Breeders’ Cup Predictions #1

Classic – American Pharoah

I certainly still believe in him however the competition looks very tough.  Beholder is the main challenger in our eyes with Honor Code, Liam’s Map, Frosted, and Keen Ice being all in the mix as well.  How the Triple Crown Champion trains up to this race is going to be very important.  He will have to be in top shape to beat this bunch, and he won’t be running a final prep race.

Turf Mile – Ironicus

Has been a model of consistency and also has been campaigned perfectly with this race in mind the entire time.  His turn of foot is explosive, which is something that’s going to be needed.  With the absence of Wise Dan this race is very much wide open.

Sprint – Runhappy

If he can reproduce that incredible King’s Bishop race I’m not sure anyone can catch him.  I wavered between a good number of horses pointing towards this race, but just believe he’s the most talented of the bunch right now.  This one could change every week…we’ll see.

Turf – Flintshire

Class…he’s got a ton of it!  Last year he ran a very competitive second to Main Sequence in this race, and there is no reason to think he can’t come back this year and win the race.  He’s finished second to some of the greats in the game, but when running at Saratoga last out he DESTROYED the field.

Juvenile – Ralis

It’s a grab bag right now with this race, but Ralis has been the most impressive to me so far.  However, the next two weeks will really tell the story of what might happen with this race.  Stand by…

Turf Sprint – Channel Marker

He may or may not be classy enough to win a race like this, but lets face it at the moment it’s hard to pick any horse in this grab bag of fun.  The prep races for this race will be of supreme importance.

Filly and Mare Sprint – Super Majesty

Love how they brought her to Churchill to prep for this race, and I loved even more how good she looked.  There is no doubt this horse is a sprinter, and could be a top class one at that.  Hollendorfer will have her ready to roll.

Filly and Mare Turf – Sentiero Italia

Consider me to be very impressed with this horses last two efforts.  It’s hard to say if she’ll stay our pick considering we still don’t know what European horses are going to show up.  However, as of now we believe this is the best of the American turf filly and mares.

Juvenile Filly – Songbird

The final preps for the two year old races are obviously very important, but based on Songbird’s last race it looks she is a clear cut favorite for this race.  If she wins her final prep race she might go off as one of the shortest prices of the entire Breeders Cup.

Distaff – Stellar Wind

With Beholder out of this race it become the weakest running of the Distaff in a long time.  Stellar Wind is a horse we’ve both been high on for a long time, and maybe this will be the race she puts it all together.

Juvenile Filly Turf – Illuminate

Looks like she could be a freak…it’s unknown whether she’ll come over from Europe for this race, but if she does she’ll be very tough to beat.

Dirt Mile – Private Zone

The coolest horse in training, but also a horse that is simply fast!  He’ll go straight to the front and carry this group for as long as he can.  With no huge closers lining up to run in this one at the moment I think he can take it wire to wire.

Juvenile Turf – Azar

There are too many unknown’s in this race at the moment to take it too seriously.  Azar broke his maiden in the Grade 2 With Anticipation at Saratoga so he is kind of the pick by default at the moment.