How to bet the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

An overflow field of 14 two-year-olds will dash five furlongs on the Del Mar lawn in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Eight of the 12 contestants in the main body of the field are imports, and the international cast seems like a formidable one, to say the least. Horses who prepped overseas have won the last three editions of the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Wagers

• $10 win/place/show #9 Shareholder ($30)
• $5 exacta key box 9 with 2,3 ($20)

In a race with so many viable contenders, I will search for value with the Karl Burke-trained #9 Shareholder (12-1), who is a generous number on the morning line. The Kentucky-bred was green in his debut showing on June 8 but came out on top, nonetheless, prior to heading to Royal Ascot for his second assignment. Not This Time colt outran his 12-1 odds by eclipsing the Norfolk S. (G2), topping 4-5 favorite #7 Whistlejacket (5-1), third placer #5 Arizona Blaze (15-1), fifth-place finisher #2 Aesterius (9-2), and others in the process.

Shareholder didn’t handle the soft going at Deauville in the Prix Morny (G1) in his latest assignment, but the Wathnan Racing color-bearer has done well in the interim and will be ready to roll in his U.S. debut. The April foal is still maturing, but he has a very high ceiling and will be a major contender if he puts it all together on Friday. William Buick will be in the controls. 

The aforementioned Aesterius has proven to be capable of performing over virtually any kind of ground and has been especially consistent for conditioner Archie Watson. Dark bay son of Mehmas is 4-for-6 with a pair of Group tallies to his credit this season, and the Irish-bred is also equipped with the natural early speed to stay in touch throughout the dash as well. Regular pilot James Doyle will be in the stirrups. 

#3 Big Mojo (4-1) missed by a neck in the Flying Childers S. (G2) at Doncaster in his latest performance, and the Group 3 victor will be a major factor with even slight improvement while making his first run in the states. The Mohaather colt has run well in each of his trio of five-furlong races to date, and the colt is capable of running from off the pace, which could be a valuable trait in a field with a whole lot of early gas. April foal gets a rider change to Tom Marquand for this heat.