Kristufek: Breeders’ Cup Friday Future Stars Focus
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October 11th, 2018
Breeders' Cup 2018 will feature 2-year-old racing on Friday, November 2nd as a focus on 'Future Stars'
by Joe Kristufek
For the first time in event history, day one of the Breeders’ Cup on November 2 has been designated “Future Stars Friday.”
Boys, girls, turf, dirt, route and sprint – chances are if you’ve got a 2-year-old with a touch of class who can really run, there’s a Breeders’ Cup race for you.
2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships
(Official Race Order to be announced on October 24)
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Friday, November 2 "Future Stars Friday" |
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RACE |
AGE, SEX |
DISTANCE |
PURSE |
|
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint |
2yo c&g & fillies |
5 1/2 furlongs (T) |
$1,000,000 |
|
2yo fillies |
1 mile (T) |
$1,000,000 |
|
|
2yo fillies |
1 1/16 miles |
$2,000,000 |
|
|
2yo c&g |
1 mile (T) |
$1,000,000 |
|
|
2yo c&g |
1 1/16 miles |
$2,000,000 |
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Game Winner and Bellafina are the household names, and Europe is sure to be well-represented in the grass races, but in this space, I will focus on some other juveniles worth watching on Future Stars Friday.
The Boys of Breeders' Cup
Horse Trainer Race Bris Speed Figs*
Code of Honor Claude McGaughey III Juvenile 95 * 93
Most recent race: Off a debut maiden wire job at Saratoga, he returned to finish second behind Complexity in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont, but an argument could be made that he ran the best race. Over a fair track playing track, he stumbled badly at the start, settled in at the rail, made a bold move on the turn, was hung six wide, and finished strongly into the fast pace.
Pedigree: Homebred RNA’ed for $70K as a yearling. By Noble Mission out of Reunited (Dixie Union). All seven of the dam’s starters have won, including Big League ($216K) and Crosswalk ($116K). The dam was a grade 3 winning sprinter who earned over $326K from just ten starts.
Thoughts: He has speed, but the late kick he displayed while overcoming adversity makes him that much more appetizing. He’s not bred to go long, but traveling 1 1/16 miles against the current competition shouldn’t prove detrimental. This will be the 30th anniversary of McGaughey’s 1988 Juvenile score with Rhythm.
Complexity Chad Brown Juvenile 99 * 96
Most recent race: Bet down to the favorite’s role in the Champagne (G1) off a stunning debut score at Saratoga, he only enhanced his lofty stature with a dominating win. Over a fair playing track, he set fast pace, switched leads perfectly off the turn, kept going and galloped out strongly.
Pedigree: $375K yearling purchase by Maclean’s Music out Goldfield (Yes It’s True). All four of the dam’s starters have won, including the graded stakes winning router Valadorna ($669K), who finished second the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at age two. The dam was unraced, but her half sister Springside won three races at age two, including the Demoiselle (G2).
Thoughts: He has speed, rates kindly, runs fast and keeps going. He bred to win early and to route. Can you say “total package”? Brown won last year’s Juvenile with Good Magic.
Champagne S. Race Replay:
Knicks Go Ben Colebrook Juvenile 92* 75 * 73 * 76
Most recent race: Completely dismissed at odds of 70-1 in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, he looked absolutely phenomenal in paddock prior to the race. Over a fair playing track, he set clear and honest pace while in hand, found another gear off the turn and extended his stride nicely.
Pedigree: $87K yearling purchase by Paynter out of Kosmo’s Buddy (Outflanker). Three of the dam’s four starters have won, but this is by far the most successful. The dam won twice at age two and earned nearly $300K sprinting on both turf and dirt. None of her nine siblings to race earned more than $60K.
Thoughts: Already an overachiever based on pedigree, he took an unexpected and giant leap forward in the Breeders’ Cup Futurity, but looked good doing it. Chances are most bettors won’t take him seriously. If he trains well in the coming weeks, he may be worth including on race day.
Breeders’ Futurity S. Race Replay:
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