The Breeders’ Cup has produced some spectacular displays throughout the last 26 years, many of them created at Churchill Downs. This year should prove to be no different. We all know the big names set to defend their titles, but there are a few races where the long-shots can upset the applecart or mess up the exotics. After long hours of research, studying the past performances until the numbers blurred together and banging my head against the keyboard for clarification, I’ve come up with a list of my picks. Of course, a morning line underdog, or horse in this case, could drop to 4-1 by post time.
MARATHON
Prince Will I Am – Getting good right now and is 3-1-1 over the surface.
Awesome Gem – How can’t you like him. He just keeps grinding away.
Alcomo - Very competitive lately, can sit off the pace and make the first move.
Precision Break – Bred to like the dirt, can’t discount the Euros.
Longshot - Gabriel’s Hill – appears to be lone speed. Leparoux is crafty enough to slow them down and steal the race.
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Winter Memories – the deserving favorite, impossible to overlook the pretty gray/roan filly.
Tale Untold – lost two heartbreakers at 7 furlongs, a mile should be just right for her.
Fancy Point – Very well-bred filly will take them as far as she can. Cutting back in distance could make her
dangerous on the front. Plus she and Winter Memories won in identical times over firm turf.
Kathmanblu – Speed figures have improved in every race and she gets a strong jock in Leparoux.
Longshot - Flood Plain – lightly raced and a tough post, but attracts one of the hottest jocks in Europe.
FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Evening Jewel – In the money in all but one start. Have to love her price and she almost won the KY Oaks.
Rightly So – In the money in all of her starts. Her front-running style has to overcome a tough outside post.
Switch – Beaten only ½ length by Zenyatta, her speed figures are improving and has the pedigree to like the
dirt.
Moonturn Misy – She’s fast and improving…and 30-1.
JUVENILE FILLIES
AZ Warrior – Has the breeding to love two turns and has given indications that she can sit off of the pace.
Awesome Feather – Can’t argue with undefeated. She can also sit off of the pace.
R Heat Lightning – Grade 1 winner is bred for dirt. She regressed a little last time out, but can rebound here.
Theyskens’ Theory – Stevie Wonderboy’s little half sis should love the dirt and distance.
Longshot – Harlan’s Ruby - She’s been working very well, one of the few who made up ground over conveyer
belt surfaces at Saratoga and Keeneland.
FILLY & MARE TURF
Midday – Hard to see beyond the favorite.
Harmonious – There’s something about John Shirreffs and fillies.
Red Desire – Strong effort last time out should set her up here.
Longshot - Keertana – Her daddy dead-heated in the BC Turf. This filly likes the CD lawn and has been in the money 18 of 20 lifetime starts.
DISTAFF
Blind Luck – She just keeps going and going and…
Unrivaled Belle – Pretty gray filly has been out of the money only once in her career.
Havre De Grace – She’ll get first jump on Blind Luck and can be right there, but drew a poor post position for
her running style.
Life At Ten – Might get into a duel with Malibu Prayer, which will soften her up.
Longshot - Acoma – Two for two over the track and can close into a hot pace. Her best lat pace speed figures
have come over the Churchill surface.
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