-1600x900.webp)
ARCADIA, Calif. -- The Breeders’ Cup is in full view, less than a month away down the road at Del Mar.
Saturday’s 2-year-old stakes will guarantee starting spots at the Breeders’ Cup to the winners, in both the Grade 1 American Pharoah (colts) and Grade 2 Oak Leaf (fillies). Last year’s Pharoah winner, Citizen Bull, went on to win the BC Juvenile; Kentucky Derby winners American Pharoah and Nyquist also won this race.
Let’s look at both races, and put together our weekly wager. If you are wagering - check out our friends at AmWager! For new customers, there’s a 100% deposit match up to $150 - and you can bet all the action in California.
Grade 1 American Pharaoh. 1 1/16 miles, dirt. 2YO. $300,000.
Win and In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Top Contenders:
1. Desert Gate. ML: 3/2.
Trained by Bob Baffert, he finished a good 2nd to superstar Brant last out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. There was no catching Brant on that day, and Desert Gate showed himself to belong in that company. This race will require a new dimension from him, as it’s his first try around two turns. He’s a son of Omaha Beach, and his dam is by Curlin - the distance should be a non-issue.
6. Kristofferson. ML: 9/5.
The other favorite in the race is another Baffert trainee: Kristofferson. He won on debut, and will make his second start here. After breaking in and later being bumped by other runners, he was able to pull away and win impressively. While Baffert’s numbers with horses stretching out is better with those which have at least two races under them, he still wins over a third of his races going sprint to route.
Live Longshot:
2. Intrepido. ML: 6/1.
Intrepido comes out of a maiden win over two turns at Del Mar. He finished up the track on debut - but that was behind Brant - and immediately won on second asking at a mile. Jockey Hector Berrios keeps the mount, and should give him a proper trip. He’ll likely have to sit just off Kristofferson before doing his best running late.
Grade 2 Oak Tree. 1 1/16 miles, dirt. 2YO fillies. $200,000.
Win and In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Top Contenders:
6. Explora. ML: 4/5.
Explora will look to rebound from a disappointing 2nd place finish in the Del Mar Debutante, where legitimate concerns about distance appeared. She’s a daughter of Blame, out of a Bernardini mare, so there’s no breeding concerns about distance. Trainer Bob Baffert, in what appears to be an attempt to get her to rate, is taking the blinkers off. Look for jockey Juan Hernandez to try to get her to sit right behind the leaders before making a move in the final turn.
3. La Wally. ML: 4/1.
Given the connections, there’s a solid chance we’ll get 4/1 on La Wally today. She showed well last out, finishing a half length behind Explora. While Explora was fading toward the end of the race, La Wally was finding her best strides. In a race where Explora is taking off her blinkers, the lead likely will fall to Himika, giving La Wally plenty to run at. Look for her to be right there at the end.
Live Longshot:
2. La Ville Lumiere. ML: 12/1.
La Ville Lumiere returns to the dirt in this one, most recently finishing a decent 5th in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar. This angle is an excellent one for trainer Michael McCarthy, with 24% of horses moving from turf to dirt winning on first asking. The field in the Juvenile Filly Turf was a good one, so she’s faced a fair amount of class. That was also her first attempt over two turns, and at a mile or longer; I like that kind of experience in this field.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
$2 Pick 3, starts race 1 ($30): 2,4,7,9,12 / 3 / 1,2,6. Good luck!