First Thoughts About Breeders' Cup Friday

The Breeders' Cup is less than two weeks away. Hard to believe how fast the year has flown, but ask any real horseplayer: they don't need a calendar, they can tell you the time of year by what track is running. With Breeders' Cup weekend coming, your inner horseplayer should be ready to start the process sooner rather than later. Here are a few tidbits to keep in your top pocket when you start handicapping.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

• If you are a Euro fan like myself, you will want to toss runners prepping at sprint distances.
• Only use the gals who have at least three starts this year.
• The gals should have won one of their last two preps coming into the race.
• Horses that prepped or had solid works at Keeneland do very well.
• Pay close attention to a sharp series of works coming into the big race.

Euros have won 3 of the last 4 runnings of this event. I like Green Empress to start my handicapping. If there is an honest pace, she will show a strong late turn of foot.

Juvenile Fillies

• The Frizette and Alcibiades are super preps.
• The gals should have more than two efforts this year coming into the weekend.
• Stalkers and pace players are solid board hitters.
• If they improved in their last start, take it as a positive.

My first-glance lean is Manuka Honey. She is undefeated, 3 for 3, and has shown good progress at every new distance. The speed should come back to her down the lane in Lexington.

Juvenile

• You want a last prep going two turns.
• Recency is key: toss runners who have been away more than 60 to 90 days.
• Toss horses coming off a sloppy track. Not all tracks play the same.
• Make sure that last prep was sharp.
• Workouts over the track after a top last effort are key to winning.

Hughes is trained by Bob Baffert, who comes to shine on the marquee days. His efforts have improved with every start, and he should not disappoint as a major player.

More to come as the action builds to a fever pitch. Keeneland loves to host the Breeders' Cup and never disappoints, an incredible way to wind up the year with a powerhouse weekend to cash some great wagers!

Best of luck, Ed.