We have finally reached the biggest day of the year in the world of horse racing, Breeders' Cup Saturday.
We have nine Breeders' Cup races with the first post at 10:50 a.m. ET and culminating with the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic, set to go off at 5:40 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into the action and see where we are going to make some money.
Ready to place your bets on the 2022 Breeders' Cup? Head over to TwinSpires now!
Race 3:
The Pick: #13 Echo Zulu (6-1) has won five of six lifetime starts. Her only loss came on a wet fast track in the Kentucky Oaks going a mile and an eighth. She won first off the layoff last time out, and while she has plenty of speed, coming from the outside she will be able to sit an ideal stalking trip, if she so chooses. While this is her first time facing older horses, there don’t appear to be any world beaters in here.
Underneath: #8 Goodnight Olive (3-1) stepped up into stakes company last time out and showed that she belongs. She’s won five straight coming in and has made new top Beyers in each of her three starts as a four-year-old. If she’s able to continue that trend, she could put this field away, and her work tab suggests she’s ready to go.
#7 Obligatory (8-1) made a huge move going into the turn last time out but was bumped and forced extremely wide before finishing with interest. She has a great late kick, which should benefit her given the pace that appears to be signed on.
Race 4:
The Pick: #8 Golden Pal (2-1) is a perfect four-for-four at Keeneland and is trying to win three consecutive Breeders' Cup races. While he may be the fastest out of the gate, he did show that he doesn’t need the lead when he won two back at Saratoga.
Underneath: #1 Creative Force (10-1) hasn’t won yet as a four-year-old, but trainer Charlie Appleby is phenomenal in getting his horses ready for their biggest tests and even more so when shipping to the U.S., where he’s winning at greater than a 50% clip. Creative Force has shown that he can be versatile, which will bode him well in here between the post and other speed.
#6 Highland Princess (7-2) was originally my top pick, but after watching the way that The Platinum Queen fell flat on Friday, I’ve downgraded her. She still stands a big chance in here and must be respected coming in winning five of her last six starts.
#7 Arrest Me Red (15-1) is another Wesley Ward trainee. He’s an extremely consistent runner who will most likely be closing late. He loves the distance, winning three of his four starts. While he’s only won one of his last four starts when being favored in each of them, had he won at least one of those, his price in here would be half of what it is today.
Race 5:
The Pick: #9 Cyberknife (9-2) chose to run here instead of the Classic. They clearly want to win, and this is a much easier spot for him than the Classic. He is versatile enough that regardless of where he is, he should be able to work out a nice trip. Cyberknife has been training really well since his last start, topped off with a bullet work last time.
Underneath: #3 Pipeline (8-1) has taken a nice step forward in his four-year-old season, with two of his three starts returning Beyers over 100. Last time, he pressed Jackie’s Warrior (who we will see later today), before they were both run down by #7 Cody’s Wish. Between his post position, running style and short run into the first turn, Pipeline looks to be very dangerous in this spot.
#5 Gunite (7-2) is the only horse in the field that has a win over this Keeneland track. His running style fits very nicely in this spot; he should be able to sit an ideal stalking trip with a number of others who look like they want the lead. He’s put some serious speed figures in his last four, so the only concern is can he continue to move forward or will he bounce off those efforts?
Ready to place your bets on the 2022 Breeders' Cup? Head over to TwinSpires now!
Race 6:
The Pick: #4 Above the Curve (9-2) comes in off a solid third in a Group 1 over in France. She ran a great stalking trip and just didn’t have the late kick, but that was over a yielding turf course. While there is some rain in the forecast, she has run her best races over a good turf surface, which she should get today. That in combination with her stalking style will allow her to turn the tables on her foe #3 Nashwa.
Underneath: #3 Nashwa (5-2) ran a winning race first off the layoff last time out, just to get beat in deep stretch. She’s never run a bad race, hitting the board in all seven of her starts. If she’s able to take a step forward second off the layoff, she will be a lot to handle here.
#11 In Italian (7-2) has the only win over the Keeneland turf in the field. She has one way to win and that’s to go to the front and not look back. She’s continued to improve her speed figures in each start and is another one who has never missed the board in her career.
#8 Family Way (20-1) hasn’t won since April but hasn’t run a bad race, either. She just missed in both of her last two starts and has a great turn of foot. She will need to work out a trip and hope for a speed duel up front, but if both of those happen she will be flying late.
