John Blance:
R1: 1-6-9-10
R2: 1-9-5-11
R3: 13-9-12-1
R4: 5-3-1-12
R5: 6-13-7-3
R6: 4-8-6-12
R7: 12-4-3-9
R8: 1-2-6-11
R9: 1-14-10-13
R10: 5-8-4-2
Best Bet: R8 N1 Circuit Hassler
Longshot: R7 N12 Keen Venture
Paul Lally:
R1: 1-12-10-6
R2: 9-12-7-6
R3: 9-2-13-7
R4: 5-1-8-7
R5: 13-1-7-6
R6: 1-4-10-6
R7: 4-3-2-14
R8: 1-6-2-10
R9: 4-9-1-2
R10: 5-2-8-9
Best Bet: R9 N4 Time To Celebrate
Race 1: KITTEN'S ROAR figures tough dropping out of a solid showing in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor, though it is worth noting that she caught the kind of give in the ground that she adores in that race. Both she and the consistent ON LEAVE will be part of my play, but the main two for me will be MAJESTIC HEAT and the Marco Botti shipper ALJAZZI.
Main: 9, 11
Backups: 1, 4, 7
The less said about our Pick last week the better—the race itself was weird and our choice, Gold Zipper, looked to have stopped too suddenly for any good news to come out of it. The results for the week elsewhere, however, were super. There were 20 BreezeFigs 2-year-old maidens who won, four of them leading off BreezeFigs exactas and two heading BreezeFigs trifectas.
Here’s a look at the $1 million-guaranteed pick four sequence on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday card, consisting of races 5-8.
RACE 5 – TURF SPRINT
If there are no issues, LADY AURELIA (3) could put on a show in this year’s Turf Sprint. While she lost overseas in her most recent start, she’s proven herself at the five-eighths distance and she should love getting back to firm going. Wesley Ward has had the Breeders’ Cup circled for quite some time, and anything less than her best will be viewed as a disappointment.
:: See Kenny Peck’s pick four play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets
RACE 6: BEST PERFORMANCE was closing well in the late stages of the Miss Grillo despite some slow splits up front. HAPPILY has won four of her last five and she has the best Timeform figures of the Europeans. CAPLA TEMPTRESS overcame trouble to win the Natalma. RUSHING FALL has the top Beyers of the American fillies, and she's the main stretch threat here.
A's: 1, 2
Moonshine Memories, by Malibu Moon (Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-83)
* Simon Callaghan-trained filly has done absolutely nothing wrong in her three starts and is a deserving favorite here for a number of reasons, including her superior Beyers and tractable speed.
Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon (Last 3 Beyers: 80-78-52)
The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic
1 1/4 Miles, Dirt, 3-year-olds and up
Del Mar, Race 12, 5:35 PM (PDT)
Most Likely Winner: Arrogate (#1)
The Classic is always the main event at the Breeders' Cup, but it's especially true this year. We've seen stars of the game like American Pharoah, Zenyatta, and Curlin dominate this race in past runnings, but rarely does the Classic attract a list of headliners that is as talented and fast as the group that's been assembled here.
The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
One Mile, Dirt, 3-year-olds and up
Del Mar, Race 7, 3:05 PM (PDT)
Most Likely Winner: Sharp Azteca (#3)
TimeformUS Chief Figuremaker Craig Milkowski flagged this as one of the Breeders’ Cup races most likely to feature a pace meltdown. Indeed, there is plenty of speed signed on for this race. The front-running types will all be looking to get forward early position before heading into the clubhouse turn, which comes up very quickly going a mile at Del Mar.
Bolt d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 100-85-77
* Has won all three of his starts, including a 7 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 FrontRunner at Santa Anita for which owner-trainer Mick Ruis said the horse was only 90 percent fit.
* Two of his victories have come at Del Mar.
* Though he broke a step slowly in his first two starts, he was into the race from the outset in the FrontRunner.
* Breezed very well Sunday at Santa Anita.
