The 2023 Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita begins with Future Stars Friday and UK viewers can watch each of the opening night’s five Grade 1 contests live on ITV3 – starting with the Juvenile Turf Sprint at 21:00.
Previous Grade 1 winning form isn’t quite as prevalent as you might expect on a night with so many top tier contests. However, all three of our selections have already scored at the top level even if two may be underrated for having done so in Canada.
Breeders Cup Friday betting tips
22:20 – She Feels Pretty @ 13/2
23:00 – Prince of Monaco to win @ 11/2
Bet on the latest Breeders Cup odds at Betzone
Johnny V an eye-catching booking for unbeaten Cherie De Vaux runner
She Feels Pretty comes into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf off the back of a taking four-and-a-quarter length victory in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.
That success couldn’t have worked out much better, with five of the nine beaten horses that day going on to win next time out and a further two placing on their next runs.
It was her second career start and second career victory at Woodbine so further improvement can be banked on and the booking of John Velasquez is a major feather in her cap.
Only ‘Big Money’ Mike Smith has partnered more Breeders’ Cup than 51-year-old Puerto Rican pilot Johnny V, for whom this race is one of the few he hasn’t won at this meeting.
Tip: 22:20 – She Feels Pretty @ 13/2
No reason the ‘other Baffert’ shouldn’t confirm placings with stablemate
Bob Baffert could go outright winning-most trainer in the history of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with victory in this year’s event and fields Muth and Prince of Monaco in his bid to seal the deal.
US racing fans will be able to reel off numerous instances of times when ‘the other Baffert’ is the one that ends up getting the job done and this is our working theory here.
The market rates Muth the better of the pair, but the latter named beat him by four-and-a-half lengths in a Los Alamitos Grade 3 over 6f back in August before following up with a comfortable success in a Grade 1 over 7f on the Santa Anita dirt.
Already proven at the track, he should have no trouble with the extra furlong and a half he’ll face in this heat with the blood of multiple 1m1f and 1m2f Grade 1 winner Medaglia D’Oro coursing through his veins on the dam’s side.
Tip: 23:00 – Prince of Monaco to win @ 11/2
No choice but to replicate G1 win run-style for Carson’s from car park draw
Being drawn 14th of 14 is generally considered a hiding to nothing at US tracks where early speed is so advantageous, but Carson’s Run will be more suited to the assignment than most.
The sole Grade 1 winner in the field, he landed his top-level wings after dwelling at the start and having to go right round the houses before collaring the long-time leader 2f out and scoring by two-and-a-quarter lengths going away.
My Prince, silver medallist that day at Woodbine, won next time out and is evidently rated highly enough by his trainer Mark Casse to take his chance here. The Casse colt’s current odds of 12/1 suggest the bookies have plenty of respect for the form in the context of this assignment.
