The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile Tipsheet

A full field of 14 will travel one mile on the Santa Anita lawn in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Breeders’ Cup Mile Picks

• #10 Songline
• #11 Kelina
• #14 Master of The Seas
• #13 More Than Looks

Breeders’ Cup Mile Wagers

• $20 win and place: #10 Songline
• $15 exacta box: 10,11
• $.20-cent superfecta: 10,11 with 10,11,13,14 with 10,11,13,14 with all 

Breeders’ Cup Mile Contenders

#1 SHIRL’S SPEIGHT (30-1): The Roger Attfield trainee finished a fine second in the race at 55-1 odds last season and is well-drawn on the rail for this run. The six-year-old had a useful prep for this event at Woodbine and might garner another minor award with a dream trip. John Velazquez will ride.

#2 GINA ROMANTICA (12-1): Interesting filly from the Chad Brown shedrow impressed when running down In Italian to take the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland to earn her second Grade 1 victory, both in Lexington. The Into Mischief four-year-old has some tactical speed and might get the jump on the deeper closing types on Saturday with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons.

#3 CASA CREED (8-1): Multiple Grade 1 victor from the Bill Mott shedrow continues to deliver fine performances at seven and possesses a fine late burst to make him a top-three contender in this spot. The son of Jimmy Creed was unplaced in his lone local assignment to date, but he lands in a better spot today, and the bay will be doing his best work late under Luis Saez.

#4 WIN CARNELIAN (30-1): The chestnut six-year-old is 5-for-10 at one mile and will make his U.S. debut for Yuichi Shikato. The Japanese import is a wild card in the field and could be almost any kind on Saturday with Kosei Mura in the stirrups.

#5 LUCKY SCORE (30-1): Consistent sort from the Mark Casse barn has won or placed in five straight graded efforts at Woodbine this campaign. The five-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky faces a tall task on the class rise against this group and would be a surprise with Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the reins.

 #6 MAWJ (4-1): Godolphin homebred aced her first U.S. assignment when leading throughout in the Queen Elizabeth II S. (G1) at Keeneland most recently and cuts back in distance for this endeavor. The sophomore filly rides in on a four-race win streak, with two of those coming at the one-mile trip, and her early speed will have her forwardly placed from the break with Oisin Murphy up.

#7 MASTEROFFOXHOUNDS (30-1): Six-year-old son of War Front has won or placed in nine of his 11 lifetime races on the surface and will be a pace factor for conditioner Phil D’Amato. The Kentucky-bred hasn’t won a race in 13 months, but he is quick and the bay will force the issue from the start with Edwin Maldonado accepting the mount.

#8 DU JOUR (15-1): The Bob Baffert trainee looked the part in taking the Del Mar Mile (G2) in his latest voyage and has arguably never been better leading up to this event. The Temple City gelding is a dual winner on the oval and will be rallying late as an exotics player with Flavien Prat in the irons.

#9 ASTRONOMER (20-1): The Simon Callaghan trainee ran a big one when just caught late in the City of Hope Mile (G2) in advance of this test. The Air Force Blue gelding is on the improve and will be part of the early tempo while drawing outside of the other pace in the field. The four-year-old might be well placed turning for home with turf ace Ryan Moore in the silks.

#10 SONGLINE (5-2): The top pick is arguably the top miler in Japan and looms as a menacing figure in the heat for trainer Toru Hayashi. The dark bay mare is a dual Group 1 heroine from three races since May and will be difficult to deny with anything close to her best performance under the guidance of Keita Tosaki.

#11 KELINA (6-1): The Frankel filly bagged the Prix de la Foret (G1) at Longchamp in especially impressive fashion most recently and will be a major contender with even slight improvement off of that victory. The sophomore miss has early speed to establish position into the first turn, as well as the turn of foot to be difficult to catch if she gains the edge in the lane. Maxime Guyon comes in to guide the win threat.

#12 EXAULTED (20-1): The Peter Eurton pupil has shown vast improvement since being moved to the turf and is a sterling 4-for-4 on the Santa Anita lawn, as well. The six-year-old son of Twirling Candy had a solid prep for the tilt when runner-up in the Del Mar Mile (G2) off the layoff, and he could move forward in his second outing back beneath Juan Hernandez.

#13 MORE THAN LOOKS (15-1): Interesting son of More Than Ready has steadily improved this season and comes off of a superb score in the Jefferson Cup S. at Churchill Downs for Cherie DeVaux. The Kentucky-bred colt owns a fine turn of foot in a field with a bit of pace signed on, so I can envision the dark bay challenging for a minor award late at a nice number. Joel Rosario riding adds to the appeal.

#14 MASTER OF THE SEAS (7-2): The Dubawi gelding romped in the Woodbine Mile (G1) two back prior to closing to be a close second in the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) in his latest offering. The Charlie Appleby trainee was assigned a difficult post while widest of all, but he has a superb turn of foot and still has to be considered a major win contender with go-to pilot William Buick in the silks.