Breeder’s Cup Saturday 2019
Today looks to be another great day of racing at Sunny Santa Anita for the Breeder's Cup. What a great day on Friday with some impressive efforts from our Future Racing Stars. We had a great day on Friday with our top choice winning 6 out of 10 races including $29.60 winner Sharing in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. We delivered 3 other winners in our additional selections bringing us to 9 out of 10 races. We did miss the Juvenile but that was an impressive win by Storm the Court at 46-1. More Champions are to be crowned on what should be a tremendous day. Let's see how we do with Today's Selections. Our one page summary is here: BC Sat 2019 and full analysis below.
Race 1
8-2-4-9-3
#8 Girls Know Best won two straight before yielding late to finish 3rd last time at Keeneland. Shes also eligible to improve with this being her third start off a layoff. #2 Don't Sell had a bad start in her last race and still managed a solid second place finish. She's also done well at this distance and at Santa Anita having never finished worse than 2nd under either condition. Expect that to continue today. #4 Just Grazed Me improved greatly with her switch to turf. She ran third in her first grass effort and then has won her last two including here at Santa Anita. #9 Escapade finished third in her last start by just half a length after winning her previous 2. #3 Kentan Road won her last start before going for a short freshening.
Race 2
3-4-5-1-2
#3 Roadster returns to the track after a long layoff here. The morning works show he's ready for this return and he's certainly looked at home at Santa Anita with winning 2 of 3 starts and a place. #4 Flagstaff is stretching out to 7 furloughs here but looked good in finishing behind two top choices later on the card, Omaha Beach and Shancelot, in his last start. #5 Comical Ghost is stepping up in class today after starting his career with two straight victories. #1 Horse Greedy faded late in the same race as Flagstaff but just missed winning in his previous start. #2 Extra Hope returns to the dirt after trying turf last time. He should look more at home.
Race 3
8-10-3-1-9
#8 Neptune's Storm scored impressively last time out after missing by a neck in his previous two. He looks primed and ready to score another win here today. #10 Gray Magician switches to try turf today but is a very game horse. In his last six starts not counting the Kentucky Derby, he has 2 wins and 4 places. Expect him to be in the mix again today. #3 Nolde won his last start by a neck over #1 Originaire and #8 Neptune's Storm. He certainly has the talent to do it again. #1 Originaire just missed out to Nolde two back before finishing 3rd after having to go 6 wide at the top of the stretch. #9 Kingly gave a very game effort last time out leading everyone home before losing a 4 way photo to finish fourth. He set very fast fractions but still almost hung on.
Race 4 BC Filly and Mare Sprint
1-4-9-8-3
Race 4 is where we start the Breeder's Cup Championship action. #1 Covfefe has 5 wins in 7 lifetime starts including very impressive wins her last two starts, both of which were at today's seven furlough distance. Expect her to be near the pace and finish strong again today. #4 Come Dancing comes in on her own impressive streak having won 4 of 5 and a place to Midnight Bisou. She is more than talented enough to win here today. #9 Spiced Perfection won her last race despite coming off a layoff and stumbling at the start. Watch out if she improves off that effort here. #8 Dawn the Destroyer just missed to #9 Spiced Perfection last time and #4 Come Dancing in her previous effort. Watch for her to be coming late to pick up a piece of the prize and maybe the win if the pace melts down. #3 Lady Ninja scored a solid win in her last start and has looked very sharp in the mornings as well. She's ready for a game effort here.
Race 5 BC Turf Sprint
1-2-9-4-10
#1 Totally Boss is coming in hot winner of 4 out of his last 5 and a place by a nose. His win at Kentucky Downs last time out was very impressive. #2 Pure Sensation comes in off a good win last time out and 4 of his last 5. His lone loss, he ran third. #9 Final Frontier scored impressively last time out at Belmont. He closed very well to score the win. #4 Shekky Shebaz won his first two starts on the turf before getting caught late in his most recent start by #9 Final Frontier to finish second. The distance today is shorter than that day so expect him to still be going strong at the line. He is going to try to go straight to the lead and lead them home. #10 Eddie Haskell had won 3 straight before placing in his last two efforts. A very game horse that will find himself in the mix again today.
Race 6 BC Dirt Mile
5-1-4-7-9
#5 Ohama Beach is the deserved favorite here. Had he not gotten sick before the Kentucky Derby, he would have been the favorite there and this year's Classic could have had a very different narrative. I have been a big Ohama Beach believer since he won the Rebel and was my Top Derby pick until he scratched. His return to racing was very impressive in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He bobbled at the start and still managed to grind down Shancelot for the win. I expect him to continue his winning ways again today. He is a top pick today. #1 Giant Expectations just missed in his last two by a nose and a head. He will be game again today. #4 Mr. Money won his previos 4 races before being nailed at the wire by Math Wizard in his last start. The shorter distance today should help his front running style. #7 Coal Front won his last start after a tough duel down the lane. #9 Diamond Oops was a game second in his last two efforts after winning at Gulfstream three back.
