The high profile two day Breeders Cup meeting gets underway at Del mar on Friday evening and for all racing fans in the UK the good news is that the showpiece occasion is being televised live on ITV4 across both nights.
We have to wait until Saturday for the big one but there is a very good support card on Friday evening. We have gone through the meeting and picked out bets in three races to keep us entertained throughout the night.
9.50 Del Mar: Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Preview
The opening race of the 2021 Breeders Cup is the turf sprint over 5 furlongs where 5 of the 12 strong field hail from the UK & Ireland. Unsurprisingly, for those of you who watch Royal Ascot every year, the US challenge is headed by Wesley Ward who has 3 runners including the front 2 in the market. Averly Jane is the favourite having won all 4 starts to date. Her last win was impressive from the front but this is much harder & she may find it more difficult to dominate, especially from box 8. Her stablemate, Twilight Gleaming, is drawn 2 lower & has solid enough claims after running most recently in Europe, finishing 2nd in the Queen Mary & then winning a Listed race at Deauville.
Betting
However, I cannot resist having a small play on a couple of the British runners. Hierarchy has won a pair of novice events before finishing 3rd in a Kempton Group 3 & then a head second in the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury. He’s versatile with regards to run style so can choose whether he wants to go forward or not from box 5 &, interestingly, has twice run around a bend which is quite unusual for British runners. That should stand him in good stead &, having improved on each of his 4 career runs so far, he looks a nice each way bet.
The second horse I cannot leave out is Go Bears Go. He’s seen the track 6 times winning 2 of his first 3 although his best run was arguably sandwiched in between when finishing an excellent head 2nd in the Norfolk behind champion sprinter Perfect Power. That said, his win in the Group 2 Railway Stakes was pretty impressive too. Since then, he’s finished 3rd & 4th in a pair of Group 1’s before struggling with the 7 furlong trip last time out in the Dewhurst. He has a good draw in 3, the step back in trip should suit, the blinkers go on & a top US jockey is booked so I fully expect him to outrun his odds.
Tips
Back Hierarchy (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 15.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back Go Bears Go (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 19.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back them here:
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11.10 Del Mar: Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Preview
The Fillies Turf over a mile is probably the most open race on the whole Breeders Cup card with bookies going 7/1 the field. The draw is usually pretty important here & it’s tough to win from an outside spot but similarly the lowest 2 stalls isn’t the place to be either. Each of the last 8 winners all won their most recent start too so a horse in form is a must. Pizza Bianca is the current favourite but on all known stats, her defeat last time plus a draw in the inside box puts me off. Koala Princess is hard to ignore but it’s just a question of whether the longer trip will suit & if she can get a good early position from stall 9. Bubble Rock won a Grade 3 last time & must go well for Brad Cox.
Betting
Chad Brown has an exceptional record in this race & runs two here with my main bet being his Consumer Spending. She’s drawn in box 7 & is proven over the trip unlike some of her market rivals. Her run style is to sit off the pace in midfield & that’s the only potential negative but if they go hard up front which I expect them to do, the race could play into her hands. She’s improved run to run &, after finishing 2nd on her first start when getting too far back, she’s won her last 2 with something to spare. Admittedly this is a step up in class but her shrewd trainer wouldn’t be pitching her in here unless he was confident so I’ll take her to add to her trainer’s incredible record in this contest.
I also have a sneaky feeling for Turnerloose. She won her first 2 starts in fine style including a Listed heat before finishing 3rd behind one of today’s rivals California Angel in a Grade 2. However, she was made favourite for that race & ran really well given she was the only one of the front rank that managed to get involved in the finish, the others coming from off the pace. The ground was also softer than she likes so a return to firm ground & with a handy draw in 3, she should go well at a price.
Tips
Back Consumer Spending (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.50 Paddy Power (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back Turnerloose (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 15.00 Betfred (⅕ odds 1-5)
11.50 Del Mar: Breeders Cup Juvenile
Preview
This Grade 1 is run over almost 9 furlongs on the dirt & we have a field of 12 going to post with a warm favourite in the shape of Corniche who is 2 from 2. Again the draw is important so I’m interested in the fact that the front 2 in the market are drawn 12 & 10 whilst the next 2, and the only others trading in single figures, are coming out of 9 & 8. On that basis, I think it’s worth looking at something at a bigger price & that’s backed by the fact that 5 of the 8 winners of this race run in California have started in double figures.
Betting
Pappacap has drawn well in stall 3 & comes here off the back of an excellent 2nd in the Grade 1 American Pharoah finishing behind today’s favourite Corniche but one place ahead of Oviatt’s Class who is much shorter in the betting today. He was also behind another rival in Pinehurst previous to that but it’s not uncommon for tables to be turned at the Breeders Cup. Previous to those runs, he was 2 from 2 including at this track. The step up in trip will suit, he has a good draw & his prominent racing style is another positive so he’s worth an each way investment.
At a huge price, I also want Giant Game onside. He’s seen the track just twice, finishing 3rd on debut before hacking up when stepped up to this trip last time out. Admittedly, he has it to do on figures & form but there have been some very positive reports, especially after the time he recorded in the final 2 furlongs. That showed some potential & from a good stable & with improvement expected on just his 3rd start, he feels like one of the more likely longshots to trouble the judge.
Tips
Back Pappacap (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 26.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back Giant Game (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 29.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back them here:
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