2024 Breeders’ Cup: Betting the Future Stars Friday Pick 5

The 2024 Breeders’ Cup kicks off with a five-race Future Stars Friday program at Del Mar, all Grade 1 events exclusively for two-year-olds.

At Santa Anita last year, the challenging Pick 5 sequence paid $16,347 for a 50-cent wager.

For a $100 budget, I have constructed a ticket for this year's Future Stars Friday Pick 5, and my thoughts on the races are below.

Breeders’ Cup Friday Pick 5 Wager (races 6-10)

• 50-cent ticket: 2,3,7,8,9,10,11 with 2,3,9 with 1 with 1,10 with 3,11,12,13 = $84

Race 6: Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), 5:45 p.m. ET

Last year’s five-furlong turf dash proved formful, with 3-1 second choice Big Evs prevailing on the front end, but I lack conviction in the 2024 edition, seeking to survive and advance with seven runners. 

#10 Governor Sam (12-1), a winner of four straight for George Weaver, rates as an intriguing longshot in the 12-horse field, and I’ll include #2 Aesterius (9-2), #3 Big Mojo (4-1), #7 Whistlejacket (5-1), #8 Ecoro Sieg (7-2), #9 Shareholder (12-1), and #11 Gate to Wire (30-1).

Race 7: Juvenile Fillies (G1), 6:25 p.m. ET

A convincing winner in her last two starts, #9 American Bikini (5-1) brings quality speed to the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies, and she made a good impression when training in company with top Japanese sprinter Don Frankie at Del Mar, according to reports. I like the addition of 14-time Breeders’ Cup race winner Ryan Moore and will tab the Japanese filly on top. 

I expect to see a better break from #2 Snowyte (15-1), who did not get out of the gate well in the Frizette (G1) and looms as an interesting front-end candidate with Luis Saez picking up the mount at long odds. And unbeaten Alcibiades (G1) winner #3 Immersive (3-1) also will be added to the mix.

Race 8: Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), 7:05 p.m. ET

#1 Lake Victoria (8-5) looks like a serious prospect for next year’s classic races for three-year-old fillies, recording impressive wins in the Cheveley Park (G1) and Moyglare Stud (G1) in her last two outings, and she doesn’t appear to be facing a deep field in this year’s one-mile Juvenile Fillies Turf. 

Trained by 18-time Breeders’ Cup race winner Aidan O’Brien, Lake Victoria owns the tactical ability to make her own trip, and I will single the classy Irish-based daughter of Frankel.

Race 9: Juvenile (G1), 7:45 p.m. ET

After a brilliant debut win over six furlongs at Ellis Park, #1 East Avenue (5-2) stretched to two turns with a powerful runaway triumph in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. There’s other speed entered in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile, but none appear quicker than East Avenue, who I will tab for a frontrunning win. 

If the speed comes back to the field, Champagne (G1) and Hopeful (G1) victor #10 Chancer McPatrick (3-1) is a likely beneficiary.

Race 10: Juvenile Turf (G1), 8:25 p.m. ET

The field is four deep in the one-mile Juvenile Turf. I’m keen on a trio of European-based runners drawn outside, #11 New Century (5-2), #12 Aomori City (10-1), and #13 Henri Matisse (6-1), but #3 Noble Confessor (15-1) is the top pick. 

He’s winless from three starts, but I liked how the Todd Pletcher-trained colt switched to turf in the Sept. 28 Pilgrim (G2) at Aqueduct, missing by a neck to odds-on Zulu Kingdom. Noble Confessor had to wait for a seam in the stretch, splitting rivals down toward the inside, and didn’t appear to be on the best part on the yielding turf like the winner, running out of room on the wire. The Quality Road colt galloped out powerfully, about 10 lengths in front of the rest, and figures to gain plenty from the experience.