Breeders’ Cup Odds: The biggest two days in horse racing starts on Friday with four races at Santa Anita Park including the $2 Million dollar Distaff. This race will feature the best female dirt horses in the world going 1 1/8 miles. Morning line odds list Untapable as the 2-1 favorite with Close Hatches the second choice at 5-2 and Don’t Tell Sophia at 6-1. Let’s take a look at Friday’s four races with a focus on the Distaff and Breeders’ Cup picks.
Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Schedule
Juvenile Turf (2:25 pm Pacific)
Dirt Mile (3:05 pm Pacific)
Juvenile Fillies Turf (3:50 pm Pacific)
Distaff (4:35 pm Pacific)
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
The top choice to win the Distaff is Untapable for trainer Steve Asmussen. The horse worked a nice five furlongs at Santa Anita in preparation for this race. Untapable has won five of her six starts this season with the only loss coming against the boys in the Haskell.
If you want to go against the favorite then the obvious two choices behind Untapable are Close Hatches for trainer William Mott who has won this race five times and Don’t Tell Sophia who has won 8 of 13 races in the past two years.
Pick: We’ll take Untapable as the top play at Breeders’ Cup odds of about 2-1 and take Ria Antonia as a live longshot at double-digit odds.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
This race should be all about the European shippers with Sunset Glow, Osaila and Qualify the top choices. The best choice could be Osaila who has won the last three stakes in which she has been favored. If you are looking for a longshot then Lady Eli could be worth a shot.
Dirt Mile
It is hard to make a case for any other horse other than Goldencents winning this one. The horse should go straight to the lead and never look back for trainer Leandro Mora. If the favorite falters there are some live longshots to consider including Tapiture for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Juvenile Turf
This one is wide open with a number of contenders including War Envoy for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The last six winners of this race have made their last start outside of the United States. Don’t forget about Aktabantay who finished behind War Envoy last time out.