Race 7 BC Filly and Mare Turf
2-10-7-3-4
#2 Sistercharlie is already a champion and seeks to cement her legacy today. She is another of our top picks of the day having won 7 straight Grade 1s including this race last race. I fully expect her to successfully defend her title. #10 Mrs. Sippy has looked strong since coming to the United States winning her debut and placing behind #2 Sistercharlie in her second. #7 Vasilika comes in off 5 wins and 2 thirds in her last 7 starts. Stretching back out from her last start should help her late running style. #3 Fleeting comes over from Europe after finishing 4 at Royal Ascot and just being necked out at Longchamp in France. #4 Billedon Brook also comes over from Europe having won 3 of 4 with a second.
Race 8 BC Sprint
4-1-9-6-3
#4 Mitole comes in after a strong win at Saratoga and having won 8 of 9 previous starts including 3 Grade 1s. He will be near the lead early and look to finish strong as always. #1 Catalina Cruiser is another sprinting heavyweight. In 8 career starts, he has won 7 times. His only loss was in the BC Mile last year. This horse is fast and comes in looking very sharp in the mornings. #9 Imperial Hint is another burner. He comes in off two straight Grade 1 wins including a victory over #4 Mitole. #6 Shancelot won his first three starts before dropping the last two, each by a head. He is going to try to go straight to the lead and stay there. #3 Firenze Fire finished second in each of his last two, once to #4 Mitole and once to #9 Imperial Hint. He is a grinder that once again could find his way into the mix.
Race 9 BC Mile
9-8-6-11-14
#9 Circus Maximus comes over from Europe off a Grade 1 win in France. In his last three starts at the mile distance, he has two wins and a place. #8 El Tormenta comes in off an upset win in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. He drove home strong to score the victory. He loves this distance as well, with 3 starts, he has 2 wins and a place. #6 Got Stormy is a strong filly in this field. She won two straight before being upset by #8 El Tormenta in her last start. She will finished well to place. Watch for her to get back to her winning ways here. #11 Uni is a strong mare coming to this spot with 6 wins and a third to #6 Got Stormy in her last 7 starts. She will be competitive again here today. #14 Bowies Hero scored an impressive Grade 1 win at Keeneland last time out. Watch for him to come flying into the mix late yet again.
Race 10 BC Distaff
4-11-5-1-9
#4 Midnight Bisou is another top pick of the day. Since her defeat in last year's Distaff, what has she done? She has rattled off 7 straight Graded stakes wins including 3 Grade 1s. She looks to be the class of the field and will look to notch her 8th win as a 4 year old. #11 Blue Prize has won 2 in a row and will look to steal the prize when she comes running in late. #5 Dunbar Road won three straight before finishing third last time out to #11 Blue Prize and Elate who will run in the Classic. Watch for her to be right in the mix again today. #1 Paradise Woods won a solid victory last time out at Santa Anita and has hit the board 10 times out of 12 starts at the track including 5 victories. She will look to add to that record again today. #9 Serengeti Empress had a rough day last time out and will look to rebound. She was second in her two previous starts before that. She also won this year's Kentucky Oaks in impressive fashion, her only previous start at the distance. She will try to get the lead and carry the field home.
Race 11 BC Turf
9-10-5-11-12
#9 Bricks and Mortar is another top pick of the day. He has won 5 straight Graded stakes, 4 Grade 1s. He will be patient and pick his moment to come running and then will finish strong. Expect more of the same today and for him to make it 6 for 6 on the year. #10 Old Persian comes in from overseas. He had two very impressive wins at this distance in Dubai. He also looked good in his first start in North America winning the Norther Dancer Grade 1 at Woodbine at this distance. #5 Anthony Van Dyck also comes over from Europe and will look to score here. He ran a solid third last time out and scored a win and place in his last two starts at this distance when the turf was not wet. #11 Arklow has shown improving form going third, second and winning last time out at Belmont in a Grade 1. Expect him to be a contender again today. #12 Channel Maker just missed out to #11 Arklow last time out. he certainly has the talent to score here today.
Race 12 BC Classic
11-8-10-9-7
#11 Code of Honor won two straight including the Grade 1 Travers before being nosed out by #10 Vino Rosso last time out. Though he was placed first after being bumped down the stretch. He will look to finish clear like he did in the Travers here. #8 McKinzie will look to do better than he did in last year's Classic. Since finishing a disappointing 12th, he has finished first or second in seven straight including a victory in the Grade 1 Whitney. #10 Vino Rosso looked strong last time out winning before being placed 2nd for bumping #11 Code of Honor. In his last two starts at the Classic distance he won both with one being placed second. #9 Mongolian Groom scored an impressive upset win over #8 McKinzie last time out. He will look to repeat that effort here today. #7 Higher Power stumbled at the start of his last race after winning the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in his previous start. He will look to rebound to his winning ways today.
Today is going to be a great day of racing and we wish you the best of luck as you enjoy the crowning of many champions!!