Five under the radar contenders for Breeders' Cup Friday
Oviatt Class getting ready for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Photo by Horsephotos)
November 4th, 2021
A handful of graded stakes contests for two-year-olds highlights a sizzling ‘Future Stars Friday’ card at Del Mar. Four of the five major events boast deep and highly competitive fields with horses that offer great value, and below are a few contenders of interest to me that could make noise at a price.
Race 6 - Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2)
This grassy dash was good to me last year, so I will seek a repeat of good fortune in the event. Conditioner Brian Meehan doesn’t send horses to the states unless they are well-meant, and the two-time ‘Cup-winning trainer has #4 Vertiginous (20-1) for the tilt. By Oasis Dream, the Irish-bred broke through with a nice tally against the boys at Ayr most recently, and she has the speed to stay in touch early on this occasion. The March foal is worth using in the exotics under Castellano.
Race 8 - Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1)
I am interested in a pair of More Than Ready fillies in the field. Shortleaf Stable homebred #5 Bubble Rock (8-1) is a mystery going one-mile for the first time but has tons of appeal to me nonetheless. Brad Cox's pupil was a bit more workmanlike in her Matron S. (G3) victory compared to her superb maiden score on the Saratoga lawn two back, but she is bred to get the trip and her tactical speed will also give her first run on the deep closers in the affair. Irad Ortiz riding is always a plus.
#7 Consumer Spending (8-1) has done little wrong from a trio of career performances for Chad Brown, who has saddled five of the 13 previous winners of the affair. The Klaravich color bearer has displayed a potent turn of foot to this stage of her development, and if she gets clear sailing in the stretch, then the talented miss will be a serious threat inside the final furlong under Flavien Prat.
Race 9 - Juvenile (G1)
I don’t feel that my top pick, #10 Commandperformance (5-1), qualifies as a dark horse in the race so I will tab another who I like to register a top-four result. American Pharoah (G1) third #3 Oviatt Class (20-1) has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each career try to date for Keith Desormeaux. The ever-improving two-year-old hails from the same female line as champion Essential Quality, he is proven over the Del Mar surface, and the late runner could very well receive a fast and contested pace to rally into late.
Race 10 - Juvenile Turf (G1)
The Friday finale attracted an overflow field of 16 for the ultra-competitive tilt. Conditioner Aidan O’Brien is responsible for saddling four winners of the contest, and his lone entrant in the turf fray this season is Group 3 victor #8 Glounthaune (12-1), who is great value in my opinion. The expensive son of Kodiac was a brave debut winner over a talented youngster earlier in the season, and he could be poised for his best showing third time off the layoff while getting more ground to work with. I love the presence of Ryan Moore in the silks aboard the hot prospect.
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