How to bet the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

An overflow field of 16 two-year-olds will travel one mile on the Del Mar lawn in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

RELATED: 2024 Breeders' Cup News and Notes

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Wagers

• $2 trifecta key 11 with 4,7,12,13 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 11 with 4,7,12,13 with ALL ($24)
• 10-cent superfecta box 4,7,11,12,13 ($12)

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Analysis

The deep and talented cast features legitimate contenders from top to bottom, and while I’m generally not a fan of siding with a favorite in a group with such quality in it, I was blown away by Summer S. (G1) winner #11 New Century (5-2) at Woodbine and will come right back with the colt in this spot. 

Trained by Andrew Balding, the son of Kameko was unplaced in his debut on the all-weather strip at Lingfield in June but made good on the move to the green in his second assignment when streaking home a comfortable winner at Doncaster. Following a second to fellow Juvenile Turf contender #4 Al Qudra (4-1) at Royal Ascot, the February foal led throughout in a stakes triumph at Salisbury on Aug. 14. 

In the Summer S. while making his North American debut, New Century rated well off of a swift early tempo before being given his cue turning for home, and he delivered in a big way. The colt fanned eight-wide in the stretch but passed horses with ease en route to an ultra-impressive, 1 1/4-length tally while getting a measure of revenge on Al Qudra.

Regular pilot Oisin Murphy retains the mount on New Century, and I would be surprised if he is not in a prime spot in the stretch on Friday. 

The longshot I’m most intrigued by for the exotics in the test is #7 Seagulls Eleven (12-1). One of two in the group for conditioner Hugo Palmer, the consistent chestnut has never run a bad one from five lifetime appearances to date, and I feel that he will prosper in his first try beyond seven furlongs.

Seagulls Eleven was a positive third in the Vincent O’Brien National S. (G1) at the Curragh two back, and I will give him a pass for his fourth-place result in the Dewhurst S. (G1) at Newmarket over a heavy turf course most recently. I expect him to move forward over the firm ground at Del Mar with Luis Saez inheriting the mount. 

Conditioners Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby have combined to saddle the winner of this race in nine of the last 13 years, so I will use each of their runners in the gimmicks as well. The aforementioned Al Qudra, Group 2 star #12 Aomori City (10-1), and dual Group 2 victor #13 Henri Matisse (6-1) will make the ticket.