Friday 1st November 2024
9.45 Del Mar: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: We get things underway for the 2024 edition of the Breeders Cup with the Juvenile Turf Sprint over five furlongs. I’m with a UK raider here in Big Mojo for the team of Michael Appleby and Tom Marquand. Connections had success at last year’s meeting with Big Evs and I think they have another live chance here. I think the quick surface will suit him as his win in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood came on fast ground, and he looks to have considerable progression still to come. He’s drawn well and if getting some luck in the run he’s got a big chance. Big Mojo – 11/2 (Each-Way)
10.25 Del Mar: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: Next up it’s the Juvenile Fillies event that takes place at 10.25 and over a distance of a mile and a half of a furlong. It’s hard for me to see past Immersive in this for Brad Cox and Manuel Franco. She comes into the race boasting a perfect record of three victories from three runs, with the last two successes coming within Grade 1 company. She looks rock-solid at the top of the betting here and I think it may take a big performance to get the better of her. Immersive – 3/1 (Win) (NB)
11.05 Del Mar: John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: My third selection of the evening comes up at 11.05 and this is the Juvenile Fillies Turf that’s ridden over a mile. I’m strong on the chances of Lake Victoria here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. She’s looked like another for the yard who has superstar potential, winning all four of her starts to date, including back-to-back Group 1s as of late in the form of the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Chevely Park most recently. If she runs up to the level of either of those runs here she should prove very tough to beat. Lake Victoria – 11/10 (Win) (NAP)
11.45 Del Mar: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: The penultimate race on the opening evening of the meeting is the Breeders Cup Juvenile which is contested over a mile and a half of a furlong at 11.45. I’m taking a chance on Citizen Bull here for the team of Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia. He won the Group 1 American Pharoah Stakes on his most recent start and has course form having won his debut here back in August, which can be crucial at this track. He’s currently trading at a best price of 9/1 and I think he represents some nice each-way value in the race. Citizen Bull – 9/1 (Each-Way)
12.25 Del Mar: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf: Signing us off for the evening will be the 12.25 which is the Juvenile Turf over a mile. I’m with a UK raider in this and that’s Aomori City for the Godolphin duo of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He was a Group 2 winner at Goodwood on his penultimate start when winning the Group 2 Vintage Stakes, before finishing fourth of eight in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh most recently. He stayed on last time which gives the impression that this step up to a mile should suit and I think he can go well for a yard that have had a considerable amount of success at this meeting in recent years. Aomori City – 7/1 (Each-Way)