Race 7:
The Pick: #9 Jackie’s Warrior (4-5) is one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He’s won twelve of his seventeen career starts and four of five at the distance. No one in this field is as fast as him, so as long as he breaks well, he will win.
Race 8:
The Pick: #8 Regal Glory (6-1) showed that she can run with the boys when she finished second two starts back. She has shown versatility in her running style, which gives her options in today’s race. She loves to win and has proven she’s ultra-consistent, winning over 50% of her 21 career starts. Her connections chose this spot over the filly and mare turf, which is yet another positive sign.
Underneath: #11 Annapolis (10-1) is another one who has shown versatility in running style. He has five wins from seven starts, including two wins from three starts at today’s distance and is a perfect one for one at Keeneland. Trainer Todd Pletcher had an outstanding fall Keeneland meet and looks to build off his big win with Forte yesterday.
#14 Domestic Spending (8-1) is the biggest question mark in the race. He comes in off a year plus long layoff, but if any trainer can get his horse ready to fire, it’s Chad Brown. If it weren’t for the layoff, he would be half the price on the morning line. Other than the layoff, he’s going to have to overcome the outside post, but with his running style, that shouldn’t be as big of a factor. If he’s fresh and ready, he will be dangerous.
Race 9:
The Pick: #1 Malathaat (3-1) looked like she was going to be the winner coming out of the turn in this race last year, but she just couldn’t get there at the wire. The good news for her is that she comes back to a track in Keeneland which she loves; she’s a perfect three-for-three here. The rail draw isn’t ideal, but it shouldn’t be too much for her to overcome.
Underneath: #6 Nest (9-5) has looked like an absolute freak since running against the boys in the Belmont. She’s won her last three starts by a combined 24.5 lengths. This will be only the second time against older horses, and in her last start, I’m not sure she faced much in the way of competition. She should be able to sit an ideal stalking trip in this spot. She stands a big chance.
Race 10:
The Pick: #7 Nation’s Pride (7-2) shipped over to the US this summer for trainer Charlie Appleby. He’s run three races stateside, winning his most recent two. He has looked very professional in both of those starts, but will be stepping up a bit in class today. Appleby’s top jockey, William Buick, gets aboard, and it seems like all they do is win when they team up, winning eight out of 10 starts together in the U.S.
Underneath: #2 War Like Goddess (9-2) is the lone mare in the race. She’s facing the boys for the second time in her career, winning her first try last time out. She loves Keeneland winning both of her career starts and it seems like all she does is win regardless of where; she’s won 9 of her 12 career starts. Jockey Joel Rosario is one of the best in the business and always seems to put his horses in a position to win.
#5 Rebel’s Romance (3-1) comes in looking for his fifth win in a row. The other Appleby trainee is a perfect four for four on the turf. I don’t love the price or the fact that Appleby’s #1 rider lands on Nation’s Pride, so demand a price, but don’t be surprised if he wins.
Race 11:
The Pick: #6 Epicenter (5-1) is the top three-year-old in the country. He’s been favored in each of his last five starts, winning four of them. He ran a winning race in the Derby only to be bested by a once in a lifetime performance from #8 Rich Strike. Epicenter has shown an explosive turn of foot in the stretch, which when you pair that with his stalking style makes him very dangerous.
Underneath: #4 Flightline (3-5) might be the greatest racehorse of this generation and some might make the argument of all time. With that being said, some might wonder why he’s not my top pick. He’s lightly raced, has never truly been tested or asked and this is the first time he’s shipping out of California. That said, I would not be surprised if he won.
Bets:
R3:
Exacta Box: 7,8,13
Pick 5: 7,8,13 / 1,6,7,8 / 3,5,9 / 3,4,8,11 / 9
R4:
Exacta: 8 w/ 1,6,7
R5:
Win: #9 Cyberknife
Exacta Box: 3,5,9
R6:
Win: #4 Above the Curve
R7:
Pick 5: 9 / 8,11,14 / 1,6 / 2,5,7 / 4,6
R8:
Win: #8 Regal Glory
Double : 8 / 1
R9:
Win: #1 Malathaat
R11:
Win: #6 Epicenter
Ready to place your bets on the 2022 Breeders' Cup? Head over to TwinSpires now!
