The huge Breeders Cup meeting stateside is upon us and while we have to wait until Saturday night for the big race to take place, there is a perfectly good support card on the opening day of action at Santa Anita on Friday night. We’ve scoured the card and have come up with three bets to keep us interested throughout the course of the evening.
8.52 Santa Anita: Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf
Preview
A mile for this Grade 1 race for 2 year olds on turf sees the Europeans bidding to keep up their good record in the race. Aiden O’Brien saddles the favourite in Arizona but, in a race where an inside draw is key, stall 12 isn’t great. He also has Fort Myers in the race but he’s fared even worse coming out of box 13.
Therefore, it may pay to stick to low drawn US runners and the key bit of form looks like being the Grade 3 Pilgrim where Structor narrowly saw off Andesite by a head. I would expect them to reverse placings here.
Betting
However, the 3rd horse home was the one to take the eye and that is 14/1 shot Our Country. He was just over a length back but was off the pace early and had to come widest of all before finishing well. Previous to that he was given a terrible tactical ride in finishing 4th when sent off favourite for a Grade 2. He’s definitely best judged on his maiden win where he won comfortably by over 5 lengths. The jockey change to a more experienced rider could make the difference and provided he gets a good early position from the inside stall, he’s sure to outrun his odds.
Tips
Back Our Country (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 15.00 Boylesports (⅕ odds 1-4)
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10.12 Santa Anita: Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Preview
The girls’ equivalent is the Fillies Turf where favourites have a poor record and Chad Brown has dominated proceedings with 5 of the last 11 winners. Interestingly, it’s not uncommon to see one from a wide draw land the spoils.
The favourite is Roger Varian’s Daahyeh and she has a major chance on her European form whilst Jessie Harrington has a great shot with Albigna but I’d be worried about the firm ground.
Betting
At a bigger price, I’m sticking with the home trained runners and Chad Brown’s only runner in the race, Selflessly. Let’s get the negative out of the way first; she’s drawn in 13 but, if she can overcome that, she’ll be bang there. She won the Grade 2 Miss Grillo which is the traditional path the trainer takes en route to this and she won that well, staying on in impressive fashion beating Crystalle who reopposes in this but at shorter odds. Our selection is the most lightly raced too and remains open to the biggest amount of improvement. Here’s hoping the draw isn’t the negative some are suggesting.
Tips
Back Selflessly (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 11.00 Betway (⅕ odds 1-4)
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11.03 Santa Anita: Breeders Cup Juvenile
Preview
The last big race of the night is again over a mile for 2 year olds but this time on the dirt and the market has it between 3 runners. I think that’s how it will pan out too.
Eight Rings has won his 2 completed starts by over 12 lengths, the same record (in terms of winning 2 completed starts) as his main market rival Dennis’ Moment. I expect the former to try and lead all the way whilst the latter won’t want him getting an easy go of it. This could lead to a sustained battle between the pair and I’m hoping it tees the race up for our selection.
Betting
That horse is Scabbard who was 2nd behind Dennis’ Moment last time out but ran well enough to suggest he’ll finish closer in this. He had a troubled passage and whilst beaten fair and square, could easily turn the tables with a better ride. This is another where a jockey change may do the trick with veteran Mike Smith aboard. He looks to be a cracking each way bet to nothing with none of the others making any appeal at all.
Tips
Back Scabbard (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 7.00 BetVictor (⅕ odds 1-3)
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