How to bet the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

A dozen juveniles dashing five furlongs on turf can be a recipe for chaotic results. But there’s a strong chance we’ll see the opposite in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

The first of 14 Breeders’ Cup races taking place over two days at Del Mar, the five-furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint appears reasonably straightforward to handicap. European raiders have largely struggled in the first three editions of this abbreviated grass dash, with none finishing better than third. Meanwhile, American trainer Wesley Ward has excelled, saddling the winners in 2020 and 2019 plus the 2018 runner-up.

Ward has entered three fillies in the 2021 Juvenile Turf Sprint, with #8 Averly Jane (5-2) looming as a formidable favorite. The daughter of Midshipman is undefeated and unchallenged in four starts across dirt and turf, winning every time by a minimum of three lengths. Just as importantly, three over her wins have comes against stakes company—she’s beaten males in the Kentucky Juvenile S., Skidmore S., and Indiana Summer S.

Averly Jane has serious speed, but she’s not a pure pacesetter either, achieving two of her victories with tracking tactics. This adaptability affords her options for working out a perfect trip against Friday’s full field. If the pace is blazing—which it might be—Averly Jane can settle off the speed before pouncing in the homestretch. But if the pace comes up unexpectedly slow, Averly Jane is capable of seizing the initiative and leading all the way.

In short, we won’t try to oppose Averly Jane. Instead, we’ll start our Juvenile Turf Sprint betting strategy with a $10 win bet on Averly Jane. Thanks to the Breeders’ Cup Money Back 2nd and 3rd promotion from TwinSpires, we’ll receive a refund if Averly Jane settles for second or third place.

But we won’t stop here. Instead, we’ll double down on supporting Averly Jane, betting her on top of exacta tickets. For second place, we’ll use Averly Jane’s stakes-winning stablemate #6 Twilight Gleaming (4-1) and also #9 One Timer (4-1) and #10 Time to Party (15-1), who ran 1-2 in the five-furlong Speakeasy S. at Santa Anita last month.

One Timer is a pure speedster undefeated in three starts, while Time to Party is a versatile gelding capable of rallying from off the pace if necessary. If a hot tempo burns out some of the pace horses, Time to Party can pick up the pieces at a big price.

Betting the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

• $10 to win on #8 Averly Jane
• $5 Exacta: 8 with 6,9,10 ($15)
• Total: $25

Good luck!

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The video below contains all available race replays for Breeders' Cup contenders' last racing effort, for your handicapping ease. TwinSpires has your back!

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