Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf wagering strategy

The full field for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf is such a well-matched group that it’s difficult to narrow the options down to just a handful of runners. There are 10 stakes winners entered, and of them, seven have accounted for group or graded races. In addition, eight entrants last raced in Europe. It makes for a tough handicapping assignment, but the tradeoff is price. Below is one breakdown on the chief players for the one-mile turf race.

Win candidates

STARTUP NATION should offer value after running fourth in the Grade 3 Pilgrim in his final prep Sept. 28. He was an odds-on favorite after winning the Grade 2 With Anticipation and had an inside trip that jockey Joel Rosario felt was intimidating to the horse, trainer Chad Brown said. Startup Nation broke from post 2 but will start from post 10 Friday. He also owns this division’s best Beyer Speed Figure and was flattered after the With Anticipation when the runner-up International Star returned to take the Grade 3 Grey.

HOOTENANNY has much in his favor. He’s won in both North America and Europe and proved effective at this level when second as the favorite in the Group 1 Prix Morny in his last start Aug. 24. Hootenanny has since trained up to the Breeders’ Cup and in his stateside return will be back on Lasix. The question here is distance, as he’s making his first start beyond six furlongs. On the flipside, he could get an ideal trip tracking Luck of the Kitten, keeping up out of traffic in the large field Friday.

WAR ENVOY has placed in three group stakes and last out was a close fifth in the Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere. For this trip, he will be first Lasix.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2014: Post positions, comments, and odds

To use underneath

CONQUEST TYPHOON was making his two-turn debut last out when second in the Grey, and after the race, his trainer, Mark Casse, noted the horse carried 10 more pounds than a number of his rivals. Conquest Typhoon is shortening up some to the distance of his win in the Grade 2 Summer. Suspect he might get a stalking kind of trip with the turnback of sorts.

IMPERIA can take full advantage if there is a pace meltdown. He won his maiden with a flourish in the Pilgrim. Note the race was his first on Lasix.

LAWN RANGER pulled an upset in the Grade 3 Bourbon and would seem to have reason to move forward as he will be first Lasix.

DADDY D T has been facing such quality runners as American Pharoah and Om.