Early Breeders’ Cup Bomb Patrol

We still have nearly two full months until the Breeders’ Cup, but that’s no reason we can’t start searching for sneaky longshots who can help make BC weekend a profitable one.  Maybe they can win.  Maybe they can’t.  But sometimes identifying that 20-1 shot who runs 3rd is just as valuable as picking the winner.

Sprint

I’m not saying I think Warrior’s Club is the best sprinter in the land.  I’m not even saying he’s among the top 5.  But he seems to step up and run a big race when you least expect it.  And with the Breeders’ Cup being at Churchill Downs this year, you know his owner, Churchill Downs Racing Club, is going to have him somewhere on the card.  I guess I could see him opting for the Dirt Mile, but he’s really run his best races at 6 and 7 furlongs.  Can he beat Imperial Hint or the big west coast sprinters?  I kinda doubt it, but you never know.  If he makes it into the BC Sprint field, he’ll be on my tickets for sure.

 

Juvenile Fillies

Will everyone forget about Restless Rider?  She hasn’t posted a published workout since the Spinaway so it’s possible she’s on the shelf and I am the last to know.  But her effort at Saratoga was really strong and I suspect she’ll like the added distance of the Juvenile Fillies.

 

Dirt Mile

It feels like this could be the best race of the weekend with so many top horses who may want more than 6 furlongs but less than a mile and a quarter.  Horses like City of Light, Promises Fulfilled, and Firenze Fire come to mind.  But Rally Cry didn’t run badly in the Woodward, and he’s shown real ability in the past.  If Todd Pletcher opts to send him here, I think you have to give him a long look.  Of course, you can just as easily argue that he doesn’t belong on the BC card here or anywhere else.  I think if he shows up, it means he’s ready to put forth his best and he has to be taken seriously at a big price.  He’s run absolutely monster races in the past, and the Classic distance might be a bit far for him.

 

Distaff

She’s a Julie ran a fantastic race in the Alabama.  She was just off the fast pace set by Talk Veuve to Me, eventually caught that one late after Eskimo Kisses ran by them all, and held off Midnight Bisou in the final strides too.  With a more moderate pace and a furlong less distance, She’s a Julie might be one to fill out the exotics in the BC Distaff.  It will be a tough task for sure with the likes of Monomoy Girl, Wonder Gadot, Abel Tasman, and maybe even Elate should that one not go in the Classic.  But with continued improvement, she can make her presence felt.