Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Much-ballyhooed colt ran off to a 19-length maiden win in his second career outing, prior to a facile win in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs last time out. The uber-talented youngster has fired three bullet works in preparation of his biggest test to date with a scorching half-mile move at Santa Anita, most recently. The morning-line choice will break from the rail beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr.

This juvenile brought a massive bid of $875,000 in the spring and has finished first or second in each of his three lifetime appearances to date. The Peter Miller pupil is something of a wildcard in the field having never run two turns, with each of his trio of outings coming on the Del Mar main surface. The Kentucky-bred is a potentially live longshot with Paco Lopez in the controls.

Hopeful Stakes (G1) runner-up traveled to the Golden State for his local prep but could only muster a fifth-place result in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1). The Steve Asmussen charge will likely move forward in his second run over the surface, but the $800,000 son of Into Mischief will need marked improvement to challenge the top runners in this cast.

This Kentucky-bred was a non-threatening third in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in his prep for the Juvenile. The Peter Eurton trainee adds blinkers for this demanding assignment, and the recent morning drills indicate that he will improve with the equipment change today. The Court Vision colt has some appeal at a big price under Flavien Prat. 

Talented son of More Than Ready has run very well in each of his trio of career tries and comes in as a logical contender in this field. The April foal has improved his BRIS Speed number with each lifetime appearance, and his turn of foot will be on display if he brings his best to the Juvenile. The win threat gets a nice rider boost in picking up Mike Smith, as well.

Possible one to catch and beat ran them off their respective feet in a dominant display in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) last time out. The Bob Baffert pupil aced his two-turn test most recently while also proving an affinity for the Santa Anita oval, and he has trained in fine fashion in the interim. The race goes through this March foal and pilot John Velazquez.

Sharp debut winner is ambitiously placed with just a single run on the turf at Golden Gate under his belt. The expensive two-year-old purchase could be an excellent prospect going forward for trainer Blaine Wright, but he gives up a lot of seasoning to his foes while making his dirt debut in the Juvenile. The son of Medaglia d’Oro will have Juan Hernandez riding.

Japanese invader has yet to run on the dirt or beyond seven furlongs leading up to this tough test. The Kentucky-bred looked good in graduating two races prior at Kokura, but he would be a surprise in his U. S. debut against a field with this amount of class and depth. Celebrated jockey Yutaka Take will be in the stirrups.

This Godolphin homebred rallied to win first out, and he came right back to annihilate his foes in the stretch of the subsequent Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1). The well-bred son of Street Sense has earned triple-digit BRIS Late Pace figures in both attempts to date, and he has reportedly been training in excellent fashion in advance of the Juvenile. Jose Ortiz will be bringing the prime contender from well off the pace on Friday.