Tipsheet: 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile

An excellent field of 10 juveniles will travel 1 1/16 miles over the main surface at Keeneland in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

RELATED: Meet the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile contenders

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile picks

• #3 Cave Rock
• #5 Verifying
• #10 National Treasure
• #4 Forte

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile wagers

• $2 Superfecta: 3 with 4,5,10 with 4,5,10 with ALL ($84)
• 50-cent Superfecta: 3,4,5,10 with 3,4,5,10 with 3,4,5,10 with ALL ($84)
  Total: $168

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile contenders

#1 HURRICANE J comes in off of a pair of sprint tallies to begin his career and rates as a pace presence for conditioner Paulo Lobo. Speedy Nyquist colt got assigned the rail and will likely be sent from the break with Joe Talamo at the controls.

#2 CONGRUENT streaked home a smart winner of the Laurel Futurity in his most recent endeavor. Gray son of Tapit is bred for the distance, but he will need a major step forward to challenge for the top prize in this tilt for trainer Antonio Sano. Jose Ortiz will be in the silks.

#3 CAVE ROCK has yet to be headed in a trio of powerful wins to date for trainer Bob Baffert. Dark bay son of Arrogate has posted triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings in each lifetime try in advance of Friday, and the Kentucky-bred colt looms large with anything resembling his top performance. Juan Hernandez gets the riding assignment.

RELATED: Pedigree profile: Cave Rock

#4 FORTE was an impressive winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on this surface last time out for trainer Todd Pletcher. Two-time Grade 1 hero possesses a fine turn of foot, and the son of Violence will also be dead-fit with four races under his belt this campaign. Forte will be the main late danger in the field with jockey Irad Ortiz taking the reins.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Forte

#5 VERIFYING gives me the impression of a live longshot for trainer Brad Cox. A sharp debut sprint winner at Saratoga in August, the expensive son of Justify most recently led late before settling for second in the Champagne (G1) while making his stakes debut. The May foal will appreciate the move to two turns with Joel Rosario retaining the ride.

#6 BLAZING SEVENS pounced late to win the Champagne in going-away fashion in his latest outing for conditioner Chad Brown. Good Magic juvenile owns a nice closing punch, and he also retains the services of Flavien Prat, but the Kentucky-bred colt will have to get faster in order to challenge the main players in the field down the stretch.

#7 WOUND UP has yet to run on dirt and is a total wildcard in the contest. Michael McCarthy trainee made up late ground in a grassy turf sprint most recently, but he would be a major surprise on this occasion with regular pilot Mario Gutierrez coming in to guide the $280,000 two-year-old purchase. 

#8 LOST ARK dominated in his first two tries prior to finishing a distant sixth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in his latest venture. Pletcher pupil, who is a half-brother to the mighty Nest, will need to produce a career-best effort to make the frame against this deep group. Luis Saez will be in the stirrups.

SCULLY: Nest comes rolling into the Breeders' Cup Distaff

#9 CURLY JACK closed from off the pace to bag the Iroquois (G3) beneath the Twin Spires for trainer Tom Amoss. Kentucky-bred son of Good Magic comes in fresh, and he should get a swift early tempo to rally into late, so the colt could pick up some pieces inside the final furlong at a big price with Edgar Morales riding.

#10 NATIONAL TREASURE finished a clear second after chasing Cave Rock throughout in the American Pharoah (G1), his second lifetime assignment for Baffert. Dangerous son of Quality Road was sharp in his debut victory at Del Mar with blinkers, and after removing them for his stakes bow, the $500,000 yearling buy will have the hood back on for Friday. National Treasure will be forwardly placed with John Velazquez up.