the Phil D’Amato barn and Steve Miyadi trained Lieutenant Dan. Other name runners include Lane Way, Nero, and Air Force Red.
Grade 1 Awesome Again – 1 1/8 miles dirt – 3 year olds & up
Because John Sadler will train Flightline up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, this week’s Awesome Again Stakes is wide open. Country Grammar, Tripoli, Royal Ship, and Express Train lead a decent field in the Grade 1 Awesome Again.
Bob Baffert, who trains Country Grammar, will also saddle High Connection and Azul Coast. Doug O’Neil plans on running Slow Down Andy. Make sure to handicap every horse before deciding on the winner.
Updated 2023 Breeders’ Cup Morning Line
Horse | Odds |
---|---|
City Of Troy | +188 |
Fierceness | +450 |
Forever Young | +550 |
Sierra Leone | +800 |
Highland Falls | +1200 |
Tapit Trice | +1200 |
Seize The Grey | +1600 |
Ushba Tesoro | +1600 |
Subsanador | +1600 |
Muth | +2000 |
Arthur's Ride | +2000 |
Newgate | +2000 |
Mystik Dan | +2500 |
Derma Sotogake | +2500 |
Saudi Crown | +3300 |
Mindframe | +3300 |
Senor Buscador | +3300 |
Dragoon Guard | +4000 |
Post Time | +5000 |
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Del Mar Racetrack Horse Racing Betting Picks for 2021 Breeders’ Cup
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It’s that time of the year again, the 2021 Breeders’ Cup. North American horse racing’s biggest day will attract the top trainers, jockeys, and equines to Del Mar Racetrack in Southern California. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Breeders’ CuP for Friday, Nov 5 and Saturday, Nov 6. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Betting Update & Picks
2021 Breeders’ Cup
When: Friday, Nov. 5 – Saturday, Nov. 6
Future Stars Friday
When: Friday, Nov. 5
Top horse to back – JuJu’s Map in the BC Juvenile Fillies
It will be tough to beat Echo Zulu. The Gun Runner sired and Steve Asmussen trained miss is undefeated after three starts. She broke her maiden by 5 ½ lengths. She won the Grade 1 Spinaway in her second race by 4 lengths.
But Echo Zulu hasn’t faced a runner as talented as JuJu’s Map. The Brad Cox trained miss won the Grade 1 Alcibiades going 2 turns. She can upset the 4/5 morning line chalk.
Top Friday favorite to stay away from – Jack Cristopher in the BC Juvenile
Consider not backing Jack Cristopher to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Make no mistake, the 9/5 morning line runner looks like a great horse. Jack Cristopher won the Grade 1 Champagne by 2 ¾ lengths.
But Cristopher is in tough. Corniche may not pose a problem since he breaks from post 12. Stablemates Barosa and Pinehurst could.
Todd Pletcher’s Commandperformance, who finished second to Jack Cristopher in the Champagne, has a shot to turn the tables.
Right now, Commandperformance looks like the best play. The most important thing? Do your homework before dumping on Jack Cristopher.
Saturday – Breeders’ Cup Championship Day
Most difficult race to handicap – Breeders’ Cup Mile
Charles Appleby trained Space Blue is 3/1 on the morning line. Second choice is Mo Forza from the Peter Miller barn.
Between the two, Mo Forza is probably the better play since the Uncle Mo sired runner has won 4 straight and a couple of the wins were at Del Mar. But it’s impossible to back Mo Forza if the horse goes off at odds lower than 5/1.
Like every year, the Breeders’ Cup Mile field is deep. Don’t take short odds on any horse.
Most likely winner – Tarnawa in the Breeders’ Cup Turf
2020 Breeders’ Cup winner Tarnawa is 9/5 on the morning line. If a runner like Very Eleegant were in this race, we might say play against. But Very Eleegant won the Melbourne Cup this week, which means she won’t run for smaller potatoes in the BC Turf.
Tarnawa, who finished second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in her last, should dominate this field. Second choice is Domestic Spending, who didn’t win his last race.
It’s easy to overthink a race. Sometimes, though, it makes sense to go with the best horse in the race no matter the odds. Tarnawa in the BC Turf is that horse.
Breeders’ Cup Sprint Picks
Jackie’s Warrior looks impossible to beat. However, the Steve Asmussen superstar sprinter has already raced in some seriously tough races this year.
Don’t expect Jackie to get an easy lead. Trainers know the only way to beat the Asmussen charge is to go after him early. If a speed duel develops, it should set up for Wayne Catalano trained Aloha West.
Jackie should hang on to finish second. Special Reserve is in excellent form and can get a piece.
