Breeders Cup Saturday Preview - The Winners Enclosure

Our first selection on Breeders Cup Saturday is superstar filly Gamine.

This 4-y-o broke the track record when landing this event in 2020 and she has continued on an upwards curve since landing numerous Grade 1 & 2 prizes.

The obvious concern is that the classic generation have dominated the race in recent times and her market rival Bella Sofia is the sole representation of that age group.

Rudy Rodriquez’s filly comes into this on a roll having fired off an impressive hat-trick and she is sure to give Gamine a serious test with Luis Saez planning to give her an attacking ride.

Not a race for maximum faith, but we are siding with the proven horse to kick off us off on Saturday.

Next up is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint where eighteen line up for what looks an excellent renewal.

The home team have dominated this event however the overseas horses fought back with Glass Slippers for Kevin Ryan last year and the 5-y-o son of Dream Ahead returns to defend his crown from stall 1, but he faces a tougher test this time around.

Our first selection is Wesley Ward’s Golden Pal.

A 3-y-o hasn’t won this race since Bobby’s Kitten in 2014 but this speedster is unbeaten on the turf in the US and his trainer claims he is the most talented that he’s trained.

He had to get serious at Keeneland last time out but he still picked up to win by around 3l and the form of that race isn’t bad with the consistent Extravagant Kid back in second.

Stall 3 is ideal - if he breaks quickly and gains a lead he will take some catching.

At a bigger price, Kimari looks each-way value given she is certain to be staying on strongly if there is a pace collapse.

This 4-y-o filly hasn’t been seen since April but her trainer will have her spot on for this and her ability to stay 7f may just come into play despite this track often suiting speedier types.

Joel Rosario may decide to play her late and run on into the frame.

The Breeders Cup Dirt Mile sees seven line up to take on Life Is Good (4/5) who holds strong claims on form having won all but one career start which came behind Jackie’s Warrior in a red hot Grade 1.

Although his claims are there for all to see, with the perfect eight on offer we are siding with an each way play on Ginobli, who has impressed twice at this track on his last two starts beating Mr. Impossible and C Z Rocket.

He is battle tested which is a positive as Life Is Good seemed to lack that in his sole defeat and he has a nice draw in 3.

The Europeans and Chad Brown tend to share this event but we are siding with William Mott’s War Like Godess in this year’s renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf.

This 4-y-o filly hasn’t been facing opposition of this level but she has been putting her races to bed in the manner of a smart filly so it would be no surprise to see her take the step up in Grade in her stride.

She has a nice draw in 7 and her strong travelling style will suit this track.

We are siding with the 6/5 favourite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Jackie’s Warrior is one of the most talented racehorses on the planet and he has both natural speed and a willing attitude if this does turn into a battle.

His victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Grade 1 Stakes has worked out exceptionally with the 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 6th all winning next time out and he backed that up himself with a cosy 6l victory at Philadelphia Park.

He is evidently in the form of his life and the yard took this event in 2019.

This is another race the European horses have a good record in and Charlie Appleby’s comments suggest Space Blues is his best chance of the week however he is short enough at 5/2 in a competitive race.

We are sticking with the ‘best of the US’ contingent in Mo Forza for Peter Miller.

Unlike many of his foreign rivals, this horse is proven on ground this quick and he dealt with a couple of today’s rivals when winning in unfavourable circumstances at Santa Anita.

He also won over C&D on his penultimate start and has a nice draw in 6.

Another popular favourite heads the betting in the Breeders Cup Distaff with Fausto Gutierrez’s Letruska currently sitting at around 6/4.

This mare has been a revelation this season remaining unbeaten in her last five starts, however she has had a busy campaign as a result, and we are taking her on with an each way bet on Malathaat.

Todd Pletcher's 3-y-o was an impressive winner of the Kentucky Oaks and having had a light campaign she should be at her peak here.

The Breeders Cup Turf is the most exciting race of the weekend for us Europeans and with Tarnawa and Yibir we feel between the UK & Ireland we have the winners of the race.

Tarnawa landed this event last season, albeit at a different track, and her run style should help her negotiate what isn’t an ideal draw in 13.

She has just had a tough race in the Arc but she has had plenty of time to freshen up since and she had only raced twice prior to that which is a light campaign for a horse of this quality.

Dermot Weld is a master with these types so we are confident he has her A1

As our each way selection we are backing Charlie Appleby’s Yibir.

This gelding has plenty of quirks but he is as talented as any in the race possessing a lethal turn of foot and the fact they sent him to Belmont in September suggests this has always been the target.

Connections believed he was their star 3-y-o heading into the flat campaign and he has a chance to prove he is still up to that level here.

The final and feature race of the weekend is the Breeders Cup Classic where nine line up to compete for over $3.7m in prize money.

For us, this looks a match between the Brad Cox pair, with Knicks Go the likely winner given a soft lead, and Essential Quality the most likely granted a strong pace and competition up at the front end.

Based on the prices we are siding with Essential Quality.

The Godolphin colt is battle hardened and if Knicks Go isn’t still motoring inside the final couple of furlongs he is going to be applying serious pressure under a strong Luis Saez drive.

He has a couple of these beat on previous form and rates the solid option.