With American Pharoah out of the Juvenile, the focus of the race shifts toward the East Coast and specifically to the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, who sends out two top contenders in DAREDEVIL and CARPE DIEM. Of the pair, Daredevil may have the most potential coming off a Champagne victory in which he absolutely cruised to victory with plenty left in the tank at the end. He has trained well up to the race, with the main caveat being the fact he has yet to try two turns. Carpe Diem, on the other hand, handled two turns nicely when winning the Breeders’ Futurity in handy fashion.

What a terrific sequence Saturday’s late pick four on the Breeders’ Cup card at Santa Anita is. There is a lot to sink your teeth into and a very real possibility, if you are right, to make a lot with a relatively modest investment. Let’s get into it.

Experience is important when competing over the unique downhill turf course at Santa Anita. Those in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint who have ventured down the hill include Reneesgotzip (5-1), who deadheated for second behind Mizdirection in last year’s edition of the race. She also was third in the 2012 renewal at Santa Anita.

Sweet Swap (12-1) has been idle since his front-running score April 13 in the Grade 3 San Simeon. He is 4 for 8 going down the hill, which includes one other stakes success.

Right off the bat, it seems like there’s an opportunity to play against a vulnerable morning-line favorite in the Juvenile Fillies.

I haven’t been overly impressed with Angela Renee (#2), who was equipped with blinkers following the Adirondack, a race in which John Velazquez thought she was somewhat intimidated. Although she rebounded from a no-show Spinaway in the slop to beat Conquest Eclipse in the Chandelier, I like the latter to turn the tables.

If there is a toss-out in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, he is not obvious.

The field is loaded top to bottom with ability. The field also is loaded top to bottom with vulnerability.

Secret Circle, the favorite, will try to win the Sprint for a second straight year. But his comeback was disappointing. Secret Circle dueled for the lead, and surrendered in the final eighth. He finished third.

JUST THE JUDGE (#2, 5-1) may be dismissed by some horseplayers due to her 13-day turnaround from winning the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but the opinion here is that she is still going to run another one of her “A” races.

The plan all along by her connections was to wheel her back in the Breeders’ Cup if she ran well in the E.P. Taylor, and after being freshened after a third in the Beverly D. on Aug. 16, she is a little more apt to handle the short rest.

If you’re a fan of the Kentucky Oaks/Derby double offered every year at Churchill Downs, chances are you’ll like the Distaff/Classic double on tap for the Breeders’ Cup this Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita. It offers the chance to play the two biggest races each day and, in addition to the potential for a decent payoff, the lure of connecting on two such prestigious races.

So, let’s get to handicapping, starting with the Distaff, Friday’s main attraction.

By Mike Welsch and Mike Vesce

ARCADIA, Calif. – The first local appearance by Shared Belief was the highlight of Thursday morning’s training activity at Santa Anita, a session that also included a sharp blowout by Sprint contender Rich Tapestry and the opening of the unique downhill turf course for the only time this week.

Fiesolana was one of five horses who took the opportunity to train over the downhill layout, running down the hill before galloping strongly and blowing out a good three-eighths in 38.26 seconds for the Filly and Mare Turf.

When California Chrome was trying to sweep the Triple Crown this spring, many racing fans anticipated that his 3-year-old campaign would be a historic one ending with a triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Deciphering the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, the fourth race at Santa Anita on Saturday and first BC race on the card, is not an easy task.

This much seems certain, there is no standout in the 12-horse field and the Chandelier Stakes, the local distance and surface prep for the Juvenile Fillies, was a strong race.