John Velazquez rides Fierceness to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at … [+]
For the seventh straight year, ‘Future Stars Friday’ leads off the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and 14 races over two days. All five juvenile races for 2-year-olds give us a glimpse of some of the future stars of horse racing on Friday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar Racetrack just North of San Diego.
Post position draw and opening parimutuel odds released Oct. 28 are provided below along with added win contenders, picks and insight.
Last year’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness won the race at 16/1 odds. He went on to be the 2024 Kentucky Derby favorite but never got untracked, and then returned to win a pair of summer races at Saratoga including the Travers Stakes over the close finishers Thorpedo Anna and Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone. Now Fierceness has become one of the future stars and a leading favorite in Saturday’s $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Sierra Leone is also running in the richest race.
Thorpedo Anna (4/5) is the heavy favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff Saturday.
I’ll be attending my sixth Breeders’ Cup and second at Del Mar since first going in 2016 at Santa Anita. I’ve made connections in sports, media and horse racing including leading analysts and handicappers, who provide me racing reports, betting guides and picks to share with you. Last year I was spotted at the Breeders’ Cup with Pete Aiello, the popular race announcer at Gulfstream Park in Florida who also called a pair of Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita.
Future Stars Friday Betting Guide
The ‘How to Bet on Horse Racing’ guide from FanDuel provides additional tools and tips to better assist you when betting on the races. There are also Breeders’ Cup picks provided on all 14 races. But I turned to a team of seasoned horse racing experts at Guaranteed Tip Sheet for more insight, analysis and picks on the Breeders’ Cup Races starting with Future Stars Friday. Leading win contenders are provided, and racing fans can get more info and picks for Saturday’s nine biggest Breeders’ Cup races in the Guaranteed Tip Sheet wagering guide.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
Opening parimutuel Breeders’ Cup odds will change on race day as bets are placed. First post Friday is 2:35 p.m. Eastern and 11:35 local Pacific Time with Breeders’ Cup races starting Race 6 at 5:45 p.m. ET and 2:45 p.m. from Del Mar.
Friday, Nov. 1
Race 6 – $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint
- #2 – Aesterius (9/2) has won 4-of-6 races and should be close to the front all the way around the track.
- #8 – Ecoro Sieg (7/2) comes in from Japan with two easy wins.
- #7 – Whisteljacket (5/1) has a Group I win and second in Europe.
- Value Plays & Longshots: #4 – Magnum Force (15/1) was the public’s choice over #2 and #3 when they met in a Group II last out. #3 – Big Mojo (4/1) beat the top pick in the last race by a neck.
Race 7 – $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
- #9 – American Bikini (5/1) has demolished the competiion in Japan in the last two races and appears to have an extra gear when asked late
- # 7 – Non Compliant (9/2) is unbeaten in a pair for trainer Bob Baffert who wins at an astonishing 45% with jockey Juan Hernandez and also trains #8 Nooni.
- #10 – Scottish Lassie (5/2) won the Grade I Frizette at Aqueduct by 9 lengths with serious late race improvement.
- Value Plays & Longshots – #3 Immersive (3/1) is unbeaten in three races, including a pair of Grade I crowns. #8 – Nooni (15/1) battled #7 in their last race, ultimately giving way late. She has a pair of bullet workouts since. #1 Vodka With a Twist (20/1) ran the highest last-race speed figure.
Race 8 – $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
- #1 – Lake Victoria (8/5) looks like to most probable Breeders’ Cup winner on the Friday card winning 4-of-4 races, including a pair of Group 1’s in Europe and a Group III for top trainer Aidan O’Brien, who also saddles #8.
- #7 – Thought Process (5/2) won her last three races at this 1-mile distance since switching to turf and none of them were close.
- #8 – Heavens Gate (12/1) has six quality races in seven start and is coming off a Group III win at the Curragh in Ireland for top trainer Aidan O’Brien.
- Value Plays & Longshots – #15 – Supa Speed (30/1) has to draw into the race off the Also Eligible list, but finished second behind #7 horse last out. #9 Kilwin (20/1) is undefeated in a pair as the favorite in both races with wide trips. #13 Vixen (15/1) just missed in the Grade I Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.
Race 9 – $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
- #7 – Gaming (/1) is unbeaten in two races for trainer Bob Baffert and made dynamic mid-race moves in both at Del Mar while finishing strong.
- #10 – Chancer McPatrick (3/1) is unbeaten in three races for trainer Chad Brown and should see his numbers rise on the faster Del Mar surface.
- #6 – Citizen Bull (10/1) ran the highest last-race speed figure for trainer Bob Baffert, who also has value longshot #2 Getaway Car in the race.
- Value Plays & Longshots – #4 – Ferocious (6/1) has had plenty of problems in all of his races. #1 East Avenue is the favorite with a pair of wire-to-wire easy wins.
Race 10 – $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
- #13 – Henri Matisse (6/1) should like the firm footing at Del Mar as his best races were on a good surface in Europe for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
- #12 – Aomori City (10/1) has strong turf breeding and maybe it is a tell that jockey William Buick rides this one for trainer Charles Appleby instead of #4.
- #11 – New Century (5/2) is coming off a Grade I win in his US debut despite geƫting off to a slow start, being bumped late and racing 8 wide.
- Value Plays & Longshots – #4 – Al Qudra (4/1) race wide and finished second as the favorite in the Grade I Summer Stakes behind #11 New Centry. #6 Iron Man Cal (30/1) increased his speed figure in both of his starts and is unbeaten in two races at today’s distance. #5 Zulu Kingdom (8/1) is undefeated in three race for trainer Chad Brown and could benefit from cuƫting back in distance.
The storylines for the five Breeders’ Cup Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds are always interesting. Especially for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which starts the search for next year’s Kentucky Derby. The winner of the BC Juvenile will be an early favorite for the 2024 Kentucky Derby and gain much attention in the months ahead.
However, only two winners in the history of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile have won the Kentucky Derby the following year: Street Sense in 2006 and Nyquist in 2015.
Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness was the 2024 Kentucky Derby favorite, but he was never a factor and finished in 15th place to the surprise of many informed horse players.
You can watch and wager on horse racing and “Future Stars Friday” Breeders’ Cup races on FanDuelTV, along with eight more races Saturday on FanDuelTV and NBC plus Peacock. FanDuel is the only sportsbook App where you can bet on the Breeders’ Cup.
See you at Del Mar and the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
You can bet on it.