- First: Aloha West
- Second: Jackie’s Warrior
- Third: Special Reserve
Breeders’ Cup Distaff Picks
Letruska is an 8/5 morning line chalk. There’s a chance she goes off at 6/5 or even money. No doubt, she can win this race, but there’s a ton of speed signed onto this.
Shedaresthedevil and Horologist will go after Letruska early. Royal Flag won the Grade 2 Beldame by 4 ¼ lengths. She’ll be in a great position to run past the the leaders.
Bob Baffert trained Private Mission has turned into one of the best 3-year-old fillies in the U.S. She has a chance to beat her elders and take the Distaff on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if the Baffert runner challenges Royal Flag to the wire.
Malaathat is another terrific 3-year-old filly. She won the Grade 1 Alabama at 1 ¼ miles in her last. If she’s improved, and there’s no reason to believe she hasn’t, like Private Mission and Royal Flag, Malathaat can win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
An exacta box with Flag, Mission, and Malathaat might be the optimal play.
- First: Royal Flag
- Second: Private Mission
- Third: Malathaat
Breeders’ Cup Classic Picks
Most believe Knicks Go wires this field. But the Brad Cox trained speedster has never won at 1 ¼ miles. The final 1/8 mile could send Knicks Go back peddling out of the top three.
Max Player has great cruising speed and a wonderful turn of foot. The Steve Asmussen trainee has won two straight Grade 1 races at 1 ¼ miles.
Hot Rod Charlie is fast enough to challenge Knicks Go early. Hot Rod almost held off Essential Quality in the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes. Give the O’Neil trainee a big chance to round out the exacta
Essential Quality has a single blemish on his stellar record, a third place finish in the Kentucky Derby. The Brad Cox trainee can win this for sure. But Quality must run down Hot Rod and get past Max Player. That won’t be easy.
- First: Max Player
- Second: Hot Rod Charlie
- Third: Essential Quality
Top Stakes Races for the Week: Final Prep Races for Breeders’ Cup
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This weekend, the final prep races for the Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships happen. All graded prep races take place at Belmont Park. On Saturday, the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Grade 2 Vosburgh take place. Then on Sunday, Belmont runs the Grade 3 Knickerbocker, Grade 3 Futurity, and Grade 2 Beldame.
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Top Stakes Races for the Week
When: Saturday, Oct. 9 – Sunday, Oct. 10
Belmont Park | Saturday, Oct. 9 – Breeders’ Cup Prep Races
Grade 3 Matron Stakes – 6 furlongs turf – $150,000
At least eight fillies will run in the Matron. Among the eight, Bubble Rock, trained by Brad Cox, and Cristophe Clement trained The Club should attract the most attention. Michael Stidham runner Kit Keller, a last out maiden winner, will also get some play.
Grade 2 Vosburgh – 6 furlongs dirt – $250,000
Two-time winner and Todd Pletcher trained Following Sea finished third in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial in his last. The Runhappy sired colt couldn’t catch monsters Jackie’s Warrior and Life Is Good. On Saturday, Following Sea faces a field he can handle, which should make him one of the favorites.
Jalen Journey, trained by Steve Asmussen, could go off the chalk. Other contenders include Firenze Fire, who finished second in the Grade 1 Forego in his last, and undefeated Baby Yoda from the Bill Mott Barn.
Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – 1 ½ miles turf – $500,000
Belmont’s Saturday feature, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic almost always produces a Breeders’ Cup Turf contender. Gufo, Channel Maker, Japan, and Arklow are just a few of the name horses hoping to take the winner’s share of the $500,000 prize.
Belmont Park | Sunday, Oct. 10
Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes – 1 1/8 miles turf – $150,000
Todd Pletcher could saddle a couple for the Knickerbocker, En Wye Cee and No Word. Chad Brown will put the saddle on Sacred Life and Claude “Shug” McGaughey will go with Breaking The Rules.
Grade 3 Futurity Stakes – 6 furlongs turf – $150,000
Five horses are confirmed for the Grade 3 Futurity. Among the five, Todd Pletcher trained Midnight Worker figures to go off the favorite. The Outwork sired runner broke his maiden going 6 furlongs on the lawn. Other contenders include Run Curtis Run from the Mike Maker barn, Juan C. Vasquez trained Dance Code, and two trained by James Chapman, Ready to March and Emma’s Waltz.
Grade 2 Beldame Stakes – 1 1/8 miles dirt – $250,000
This year’s final Breeders’ Cup prep is for the BC Distaff. Both Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher will saddle a couple. Brown’s two runners are Royal Flag and Gold Spirit. Pletcher will send Thankful and Spice is Nice to the starting gate. Bajan Girl and the 2020 Beldame winner, Horologist, should round out the field.
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