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Expert Pick of the Week: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar

Nov 04, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

An outstanding field of 12 two-year-olds will go postward in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar. The 1 1/16-mile dirt test features the top youngsters from across the country in what promises to be an exciting feature on the fantastic Friday card. In addition to being an all-important race in determining championship honors, the Juvenile is also a 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby event with the top four finishers earning points on a 20-8-4-2 basis.

St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable’s Commandperformance enters the contest as a maiden, but the gray colt has displayed considerable ability from his two lifetime performances to date. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Union Rags debuted at the Spa on Sept. 6 in a six-furlong maiden special weight event over a muddy, sealed oval and broke slowest from the demanding rail post. He was still well back approaching the turn for home in the dash, but he began to gain momentum in the stretch and closed full of energy to be a clear second across the wire.

Commandperformance was sent straight to the top level of racing in his second assignment when trying the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 and went off at healthy odds of 12-1. The $220,000 yearling purchase broke next-to-last in the one-mile endeavor, but he found his stride late and was a clear second behind the impressive Jack Christopher, who is the morning-line favorite for the Juvenile.

The Kentucky-bred is cut out to love a route of ground, and I fully believe that he will thrive in his first two-turn try at Del Mar on Friday. March foal has posted three works following his Grade 1 placing and gives the impression of a colt who will peak in his third career outing. He reunites with Irad Ortiz Jr., who piloted him in his initial offering, and the long-striding two-year-old figures to have a robust early pace to rally into while making his West Coast bow. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Expert Pick

A win and place bet on #10 Commandperformance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is the Best Bet of the Week. Place your bet with TwinSpires!