Once the UK horse racing action concludes all eyes will descend on America for the second day of the Breeders Cup meeting, a night where the main event is run with a wonderful card to support it. It is always one of the best nights of the racing calendar and we are attacking it with a number of bets throughout the evening including in the big race itself.
6.55 Santa Anita: Filly & Mare Sprint
Preview
9 go to post for this 7 furlong race, classed as a sprint in the US, on the dirt. It is arguable whether a wide draw is advantageous here as there’s a long run to the turn and, on past runnings, older horses hold sway.
Come Dancing has won 4 of her 5 this season with only Distaff favourite Midnight Bisou having beaten her but this is her first start outside her home state. Covfefe is very well fancied but has a worrying inside draw. She’s a 3 year old and is 2 from 2 over this trip so cannot be dismissed.
Betting
The selection is Spiced Perfection, a 4 year old who is drawn 9 and won a key trial, the TCA, last time out. That day, she finished well after stumbling out of the stalls and it was also her first start since May. She’s a winner of 4 of her 6 starts including 2 Grade 1s and has been laid out for this. Her trainer had 2 runners on Day 1 of the Breeders Cup, they both finished in the frame, placed at 66/1 and 40/1 so the yard is in decent nick. She looks to hold a very good each way chance.
Tips
Back Spiced Perfection (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 Betfair Sportsbook (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
8.10 Santa Anita: Dirt Mile
Preview
The dirt mile has a field of 10 runners where tactical speed is important given there’s a short run to the first bend. Surprisingly, very few come here off the back of a win and it’s not been the best race for favourites.
The favourite here is Omaha Beach, a 3 year old that’s won his last 4 including 2 Grade 1s over trips of 6 furlongs and 9 furlongs. He’s very versatile but that could prove his downfall. Mr Money has won 4 on the spin but narrowly failed when stepped up to Grade 1 company last time out whilst Improbable is well fancied but has only won 1 of 6 this year; that was in Listed company.
Betting
At a bigger price, it is worth chancing Diamond Oops. He easily won a Grade 3 3 starts ago over 6 furlongs and has since been 2nd twice in Grade 1 company. He was 2nd to Imperial Hint over 6 furlongs on dirt (in front of Sprint favourite Mitole) before narrowly behind Bowies Hero over this trip of turf. This is his first try over this trip on dirt and that could eke out more for a horse that is improving all the time. With question marks over the market leaders, he could go very close.
Tips
Back Diamond Oops (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 21.00 Boylesports (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
8.54 Santa Anita: Filly & Mare Turf
Preview
10 furlongs for this Grade 1 turf event for the girls sees Sistercharlie a very warm order for the home team. She’s won her last 7 Grade 1s this year and looks rock solid. The only doubt is that she very rarely wins by far so she may get edged out.
This has traditionally been a good race for the Europeans and the O’Brien family saddle 3. Joseph has Iridessa who was originally going for the Mile but diverts here after the defection of Magical. Aiden’s main hope is Fleeting who has had a good season but has struggled to get her head in front. She was 5 lengths behind Sistercharlie in August.
Betting
Villa Marina is one of 2 selections in this and she’s a French raider that has twice finished in front of Fleeting this year. She goes well on soft but there’s a likelihood she could be better on firm, being out of impressive Arc winner Peintre Celebre. She has progressed rapidly this season, winning her last 3 over this trip including the Group 1 Prix De L’Opera last time out. French trained and French ridden, it’s the combo’s only runner of the whole meeting and, with more improvement expected, she’s going to be in the mix.
The 2nd bet is US challenger Vasilika who has won 9 of her 12 starts including all 6 here. On her most recent defeats, she’s been noted as staying on best of all and, having been campaigned at mainly a mile, this step up in trip could be the making of her. 18/1 looks a huge price with a lack of serious contenders in this.
Tips
Back Villa Marina (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-3)
PLACED – Back Vasilika (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 19.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
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10.20 Santa Anita: Mile
Preview
A good race for the Europeans where 14 runners go to post. Speed is a definite asset here and whilst a Group 1 win last time out is a positive, a last time out defeat isn’t. Fillies have a terrific record in this race.
Circus Maximus is the favourite, from the Aiden O’Brien yard, but he’s sure to be outpaced here. Uni is the leading US hope and she is very speedy, shown when winning impressive on her last start but she was only 3rd to market rival Get Stormy 2 starts ago.
Betting
It is that rival, Get Stormy, who gets the vote here. She comes here fresh having been laid out for this and also brings solid form to the table. She’s won 2 of her last 3, a Listed race and then that Grade 1 in front of Uni, both in impressive fashion. Uni is 2lbs better off today but has almost 3 lengths to make up. On her last start, she was beaten into 2nd by El Tormenta but she went off too fast, travelling sweetly but came too wide and ultimately her tank emptied. Given a more sensible ride here, she’s the most likely winner and is one of just 2 runners today for her excellent trainer.
Tips
PLACED – Back Get Stormy (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 6.50 Coral (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
11.00 Santa Anita: Distaff
Preview
Another race for the girls and the Distaff is usually one of the races of the meeting. 9 furlongs, 11 runners and a race where it pays to focus on the front 3 or 4 in the market although the record of favourites is questionable.
Midnight Bisou is a very warm order after winning all 7 this year including 5 Grade 1s. She’s hard to beat but it’s worth looking elsewhere when considering the favourite’s record in this. Blue Prize was 4th in this last year and has a chance but has the widest draw whilst Dunbar Road is another in form but was 3rd to Blue Prize on her most recent start.
Betting
Instead, Paradise Woods is favoured at a good each way price. She goes well here and is a winner of 2 Grade 1s. She won a Grade 2 at this track by 10 lengths back in April but followed that with a pair of defeats. One defeat can be put down to a stumble from the stalls and the other when misjudging the pace. She was then kept off the track until the end of September when she won a Grade 2 here under this jockey (his first ride on the horse). She was impressive that day and provided she can get a good early position from her inside draw, a big run is on the cards.
Tips
Back Paradise Woods (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Betfair (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
12.44 Santa Anita: Classic
Preview
The final race on the card is the Classic over 10 furlongs with a field of 11 bidding to land the big one. It is hardly a classic Classic and looks very open so the angle has to be one of value each way plays.
The front 3 are McKinzie, Vino Rosso and Code Of Honor. McKinzie has stamina doubts, Vino Rosso beat Code of Honor last time out but was 3rd to McKinzie the time before. It’s hard to split the 3. Yoshida is very consistent but hasn’t won in 6 starts so 6/1 isn’t exactly a value price and Elate is in good form but now takes on the boys for the first time.
Tips
Higher Power is the first selection and he was as impressive as any of these runners when winning a Grade 1 2 starts ago, stepped up to this trip. A repeat of that will see him go very close. His last run can be forgiven as he lost all chance at the start stumbling badly and then didn’t settle off a slow pace. He did travel well throughout but there was nothing left when asked to pick up.
War Of Will cannot be discounted either. He won the Preakness early this year but has been beaten 3 times since. On his Preakness form, he has solid claims and his draw in 4 is a good one considering his prominent running style. His best run since that Grade 1 win was in his prep so a return to form is on the cards and that, coupled with first time blinkers, may put him in the shake up at a huge price.
Tips
PLACED – Back Higher Power (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back War Of Will (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 26.00 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-4)
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