Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday Favorites Predictions

This year's Breeders' Cup Friday is all about the 2-year-olds. Dubbed Breeders' Cup Future Stars Friday, the Breeders' Cup races on Nov. 2 showcases plenty of talented 2-year-olds who could end up top 3-year-olds next year. Check out my predictions for which youngsters head onto the track favorites for the Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Turf, Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile.

Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday Favorites Predictions

Tito's Handmade Vodka Juvenile Fillies - Bellafina

Bellafina chased front-runner Vibrance through fairly fast fractions in the Sep. 29 Chandelier Stakes. Not only did she end up catching Vibrance, but she pulled away from some decent competitors including the Jerry Hollendorfer trained Brill and a first time maiden winner trained  by Bob Baffert. It was Bellafina's first try around 2-turns. She didn't just pass the test; she appeared to relish the added distance. A daughter of Quality Road, there's no telling how good she could be.

What's amazing is that with every start trainer Simon Callaghan has gotten Bellafina to run better and better. She could peak on Breeders' Cup Future Stars Friday.

You never know if they'll transfer their California form to Churchill Downs, but Bellafina has proven to be the best 2-year-old in the nation. Other 2-year-old fillies like Sippican Harbor are dependent upon the pace. Bellafina isn't. She'll enter the starting gate in the Juvenile Fillies as the odds-on chalk.

Juvenile Fillies Turf - La Pelosa

One of the few Grade 1 winners likely in the field, La Pelosa ran like a seasoned turf pro to win the Natalma Stakes in her last. She'll get the services of great European rider Jamie Spencer. Charles Appleby is one off the top trainers in the world while Godolphin almost always brings tough to beat juveniles to the Breeders' Cup.

One of the big things about La Pelosa is that she ran as straight as an arrow down the stretch in the Natalma even though Spencer repeatedly hit her on the left side with his whip. La Pelosa should not only go off the favorite but like Bellafina in the Juvenile Fillies, she should win.

Juvenile Turf - Forty Under

Forty Under chased super soft fractions in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes on Sep. 29. He still managed to catch a talented colt in Somelikeithotbrown. Although there's a huge chance that Aidan O'Brien saddles 1 or 2 horses to run in this year's Juvenile Turf, Forty Under should go off the favorite.

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart has this 2-year-old on the top of his game. He already proved he can win a race coming off the pace. He might just be better than the other competitors he'll face in this year's Juvenile Turf. I think he offers favorite's odds on Nov. 2.

Sentient Jet Juvenile - Game Winner

After Game Winner decimated his competition in the American Pharoah Stakes on June 29, there's no doubt that trainer Bob Baffert's going to shoot for a third Triple Crown since 2015 with the son of Candy Ride. Not only is Game Winner undefeated, but he didn't even blink when running past front runner Rowayton in the American Pharoah. Game Winner then surged while in the stretch to easily put away Gunmetal Grey.

Game Winner had to battle fast fractions before putting away talented Rowayton. We know Baffert's going to have this guy ready to bust out of his skin on Nov. 2. No matter what any other 2-year-old does from now until the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Game Winner's the chalk heading into the race.