Day two of the Breeders’ Cup is where the championship races come to town. With traditional European interest across the board of turf races, Matty Sutcliffe has picked out five best bets to make your Saturday evening.
7:41 Del Mar – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) – Arizona Blaze 9/2 1pt WIN + Khaadem 12/1 1pt EW 4 places
The European sprinting contingency has been akin to that of a Rubik’s Cube this season in deciphering the Grade 1 puzzles, but there’s no denying that they still hold the edge over the American turf sprinters and this can go to the Europeans once more.
ARIZONA BLAZE is well-berthed in stall three to gain an early prominent position and he belatedly broke his Group 1 duck last time out when comfortably winning the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, fending off stablemate Bucanero Fuerte and She’s Quality who both re-oppose here. That was a dominant performance and it certainly wasn’t out of turn after he was beaten a neck into second in the Commonwealth Cup earlier in the season.
Crucially, he has course and distance form when beaten half a length in the Juvenile Turf Sprint here last season and with his record over this trip now reading 123421101, it would be a surprise to see him not go very close here if backing up that Curragh performance.
I’d also like to chance KHAADEM as this race can favour those coming from off the pace particularly around Del Mar, and it may set up perfectly for Khaadem who rattled home late last time out to win the Grade Two Woodford Stakes at Keeneland under Frankie Dettori. It wasn’t long ago that he won the G1 QEII at Royal Ascot from off the pace and while he’s long in the tooth, he’s clearly still capable of posting high-class form.
9:01 Del Mar – Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Grade 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Main Track) (Dirt) (3yo+) – Nitrogen 7/2 1.5pt WIN
Medaglia d’Oro filly NITROGEN has long been the apple of Mark Casse’s eye, with connections pitching her in deep as a maiden when a two lengths third to Lake Victoria in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Turf last season. She was given the best of trips there, and the way she stayed on suggested there was plenty left in the tank.
Her form since then has rocketed, reading 11111212. Unusually for the American’s, connections switched her to the dirt surface earlier in the year and she bolted up seventeen lengths at Saratoga, confirming her ability to handle the surface.
She was just touched off a nose by the progressive Fionn in G1 company next time out, before breaking her G1 duck on the dirt at Saratoga lowering the colours of the smart 7/5F Good Cheer. She lost little in defeat in her prep for this race in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, just failing to reel in Gin Gin who successfully made all.
She’s a gutsy filly who’s drawn well in stall one to just sit off the pace, and I’d expect she’ll stay covered up until the bend before angling out and kicking for home under Jose Ortiz.
9:41 Del Mar – Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) – Rashabar 25/1 1pt EW 3 places
Brian Meehan has won this with Red Rocks in 2006 and Dangerous Midge in 2010, who were both three-year-olds and RASHABAR looks to have an outsiders chance for a yard who are evidently well versed in the art of preparing one for the Breeders’ Cup.
Remarkably, his sole win in 11 starts came last season when winning the Coventry Stakes over six furlongs and they haven’t quite got the rub of the green with him this season. He made a solid return in the Greenham when second to Jonquil, and his five lengths fourth to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas was also credible.
He stayed on well in the manner of one needing further in the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next time out, and he just bumped into an improving subsequent winner in Royal Dubai next time out. The yard kept him to ten furlongs the next twice and while he again posted credible efforts, the ground had potentially gone against him on both occasions.
I think the step up to 12 furlongs will only bring out further improvement, and given his two best performances arguably came in Grade One company over in France last season, he’ll have no issues travelling over and settling in around Del Mar. He’s an uncomplicated sort with a smart temperament and while he may lack the class of the likes of Rebel’s Romance and Minnie Hauk, there’s little to suggest he can’t improve for these conditions and enhance Brian Meehan’s record in this race.
10:25 Del Mar – Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Main Track) (Dirt) (3yo+) – Journalism 7/1 1pt EW 3 places
JOURNALISM looks to be a standout each way bet in the Classic having never been out of the top two in all of his races. The son of Curlin, who won this race in 2007, confirmed himself as one of the best 3yo’s in America when staying on well to win the Santa Anita Derby in April. He then bumped into the excellent Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby before getting back on track in the Preakness, staying on late to collar Gosger.
He was put in his place again by Sovereignty in the Belmont and the absence of that one here boosts his chances significantly. He again collared Gosger in the Haskell, and while Fierceness beat him three lengths last time out, he was given a dubious ride by Umberto Rispoli. He was held up five lengths off the field throughout and once he made his move on the bend, Fierceness had already kicked clear.
Jose Ortiz takes the ride this time, and while he is tactically versatile, I’d expect him to be closer to the pace. Contrary Thinking will ensure this is run at a good speed for stablemate Sierra Leone which should play into the strengths of Journalism who does tend to need to be delivered late to be seen to best effect.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.