Breeders' Cup, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita picks for Breeders’ Cup Saturday, Nov. 5

Preview: The inside has been the place to be this meet on the dirt. The inside six spots in sprints and the inside four spots around two turns are where to concentrate. On the new turf course, post 1-2 have not been the place to down the hill in sprints. They are automatic throw outs for me. The inside on the grass going two turns is just just and when you have the best horses in the world you might have to make a few exceptions.

What an exceptional BC Distaff on Friday between Beholder and Songbird. New York horses won three races so the East Coast is ready this year. Came close to greatness if Jeff Bloom’s Diplodocus could have gotten up in the Twilight Derby, but such is life.

FIRST RACE: 1. #4 Harbour Master, 2. #12 Hootie (SCRATCHED), 3. #9 Red Lodge, 4. #3 Partyinthepaddock.

SECOND RACE: 1. #8 Milton Freewater, 2. #4 California Diamond, 3. #2 Sizzlin Square, 4. #5 Closing Time.

THIRD RACE: 1. #8 Mehronissa, 2. #4 Most Beautiful, 3. #2 Acapulco, #5 Juno.

FOURTH RACE (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies): 1. #11 Daddys Lil Darling, 2. #2 With Honors, 3. #10 Noted and Quoted, 4. #9 Union Strike.
Daddys Lil Darling was one of the most impressive horses I saw in the preps, finishing second after starting from post 14. She draws outside again, but jockey Corey Lanerie can’t get her there.

FIFTH RACE (BC Filly and Mare Turf): 1. #11 Queen’s Trust, 2. #8 Lady Eli, 3. #3 Seventh Heaven, 4. #4 Avenge.

SIXTH RACE (BC Sprint): 1.#2 Drefong, 2. #1 Mind Your Biscuits, 3. #5 A. P. Indian, 4. Masochistic.
This race lost some appeal when Lord Nelson scratched on Thursday due to an injury. Luckily trainer Bob Baffert has a good backup in Drefong.0

SEVENTH RACE (BC Turf Sprint): 1. #8 Washington D C, 2. #5 Karar, 3. #3 Mongolian Saturday, 4. #13 Holy Lute.
Obviously will be on the lead from the No. 2 post, but as I’ve stated not playing horses down the hill in No. 1 or No. 2. Instead, I’ll go with the Euros in the top two spots.

EIGHTH RACE (BC Juvenile): 1. #7 Gormley, 2. #1 Klimt, 3. #4 Theory, 4. #9 Practical Joke.
The West Coast horses have been the ones to beat when it comes to the Kentucky Derby the last few years and as far as I’m concerned the road to Churchill Downs starts here. That’s means #westisbest. This son of Malibu Moon freaked last time going two turns for the first time and put a whooping on Baffert’s Klimt, which returns here, too. Trainer John Shirreffs wouldn’t be running this 2-year-old unless he was mature beyond his years and he is. I look for Gormley and Klimt to dominate this race and will play accordingly.

NINTH RACE (BC Turf): 1. #4 Flintshire, 2. #10 Found, 3. #6 Mondialiste, 4. #12 Highland Reel.
Throw out Flintshire’s last race on a yielding course in New York. Found was ticket for the BC Classic but her connections decided to defend her title in this race. Not sure what to make of that.

10TH RACE (BC Filly and Mare Sprint): 1. #10 Wavell Avenue, 2. #8 Carina Mia, 3. #2 Haveyougoneaway, 4. #6 By the Moon.
Wavell Avenue is the defending champ in this race and she hasn’t had a great year but maybe ready for a big effort.

11TH RACE (BC Mile): 1. #8 Tepin, 2. #10 Limato, 3. #9 Ironicus, 4. #6 Photo Call.
Tepin is the defending champ here but hasn’t been the same since winning at Royal Ascot. I think she will defend here title. Limato is the top Euro and Photo Call just beat Tepin at Keeneland as Kent Desormeaux opened up a 10-length lead at one point. Tepin will be ready this time.

12TH RACE (BC Classic): 1. #4 California Chrome, 2. #9 Hoppertunity, 3. #10 Arrogate, 4. #4 Melatonin.
Did you really expect another selection? Chrome is the BEST horse in the world. I know Arrogate freaked at Saratoga in the Travers, but Chrome has two years of racing on him plus Victor Espinoza. Enough said.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter


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