2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday Preview and Tips
Our week got off to a pretty decent start in Australia. The Chosen One ran a cracker for us in the Melbourne Cup at 40/1, landing place money in 5th (advised 6 places). This weekend is a huge one in America as the Breeders’ Cup begins on Friday night at Del Mar racecourse. ITV are showing live races on Friday and Saturday night and there is plenty of UK and Irish interest. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday preview and tips below.
9.50 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 2)
First up on Friday at the Breeders’ Cup is the G2 Juvenile Turf Sprint. A dozen are due to go to post and barring non-runners, five horses from this side of the Atlantic will bring a strong European challenge. From stall 4, I think Vertiginous has solid e/w claims at a decent price. Trained by Brian Meehan, this daughter of Oasis Dream has won just one of her six starts. That’s hardly an awe-inspiring record but she has been learning on the job. It has just taken a while for the penny to drop.
She had a high head carriage and she was green as grass at Bath on her first start (5f gd/fm). She still showed plenty of potential in finishing 2nd. Her next run came in the G2 Queen Mary at Ascot and despite taking a strong hold, she ran a stormer to finish 5th, beat just under 5L. Inexperience again cost her the race at Kempton where she did everything wrong yet still went down only by a neck in 2nd.
Lowther Form
We backed her in the Lowther and I am not sure how she didn’t place. The 6f trip was probably beyond her but Buick eased up close home and she missed out on 3rd by the shortest of short heads. She played the part of bridesmaid again next time at Haydock, the 6f trip finding her out. The first time she did everything right was on her next start at Ayr. We finally saw her show what she threatened to be capable of.
She bounced out in front in that 5f heat and they didn’t see which way she went. It looked like they were closing 2f out but Mulrennan knew what he had underneath him. He just pushed her clear under hands and heels to win going away by 2L. There is more in the tank on the evidence of that display and while that was only a Listed heat, the form of her Group runs in the UK stands up to scrutiny.
Twilight Jet is drawn in 1 and Vertiginous is in stall 4, so it could come down to who breaks quickest. With four places on offer, I am happy to side with Vertiginous at odds of 25/1. And given that they are both so well drawn, I am going to have a small interest on the Vertiginous/Twilight Jet reverse forecast too.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday Tips: Vertiginous e/w @ 25/1 NAP (4 places); Vertiginous/Twilight Jet reverse forecast
10.30 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Dirt (Grade 1)
Just the six runners in this 9.5f dirt heat and it is an all American affair. Favourite backers will be all over three time winner Echo Zulu. The daughter of Gun Runner has looked a machine, winning all of her starts, including G1s the last twice, by a combined total of almost 20 lengths.
However, Juju’s Map looks a promising sort too. She also won a G1 last time out by 4.25L. Hidden Connection looked talented when maintaining her 100% record on her second start, landing a G3 by 9L at Churchill Downs. None of the outsiders really appeal so this is one to sit back and enjoy. Hopefully we see a future superstar get the win.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday Tips: No Bet
11.10 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1)
What a race this could be. Fourteen fillies will fight it out for G1 glory over 8f and a convincing case can be made for most. At the prices, I am going to take a chance on California Angel. This daughter of California Chrome is 2/2 on quick turf. Her sole defeat came when she ran over 6f on the dirt at Churchill Downs. However, this filly needs every inch of a mile and to be fair to her, she did run on well in the closing stages on a surface that didn’t suit her.
The firm ground at Del Mar will be a lot more to her liking. She scored on that sort of surface on her debut at Keeneland. That day, nothing went right. She was slowly away and bumped at the start and she was detached out the back. It looked like the bookies were right pricing her up at 28s after 3f but once she latched onto the field she scythed through the pack. Despite showing greenness, she got up for an unlikely victory.
Upped In Class
Last time out she was upped in class into a Grade 2 at Keeneland. This time she broke better but Rafael Bejerano was in no hurry and he dropped her out. He waited until just before the home turn to make his move but I doubt he planned to come so wide. It didn’t matter though as his filly knuckled down and flew home to win in a photo at odds of 20/1. Considering the extra ground she had to cover and how far back she was two furlongs out, it was some performance.
This filly would be a fairytale winner. She cost just $5,500 at the sales and she has already won over £155k in prize money. Yet again, the bookies have dismissed George Leonard III’s filly and she is as big as 20/1 with one firm. Turnerloose (3rd behind her last time) is a shorter price, probably because she is in stall 4 and California Angel is in the car park in 14. However, even if this filly was drawn in 1 she’d be dropped out and it will be all about how clear a run she gets in the straight. Hopefully she doesn’t meet traffic problems and if she doesn’t, she is capable of going close at odds of 20/1.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday Tips: California Angel e/w @ 20/1 NB (4 Places)
11.50 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Dirt (Grade 1)
Another dirt race, this time over 8.5f for the boys. This race can often throw up shock results and at huge odds, Giant Game could be worth a second look. Trained by Dale Romans, this horse was beat 5.5L into 3rd on debut at Churchill Downs. That form hasn’t worked out but he left the run well behind on his next outing at Keeneland. This time he knew his job much better and he ran out an emphatic winner by 3L. Again, that isn’t the strongest of form but I liked how well he ran through the line and he gave the impression that there was plenty more improvement to come.
This fella is part of the late, great Giant Causeway’s final crop, one of just four he produced. He is bred to be a Group horse and he cost $500k at the sales. His half-brother, Isotherm, was a top class juvenile and he won at G3 and G2 level on the turf. He actually ran in this race but was well beaten on the dirt. Giant Game has already shown he likes this surface and his trainer thinks an awful lot of him. Obviously, he’ll need to step up on his previous form but he is completely unexposed at this trip. At odds of 50/1, a small each way interest is advised.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Friday Tips: Giant Game e/w @ 50/1
12.30 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1)
The final live race on ITV4 this Friday night is the 8f Juvenile Turf for colts and geldings. There has been plenty of European success in this over the years but the Americans have won the last two renewals. Godolphin and Charlie Appleby fire two bullets. Buick rides Modern News, who is the fav, while Frankie is aboard Albahr. The draw gods have been kind and they are drawn in 1 and 2 respectively.
Modern Games landed a G3 last time at Newmarket (7f gd) where he was very impressive. Albahr scored in a G1 at Woodbine on his last outing, scoring by 2.25L. Unlike his stable companion, Albahr is proven at a mile and also in G1 company. Modern Games must outwork him at home as Buick would have the pick but on form, I would prefer the chances of Frankie’s mount.
No Value
Dubawi Legend, a good 2nd behind Native Trail last time at Newmarket, is just 3/1. He was over 4L behind Royal Patronage previously at York and while he clearly has ability, he didn’t exactly look like he was crying out for a mile on his last two outings. Glounthane was well beat behind Hugo Palmer’s charge at Newmarket but he made amends at Leopardstown in a G3 last time out. He beat horses rated 90 and 92 by 0.5L so I don’t think there is much value in the 8/1 offered about him.
Tiz The Bomb heads the home challenge for McPeek and Hernandez. He has won his last two but the one I like chased him home last time at Keeneland. Tiz The Bomb had a lovely position throughout whereas Stolen Base was held up. As they turned in, Umberto Rispoli had to angle out wide and Tiz The Bomb got first run.
Michael Maker’s son of Bodemeister got slightly impeded at a crucial time too so he could have finished even closer than 0.75L behind the winner. Yes, he is 2lbs worse off with that rival but if they both get smooth passages through, I don’t think there will be much between them. Tiz The Bomb is 12/1, while Stolen Base is 25/1. At that price, he has to be worth backing each way.
