Fourteen races over two days in the heart of horse country.
The 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championships are at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky for the second time. It will be different this year because in 2020, COVID-19 had landed and fans were not permitted. Some 45,000 are expected for the two day extravaganza.
The forecast for Future Stars Friday, which offers five juvenile races on the card, is 21 degrees Celcius, sunny, and no precipitation.
Saturday, which has nine Breeders’ Cup races, is expected to be 25 degrees, sunny, 20 percent chance of rain.
Horses are from all parts of the world making handicapping the races all the more complex.
Here are a few suggestions for Friday’s races:
FRIDAY SELECTIONS from Canadian Thoroughbred
RACE 6 – $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; 3 p.m. 5 1/2 furlongs, turf
5 – MISCHIEF MAGIC (Ire) – I will start with a Euro right off the bat. This colt, from the powerful Charlie Appleby barn, should have some good late power in a short dash that will have plenty of speedsters gunning early.
6 – PERSIAN FORCE (Ire) – He was just ahead of the top pick in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last time and Frankie Dettori rides.
2 – LOVE REIGNS – Wesley Ward is the king of 2-year-olds in Kentucky and this filly is 2-for-2 in the US.
7 – OXYMORE – Shortens up from one mile for Chad Brown. He’s a flyer.
*Hoping for Woodbine-based Bushido to draw in as he is as quick as any in the field. Unbeaten Tyler’s Tribe, the Iowa-bred, does not appear to be a lover of grass from watching his works.
RACE 7 – $2 million Juvenile Fillies; 1 1/16 miles
7 – CHOP CHOP – Loved this gal’s big run from far off the pace in the Alcibiades. Brad Cox trains.
10- CHOCOLATE GELATO – won the Frizette in the slop, Todd Pletcher.
8 – ATOMICALLY – recent purchase by Eclipse TBs et al was a monster in Florida, more Pletcher.
11- AMERICAN ROCKETTE – flyer may not have liked the slop in New York.
RACE 8 – $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf; 1 mile turf
5 – PLEASANT PASSAGE – This race is very wide open and I am only leaning to the way of this unbeaten gal from Shug McGaughey’s barn. She has looked super this week.
3 – LAST CALL – Grade 1 winner at Woodbine for Kevin Attard and is improving.
4 – FREE LOOK – second to top pick in the Miss Grillo on yielding grass.
11- G LAURIE – some trouble at Woodbine when third in the Natalma.
RACE 9 – $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; 1 1/16 miles
3 – CAVE ROCK – runs like his daddy Arrogate with low head carriage, unbeaten in three races.
10- NATIONAL TREASURE – stablemate of top pick from the Baffert team.
6 – BLAZING SEVENS – Champagne winner is a beauty.
4 – FORTE – dream run up rail early in Breeders’ Futurity.
RACE 10 – $1 million; Juvenile Turf ; 1 mile; turf
2 – PACKS A WAHLOP – grey colt has been boss on turf in California, Mike Smith rides.
8 – I’M VERY BUSY – Chad brown fellow is a longshot play off less-than-perfect trip in latest.
4 – SILVER KNOTT – Charlie Appleby colt from overseas is tough.
6 – ANDTHEWINNERIS – won the Bourbon at Keeneland with wide rally.
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