Tipsheet: 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf

A well-matched field of 13 grassy stayers will run 1 1/2 miles on the Keeneland turf in Saturday’s lucrative $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

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Breeders’ Cup Turf picks

• #11 Mishriff
• #5 Rebel’s Romance
• #2 War Like Goddess
• #4 Broome
• #13 Highland Chief

Breeders’ Cup Turf wagers

• $20 to win and place on #11 Mishriff ($40)
• $5 Exacta key box: 11 with 3,4,5,13 ($40)
• $3 Trifecta key: 11 with 2,4,5,13 ($36)
  Total: $116

Breeders’ Cup Turf Contenders

#1 BYE BYE MELVIN led to the turn for home before ultimately finishing second in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Aqueduct last time out. Graham Motion trainee has never toppled a field of this stature, but he has been consistently solid over the past few campaigns and should give a good account of himself on Saturday.

#2 WAR LIKE GODDESS will face the boys in her most demanding assignment to date for trainer Bill Mott. The superb English Channel mare, who went close in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1), is a neck shy of being unbeaten this season, and she is also a sterling 5-for-5 racing 1 1/2 miles. The five-year-old mare will be a menacing figure inside the final furlong beneath Joel Rosario.

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#3 STONE AGE is the first of two for conditioner Aidan O’Brien. Galileo colt has kept elite company overseas in his last pair when running well, and the sophomore also flashed ability in a pair of tries in New York during the summer. Ryan Moore riding adds to the appeal.

#4 BROOME came home a fantastic runner-up in this race last season and has to be given a realistic chance to go one better on Saturday with Irad Ortiz back in the silks. The hard-trying son of Australia exits a pair of difficult Group 1 tests and should appreciate a measure of class relief in this field for O’Brien. The bay will be coming from off of the early tempo.

#5 REBEL’S ROMANCE has run off four wins from four lifetime tries on the turf for conditioner Charlie Appleby. The two-time Group 1 star is a fine 8-for-11 overall but has really thrived since switching to turf in 2022, with his four grass wins all coming over 1 1/2 miles. Dubawi gelding possesses tactical speed and will get first run on the deep-closing types with James Doyle riding the morning line choice.

#6 CHANNEL MAKER checked in fifth in this race in 2021 and is always one to consider for Mott. The $3.6 million earner had a solid prep over the Keeneland turf, and the eight-year-old will be forcing the tempo some from the start at a big price. Jose Ortiz has the call.

#7 NATIONS PRIDE gives Appleby a formidable duo in the group. Teofilo colt strode home to easily take the Saratoga Derby (G1) and Jockey Club Derby (G3) in his last pair of showings, and he will be a major contender in the lane with any improvement off of those performances. William Buick comes in to pilot the talented three-year-old.

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#8 MASTER PIECE ships from the West Coast for trainer Michael McCarthy. The Chilean-bred is in excellent current form following an Eddie Read (G2) coup and a close second in the Del Mar H. (G2), but he will have to prove he can negotiate 1 1/2 miles against a field of this stature. Tyler Gaffalione will be in the stirrups.

#9 GOLD PHOENIX is a Grade 2 victor who has won or placed in each of his nine lifetime tries to date for trainer Phil D’Amato. The California-based son of Belardo hasn’t done much wrong to date, but he will need a lifetime-best showing to make an impact in this heat. Flavien Prat is taking the reins.

#10 RED KNIGHT has shown improvement in each of his three tries since joining the Mike Maker shedrow this campaign. The Pure Prize millionaire ran well while in trouble in the recent Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland, and the chestnut could rally into a placing with clear sailing turning for home on Saturday. Luis Saez will be in the silks.

#11 MISHRIFF is the class of the field who will make his final career start for trainer John Gosden. The $15 million earner has not been at his absolute best in 2022, but the son of Make Believe does have excuses for some of his results, and his best is still plenty good enough to topple this field. The multiple Group 1 superstar will have Frankie Dettori up for his swan song.

#12 NAUTILUS would be a major surprise while making his first run on U. S. ground since arriving from Brazil. The chestnut son of Drosselmeyer is a class question mark and is hard to endorse from this corner at this stage of his development. Javier Castellano will ride.

#13 HIGHLAND CHIEF is a contender that I have backed in each of his four graded stakes tilts in 2022 for Graham Motion. The Gleneagles five-year-old is not super consistent, but he has back class and current form coming off a tally in the Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland in his latest venture. John Velazquez will pilot the promising longshot.