HARD NOT TO LIKE (Last 3 Beyers: 86-101-95)
• Sits at 10-1 on the morning line for those willing to forgive her last-out eighth in the Rodeo Drive; that failure aside, she has typically been an honest and high-class performer, winning two Grade 1 races in 2015.

LEGATISSIMO (No Beyers)
• Comes into the race with the best credentials of any overseas raider, having been first or second in six straight races; can handle any type of ground or distance and is well drawn in post 3.

An all-Breeders’ Cup pick four is the highlight exotic wager Friday at Keeneland, beginning in race 6 with the Juvenile Turf, and continuing through the ninth, the day’s big event, the Distaff. As is typical of the Breeders’ Cup races, these are contentious races, virtually necessitating that horseplayers go deep with their wagers. That is the strategy in this corner, anyway.

There is a $1.5 million guaranteed pool for the wager.

:: See Byron King’s pick four play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A second straight day of steady downpours once again put a damper on training hours at Keeneland on Wednesday, with the wet weather forcing many horsemen to alter their training schedules to accommodate the sloppy, sealed track and less-than-ideal conditions for preparing horses just a couple of days out from Breeders’ Cup 2015.

:: BC Clocker: Watch Mike Welsch’s daily video report from Keeneland

Liam’s Map (Last 3 Beyers: 114-113-106)
• Comes off two dynamite performances at Saratoga, winning the Grade 1 Woodward by 4 3/4 lengths four weeks after losing the Grade 1 Whitney by a neck to Honor Code.
• Connections had the option to stretch him out to 1 1/4 miles in the $5 million Classic or cut him back to a mile, a distance at which he is 3 for 3. Owner Vinnie Viola opted for the known rather than the unknown.

Kobe’s Back
Benefitted from hot pace scenario when second in the Santa Anita Sprint, but could well catch a similar setup here, although he’s yet to win a race at six furlongs.

Stallwalkin’ Dude
Comes off his best yet from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint, a 103, when narrowly beaten by Rock Fall in the Vosburgh. He loves the distance, having finished worse than third just once in 10 tries at six panels. Should trip out well from the second flight.

Airoforce (Last 2 Beyers: 80-78)
• Airoforce successfully stretched out from his maiden victory at six furlongs to take the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes, Keeneland’s local prep for this event, at 1 1/16 miles. The Bourbon was run over a course rated “yielding.” With Lexington getting significant rain early in Breeders’ Cup week, he is likely to get a soft course Friday. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The big guns come out on the Saturday card, but there are plenty of European horses of note in the two Friday Breeders’ Cup races to be contested on turf, the Juvenile Turf and the Juvenile Fillies Turf. And with course conditions likely to be good at best and soft at worst, the horses from overseas – more accustomed to running on that type of going than Americans – merit even closer scrutiny.

Juvenile Turf

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland, which will host the Breeders’ Cup on Friday and Saturday, did not change any of its track-maintenance procedures despite a spate of catastrophic breakdowns early in its meet, according to track officials who cited the advice of a renowned surface expert who reviewed the track’s condition and the maintenance crew’s procedures in the wake of the injuries.

Pure Sensation
Has been beaten just once in four starts on grass and will have his hand forced early breaking from the rail with plenty of other speed signed on to his outside. He did show the ability to win from off the pace earlier in his career and should be a major player if jockey John Velazquez can work out a decent trip from the rail.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – American Pharoah got no farther than Barn 62 on Wednesday morning at Keeneland, as the steady rain that has soaked this area for 48 hours left the track sloppy and prompted trainer Bob Baffert to keep American Pharoah inside. Baffert had American Pharoah walk the barn, where it was dry, rather than jog over a sloppy surface, which had been the original plan.

With nice weather forecast for the rest of the week, American Pharoah should be just fine to gallop Thursday and Friday before racing for the final time Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.