My Breeders' Cup Juvenile Picks
Game Winner winning the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) - © Benoit Photo
The Bob Baffert trained Game Winner looked like a lock to go off the favorite to win this year's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile. But, then, Chad Brown trained Complexity ran them off their feet in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park.
Complexity should push Game Winner for favoritism come Nov. 2. Will Game Winner and Complexity produce the lowest priced exacta at this year's Breeders' Cup? Or, is there a 2-year-old that can step between the two chalks to add value to the exacta?
He showed in the American Pharoah that he's got a decent turn of foot. He's also fast enough to keep Complexity within his sights. I've written before about how I love how Game Winner reaches out for the wire. I think he does that for the win in the Sentient Jet Juvenile on Nov. 2.
One thing to note is that although bred to love the grass, he's already shown an affinity for dirt. If he improves at all, he'll be in the catbird seat, around 3 to 5 lengths off Complexity, where he can pounce for the win. I don't have enough guts to put him on top, at least not yet, but that could change if he comes up well to the race.
Also, no offense to Brown, but his horses tend to bounce after huge performances. I'm talking about both Gronkowski coming out of the Belmont and into the Travers and Good Magic coming out of the Haskell and into the Travers.
Complexity should push Game Winner for favoritism come Nov. 2. Will Game Winner and Complexity produce the lowest priced exacta at this year's Breeders' Cup? Or, is there a 2-year-old that can step between the two chalks to add value to the exacta?
My Breeders' Cup Juvenile Picks
1. Game Winner
With every race, he's gotten faster. That alone makes it hard for me to leave the chalk out of the top spot. He might be the best bred horse running in the BC Juvenile, sired by Candy Ride and from an A.P. Indy mare.He showed in the American Pharoah that he's got a decent turn of foot. He's also fast enough to keep Complexity within his sights. I've written before about how I love how Game Winner reaches out for the wire. I think he does that for the win in the Sentient Jet Juvenile on Nov. 2.
2. Code of Honor
Like everyone else, I noticed how Code of Honor stumbled, regained his footing, went wide, and finished a fast closing second to Complexity in the Champagne. Trained by Claude McGaughey, the Champagne was Code of Honor's second lifetime race. He should improve big time for Shug.One thing to note is that although bred to love the grass, he's already shown an affinity for dirt. If he improves at all, he'll be in the catbird seat, around 3 to 5 lengths off Complexity, where he can pounce for the win. I don't have enough guts to put him on top, at least not yet, but that could change if he comes up well to the race.
3. Complexity
Ran them off their feet in the Champagne, but there's no telling if Code of Honor might have gotten past him if not for the stumble. Complexity's a talented horse. Every horse owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown seems talented, but I'm not sure he improves off the Champagne win. To beat Game Winner, he must improve.Also, no offense to Brown, but his horses tend to bounce after huge performances. I'm talking about both Gronkowski coming out of the Belmont and into the Travers and Good Magic coming out of the Haskell and into the Travers.
4. Signalman
Knicks Go won the Breeders' Futurity at 70-1. It's hard to see Knicks Go getting away with an easy lead and running off like he did to win the Breeders' Futurity. I can see the horse that finished second to Knicks Go plopping up and into the superfecta. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Signalman has a shot to blow up a superfecta ticket with 3 chalks taking up the slots ahead of him. That alone's a reason to consider him for 4th.ADVERTISEMENT
