We made it to the end of the Fall Segment and the 2021 Breeder’s Cup at Del Mar. Lots of great races on Friday and Saturday. I could only pick 6 though so let’s have a look.

Race 1: Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint (G1)

• Lieutenant Dan – High speed figs, highest at distance, 3/3 winner this year, 3/3 at distance, 2/2 at Del Mar.
• A Case of You – Bested Glass Slippers in last 2 races, winner last race, 3 wins this year, stakes experience, last 2 races at 5f are a shorter distance than usual.
• Glass Slippers – Beaten by A Case of You last 2 times out, but better over all results for Glass Slippers, 8 3-2-2 at distance, winner last year Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint.
• Golden Pal – Was cruising with 3 wins in a row until 7th place in GB, 6 4-1-0 at distance, winner last race, working out well, stakes experience.

Race 2: Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1)

• War Like Goddess – High speed figs, winner of last 4 races, stakes experience, 3/3 at distance, working out well.
• Love – Overseas G1 stakes winner at 1.5 miles, Aidan O’Brien trained, ran second last race, looks like a good distance horse.
• Loves Only You – Shipping in from Japan, with wins at 1 3/8 and 1 1/4, hard to pick which of the Love horses to win, ran second last race.

Race 3: Breeder’s Cup Mile (G1)

• Mo Forza – Mile specialist with 4 wins at distance in the last 2 years, 6/8 lifetime at distance, 6 3-2-0 at Del Mar, high speed figs, best of the Americans?
• Space Blues – European specialist at distance, winner of last 2, winner 7 of last 10, route specialist.
• Blowout – Winner last race, high speed figs, winner 2 of last 3, 9 4-4-0 at distance, working well.
• In Love – Continuing the Love theme here, might have to daily double with last race, winner of last 3, high speed figs, 4 2-0-1 at distance, has shown improvement in last few starts.

Race 4: Breeder’s Cup Distaff (G1)

• Letruska – Has been dominating the scene lately, winner of last 5 races, winner 4/5 at distance, high speed figs, high percentage jockey.
• Malathaat – Winner of 6/7 lifetime, winner 2/3 at distance, high speed figs, experienced jockey / trainer.
• Royal Flag – High speed figs, winner last race, 5 3-1-1 lifetime at distance, Chad Brown trained, finished on the board in all 12 lifetime starts.

Race 5: Breeder’s Cup Turf (G1)

• Tarnawa – Last year’s winner, winner of 4/5 at distance, will be tough to beat.
• Gufo – Count me in the Gufo camp, winner of 2/3 at distance, high speed figs, would love to get 8-1.
• Tribhuvan – Was winning lots of races before 5th place last time out in the Sword Dancer, high speed fig last race, Chad Brown trained, is he rested enough for another big performance?
• I’m watching out for Sisfahan who finished on the board in all 6 starts, and Yibir who has won his last 2 races.

Race 6: Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1)

• Essential Quality – Had a rough Kentucky Derby but hasn’t missed a step since, winner at distance, high speed figs, working bullets, has strong chance at winning.
• Knick’s Go – High speed figs, winner of last 3, has been the class of the second half in 2021, hasn’t raced distance.
• Hot Rod Charlie – Winner of last 2, high speed figs, 2 1-0-1 at distance, high percentage jockey and trainer, also had a big second half of 2021.
• Max Player – Better at the longer distances, winner of last 2, 6 2-0-1 at distance, will stalk the pace.
• Art Collector – Winner of last 3, high speed figs, gets dangerous jockey Mike Smith, great second half of 2021, I could see this horse win, or falter with an 1/8 of a mile to go.

Wow, lot’s of great races, as you would expect for the Breeder’s Cup. Should be a great day of racing.

See if you can pick better than me in the Pick 6 Challenge.

http://games.scaredycatfilms.com/pick6/index.php