Each week leading up to the 2019 Breeders’ Cup, our picks for all 14 races will be posted. Let’s take a look at our sixth set of predictions for the Breeders’ Cup, which will be held November 1-2 at Santa Anita Park:
Saturday, November 2, 2018
Longines Classic
Pick: Code of Honor
Wow, this race is turning into a mess. Vino Rosso finished ahead of Code of Honor in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), and McKinzie lost to the 25/1 longshot Mongolian Groom in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1). For now, we’ll stick with Code of Honor, who ran extremely well in the Gold Cup and should do even better with a faster pace.
Longines Turf
Pick: Old Persian
This race looks to be setting up well for a European shipper. We don’t know who will end up coming over to run in the race, though, which makes it hard to give a pick. With Bricks and Mortar supposedly pointing towards the TVG Mile (G1), our turf horses look vulnerable. Old Persian has proven form in North America after winning at Woodbine last time out.
Longines Distaff
Pick: Midnight Bisou
She made it seven straight victories with a win in the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. As this point, she looks like a single and is perhaps the most likely Breeders’ Cup winner this year. Her only challenger in this division is Elate, who will be cross-entering in the Classic.
TVG Mile
Pick: Uni
We picked her to beat males in the Fourstardave Stakes (G1), so obviously we’ve been high on her all year long. Her dominating win in Keeneland’s First Lady Stakes (G1) was extremely impressive. There is no doubt that she can compete with this group if her connections decide to give it a shot.
Sprint
Pick: Mitole
The beast returned to form in a major way to dominate the Forego Stakes (G1) last time out at Saratoga. When he’s at his best, he cannot be defeated, but this is a very deep division. He’ll need to show up with a huge effort to get the job done, but a victory here could make him the Horse of the Year.
Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf
Pick: Sistercharlie
The defending champ will look to make it two in a row. This year, she seems to be running better than ever, simply dominating her competition in her first three starts of the year. She looked better than ever with a big win in the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) in her final Breeders’ Cup prep.
Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile
Pick: Omaha Beach
Who knows at this point where Omaha Beach will run. He is under consideration for the Sprint, the Dirt Mile, and the Classic after his amazing Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) win. We believe that the Dirt Mile would suit him best, but he’s a must-use no matter where he ends up.
Turf Sprint
Pick: Eddie Haskell
Even though he lost in the Eddie D Stakes (G2), he still ran very well, despite having a lot to do when entering the stretch. He needs a hot pace up front, which he should get with a full field of sprinters. The loss should make him a decent price as well.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Pick: Covfefe
Even though our previous pick for this race (Come Dancing) won at Belmont Park, we are still changing it. Covfefe was magnificent in her final prep for the Breeders’ Cup, dominating the Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs by 8 lengths. This filly has developed very nicely over the course of her 3-year-old season and could be set up for the best performance of her career in the biggest spot.
Future Stars Friday, November 1, 2019
TVG Juvenile
Pick: Eight Rings
This is one we’ll go back and forth on until the week of the race. Eight Rings was very impressive in his American Pharoah Stakes (G1) victory, even though he was a bit green in the stretch. He’ll have to clean up that kind of stuff in this spot, with Dennis’ Moment still looming large. Maxfield also looks to be a strong contender, making this extremely tough.
Juvenile Turf
Pick: Decorated Invader
An impressive win in the Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine lands this horse as our choice. Even though he broke poorly, he was able to rally for an easy win, showing a solid turn of foot. European shippers always have a say in this race, and we won’t know who is shipping in until a bit closer to the event, but for now, this is the pick.
Juvenile Fillies
Pick: British Idiom
A few weeks ago, Bast looked like a lock in this spot after a big win in the Chandelier Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Then, British Idiom impressively won the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, which makes this division much more interesting. We might waver on this pick, but for now, British Idiom has our full attention.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Pick: Daahyeh
Hopefully, this filly will ship over to run in this spot, which seems to be a little soft at the moment. Last time out, she won the Shadwell Rockfell Stakes (G2) in impressive fashion at Newmarket. She has never been worse than second in five lifetime starts.
Juvenile Turf Sprint
Pick: Four Wheel Drive
His win in the Futurity Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park was impressive enough to think he can win a race of this magnitude. This still seems to be a wide-open affair right now, though, so this is a pick that could change.
