35th Breeders’ Cup Preview, Accelerate Still Leading Favorite
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 35th Breeders’ Cup is being staged at Churchill Downs on Friday Nov. 2 and Saturday Nov. 3.
There is $28 million of prize money up for grabs over the 14 Breeders’ Cup races at the home of the Kentucky Derby. You can wager on the Breeders’ Cup online with TVG and they will double your deposit, up to a maximum of $100.
Accelerate confirmed his place as favorite for The Classic when beating West Coast in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. He had previously stormed to a 12 ¼ lengths victory in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. His rivals are likely to include Good Magic, Hofburg and Catholic Boy in a typically competitive renewal.
The Breeders’ Cup is also a launch pad for future champions and all eyes will be on Game Winner in the Juvenile. For the first time this year, all five two-year-old races will be run on the opening day, now to be dubbed “Future Stars Friday”. Bob Baffert’s colt romped to victory in the inaugural American Pharoah Breeders’ Cup Challenge race to earn an automatic place in the line-up. His main market rival is shock 70-1 Keeneland winner Knicks Go.
Imperial Hint is clear favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after four wins from five starts this season. He was particularly impressive last time when eased down to win the Vosburgh Stakes by a length and a quarter. His only defeat came on sloppy ground over seven furlongs.
A strong European challenge is led by John Gosden’s two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Enable, the odds-on favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Although she only scrambled home at Longchamp, Gosden revealed that she had suffered a set-back since her return to the track at Kempton Park. European racing fans will be hoping that Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Roaring Lion is also given the green light in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. His sporting owners were very keen to run at Ascot despite the soft ground and the grey showed his class to gain a fourth successive Group 1 victory.
Aidan O’Brien rarely leaves a Breeders’ Cup meeting empty-handed and will be sending a large team over from Ireland. He has several options in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, including recent Ascot winner Magical. She could clash with leading Godolphin hope, Wild Illusion. The famous blue silks were carried to victory in the Mare and Turf by Wuheida last season. Perhaps O’Brien’s best chances of success lie in the juvenile races with Anthony Van Dyck, Fairyland, So Perfect and Sergei Profokiev all possible runners.
See more Equestrian news at www.TAPintoHorses.net
Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TAPintoHorses/
Sign Up for E-News to get top stories delivered daily to your inbox.