Saturday 2nd November 2024
7.00 Del Mar: PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint: The second day of Breeders Cup action gets underway at 7.00 at Delmar with the Filly & Mare Sprint over seven furlongs. I’m taking a chance on one at a big price here and that’s One Magic Philly who’s currently trading at a best price of 16/1 for Phillip D’Amato and Antonio Fresu. She’s got a bit to find on all known form with the market principals, however, she’s won her last three starts with the first two of said outings coming at this track. She looks progressive and if she takes another step forward she could well outrun her odds at a track she clearly enjoys. One Magic Philly – 16/1 (Each-Way)
7.41 Del Mar: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: Next up it’s more sprinting action with the Turf Sprint at 7.41 that’s contested over five furlongs. I’m going with another one at a big price here and that’s Motorious for the same team of Phillip D’Amato and Antonio Fresu. He went off favourite for this race last year, when eventually finishing fifth of twelve and only a length and a half behind the winner. Most notably though, he’s got a one hundred percent record at this track with three wins from three starts. He was back in the winner’s enclosure last month in a Grade 3 at Del Mar and I think he’s got every chance of running a big race. Motorious – 12/1 (Each-Way)
8.21 Del Mar: Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff: We move onto the dirt at 8.21 with the Distaff taking centre-stage over a mile and a furlong. This looks to be all about Thorpedo Anna for the team of Kenneth McPeek and Brian Hernandez Jr. She’s already a multiple-time Grade 1 winner and added another to her tally last time out when winning the Cotillion Stakes, albeit at very short odds and by a narrow margin. She’s got the best form on offer here though by some way and it will likely take a big performance to get the better of her. Thorpedo Anna – 8/13 (Win) (NAP)
9.01 Del Mar: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf: The fourth Breeders Cup race of the evening is the Breeders Cup Turf which is set to take place at 9.01 UK time over a mile and four furlongs. I’ve sided with Emily Upjohn in this for John & Thady Gosden and the renewed partnership with Frankie Dettori. She’s not quite the force of old, however, she’s still placed in three Group 1s this term and she gets on well with Dettori. Her Coronation Cup success in 2023 came on good to firm ground so the quick going shouldn’t be an issue and I think she could well bounce back to form here. Emily Upjohn – 7/2 (Win)
9.41 Del Mar: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic: The big one comes up at 9.41 which is none other than the Breeders Cup Classic over a mile and two furlongs. I’ve tried to look at alternatives away from the market leader, however, the more I’ve looked at the race the harder I find it to get away from City Of Troy for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. O’Brien has been far from shy on his opinions of this horse, stating “he’s the best he’s ever trained” and if taking to the surface he should prove tough to beat here. Forever Young was beaten in his only Grade 1 to date, which came in the Kentucky Derby where current second favourite Fierceness finished fifteenth. The market principal comes into the race with three Group 1 victories on the spin and I think he’s the most likely winner here. City Of Troy – 15/8 (Win) (NB)
10.25 Del Mar: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf: Next up it’s the Filly & Mare Turf which is contested over a mile and three furlongs. I’m with War Like Goddess here for William Mott and Junior Alvarado. She’s a seven-year-old now and I’ve actually put her up at a few Breeder’s Cups on here, she finished third in this in 2021 as well as finishing third in the Turf back in 2022. Despite her looking exposed compared to a few of these, she proved she retains plenty of ability when finishing half of a length second in Grade 1 company last time out and she also has solid course form. I think she’s got every chance of posting another big effort. War Like Goddess – 5/1 (Each-Way)
11.05 Del Mar: Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint: We move back into sprinting company now with the Breeder’s Cup Sprint over six furlongs. I’ve gone with Mullikin here to get the better of his wide draw here for the team of Rodolphe Brisset and Flavien Prat. He was last seen when winning a Grade 1 at Saratoga by five and three-quarters of a length back in August and he looks to be a serious sprinter for connections. He’s unbeaten this season with three wins from his three outings and if getting some luck in the run from the gate he can be a serious player at what looks like a generous price. Mullikin – 6/1 (Each-Way)
11.45 Del Mar: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF: The penultimate race of the meeting is the Breeder’s Cup Mile where we have another strong European challenge. Out of said Europeans, I like the chances of Porta Fortuna for Donnacha O’Brien and Tom Marquand. She flies a bit under the radar and doesn’t get the credit she deserves in my opinion, she comes into this race having won three Group 1s on the spin in the form of the Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes, and most recently the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. I think she’s a big player here on ground that she’ll have no issue with and she’ll also get three pounds off the current market leader Notable Speech. Porta Fotuna – 4/1 (Win)
12.25 Del Mar: Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile: Signing us off for this year’s meeting will be the Dirt Mile and this is another extremely competitive affair to bring down the curtain. I’m going with one at a big price here and that’s Full Serrano for John Sadler and Joel Rosario. He returned from a six-month lay-off back in August when winning a claiming race here and followed up that run with a fine half of a length second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes, with that run also coming at this track. Despite being a five-year-old, he’s only had the three runs to date and could continue to improve, and he’s a huge price. Full Serrano – 20/1 (Each-Way)
