Breeders' Cup: Del Mar Home Track Advantage Horses
Like many racetracks in the United States, there's something about Del Mar that allows certain horses to thrive. Some of those horses should have a huge say in this year's Breeders' Cup Races. Below, I've listed many of them. Check out the list!
Breeders' Cup Classic - Arrogate, Collected, Accelerate
Collected ran about as well as possible to hold off Accelerate and Arrogate in the 2017 Pacific Classic. Of the 3, I believe Arrogate ran the best. He didn't catch Collected. He did manage to prove that he has no problem racing over Del Mar's dirt surface. That was the main question after Arrogate bombed in the San Diego Handicap.
Arrogate might get the perfect set-up in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. Not only that, but he could go off at much kinder odds. Think about it. Due to Arrogate's losses in both the San Diego and the Pacific Classic, East Coast monster Gun Runner might actually go off as the favorite in this year's BC Classic.
Breeders' Cup Distaff - Stellar Wind, Vale Dori
With Songbird on the shelf, both Stellar Wind and Vale Dori shouldn't offer much in the way of odds to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Stellar Wind could be a 4/5 favorite while Vale Dori could go off at around 8/5. Both have no issue racing over Del Mar's dirt surface. A one-two finish in the BC Distaff seems more than probable.
Breeders' Cup Sprint - Drefong, Roy H
Drefong threw rider Mike Smith shortly after the gates opened in the Bing Crosby Stakes. Roy H got hung out wide around the final turn. Both are contenders to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Drefong should be the favorite while Roy H might offer overlay odds.
There's a chance Drefong ends up in the Breeders' Cup Mile. It depends on where Bob Baffert feels his best chance of winning will be. Since Drefong won the 7 furlong Forego at Saratoga so easily, Bob has some options.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile - Bolt D'Oro, Zatter
Bolt D'Oro looks like a horse that wants more ground. I'm not sure how much better he ran than Zatter. Trained by Bob Baffert, Zatter could take the lead in the BC Juvenile and never look back while Bolt D'Oro will have to go through or around a wall of horses. Both have no problem running at Del Mar, though.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Moonshine Memories, Piedi Bianchi
Both of these fillies should garner plenty of attention to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Piedi Bianchi might be the horse to back. She ran exceptionally well in the Del Mar Debutante. The field was loaded with highly thought of fillies. Piedi Bianchi almost pulled off the upset.
It should be hard for any East Coast horses to beat the equines that have already won races over Del Mar's dirt. Del Mar is a unique racetrack. Horses that have shown the ability to run well over the dirt surface must be upgraded in the 2017 Breeders' Cup.
Breeders' Cup Classic - Arrogate, Collected, Accelerate
Collected ran about as well as possible to hold off Accelerate and Arrogate in the 2017 Pacific Classic. Of the 3, I believe Arrogate ran the best. He didn't catch Collected. He did manage to prove that he has no problem racing over Del Mar's dirt surface. That was the main question after Arrogate bombed in the San Diego Handicap.
Arrogate might get the perfect set-up in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. Not only that, but he could go off at much kinder odds. Think about it. Due to Arrogate's losses in both the San Diego and the Pacific Classic, East Coast monster Gun Runner might actually go off as the favorite in this year's BC Classic.
Breeders' Cup Distaff - Stellar Wind, Vale Dori
With Songbird on the shelf, both Stellar Wind and Vale Dori shouldn't offer much in the way of odds to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Stellar Wind could be a 4/5 favorite while Vale Dori could go off at around 8/5. Both have no issue racing over Del Mar's dirt surface. A one-two finish in the BC Distaff seems more than probable.
Breeders' Cup Sprint - Drefong, Roy H
Drefong threw rider Mike Smith shortly after the gates opened in the Bing Crosby Stakes. Roy H got hung out wide around the final turn. Both are contenders to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Drefong should be the favorite while Roy H might offer overlay odds.
There's a chance Drefong ends up in the Breeders' Cup Mile. It depends on where Bob Baffert feels his best chance of winning will be. Since Drefong won the 7 furlong Forego at Saratoga so easily, Bob has some options.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile - Bolt D'Oro, Zatter
Bolt D'Oro looks like a horse that wants more ground. I'm not sure how much better he ran than Zatter. Trained by Bob Baffert, Zatter could take the lead in the BC Juvenile and never look back while Bolt D'Oro will have to go through or around a wall of horses. Both have no problem running at Del Mar, though.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Moonshine Memories, Piedi Bianchi
Both of these fillies should garner plenty of attention to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Piedi Bianchi might be the horse to back. She ran exceptionally well in the Del Mar Debutante. The field was loaded with highly thought of fillies. Piedi Bianchi almost pulled off the upset.
It should be hard for any East Coast horses to beat the equines that have already won races over Del Mar's dirt. Del Mar is a unique racetrack. Horses that have shown the ability to run well over the dirt surface must be upgraded in the 2017 Breeders' Cup.
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