Hanson: Betting plans for Day 1 of the 2020 Breeders' Cup

If you love betting 2-year-olds, Day 1 of the 2020 Breeders' Cup on Friday is definitely for you. A pair of juvenile sprint stakes will kick off the early double, to be followed later in the card by all five Breeders' Cup events restricted to Thoroughbreds in their first season of action. Here's how we'll be involved on the latter half of the program.

Recommended: BRISNET - Ultimate 2020 Breeders’ Cup Guide

Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) -- Race 6

The classy favorite #14 Golden Pal will have to be either flat-out faster than these or attempt to work out a trip from this seemingly disadvantageous post (though recall Mongolian Saturday won the 2015 Turf Sprint [G1] from post 14).

With so much speed here in addition to Golden Pal, our attention turns to the steadily improving closer #9 AFTER FIVE (6-1), who also hails from the Ward barn. He'll potentially get a much faster pace to chase than in the Futurity (G3) last out, where he was gaining late out in the middle of the course before falling a half-length short. He's our win wager at a middle-to-upper single-digit price.

Juvenile Turf (G1) -- Race 7

We've expounded on the merits of #5 CADILLAC (6-1) in a prior piece and we'll stick with him as a win play. The beautifully-bred #9 BATTLEGROUND (6-1), a son of 2015 Turf (G1) winner Found, perhaps has the better European classic credentials of the two going into next spring but will have to be at his best to fire off a layoff dating to late July. The Wesley Ward-trained #8 OUTADORE (8-1) might be overlooked a bit among the domestic contingent but shouldn't be if he continues to improve following a 2-for-2 start to his career.

I will link Battleground and Outadore in exotics plans with Cadillac and use all three in multi-race gimmicks.

Juvenile Fillies (G1) -- Race 8

In this intriguing battle to determine the 2020 champion of the division, #3 DAYOUTOFTHEOFFICE (5-2) appears to have the goods off a solid-looking score in the Frizette (G1), in which she remained undefeated through a trio of outings. Trainer Tim Hamm is an underrated conditioner who's perhaps better known for his success with state-bred champions in Ohio. With bettors possibly gravitating more toward those from the Baffert and McPeek barns, this filly's price might creep up slightly. She's our win play.

Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) -- Race 9

The two favorites among the U.S. contingent -- #5 Aunt Pearl and #4 PLUM ALI (4-1) -- share a mostly-common ownership. While Aunt Pearl highly impressed in the Jessamine (G2) over this course, Miss Grillo (G3) heroine Plum Ali is certainly no slouch and will offer more value. With the turf drying and Aunt Pearl perhaps receiving more early pressure, Plum Ali could see the strongest pace in her brief career in which to close into. We'll play her to win.