A superb and overflow field has been entered for Saturday’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). The 1 1/2-mile test has a strong international flair, and in a race that has been dominated by the Euros over the years, I am expecting a similar outcome in 2021.

Breeders’ Cup Turf  Picks

• #10 Yibir
• #13 Tarnawa
• #3 Domestic Spending
• #2 United
• #12 Teona

Breeders’ Cup Turf Wagers

• $40 win and place 10
• $1 superfecta 10,13 with 10,13 with 2,3,8,11,12 with all

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

Breeders’ Cup Turf Contenders

#1 ROCKEMPEROR showed improvement with the removal of blinkers last time out when registering a powerful score in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park. The bay son of Holy Roman Emperor possesses the tactical speed to stay in touch early, and he will benefit from having the inner post slot on Saturday. The exotics contender will have Javier Castellano in the controls.

#2 UNITED was close in the race when second in 2019 before being unplaced last season. Mandella pupil is a high-quality performer who can excel at various distances, and he has compiled a fine 6-3-2-0 lifetime mark at Del Mar. The Giant’s Causeway gelding loses regular pilot Prat, but John Velazquez is a fine replacement atop the six-year-old.

#3 DOMESTIC SPENDING rates as the top domestic contender in the cast for trainer Chad Brown. The Kingman gelding has never run 1 1/2 miles, but he is quite good at 10 furlongs, and his robust closing kick can play at any trip. He has been perfectly handled this season to excel on Saturday as a prime threat under Flavien Prat.

#4 ASTRONAUT upset the Del Mar H. (G2) at 1 3/8 miles last time out for Shirreffs. Quality Road colt has improved as the distances have increased and he has good current form, too, but this field might be a bit much for the dark bay at this stage of his development. Victor Espinoza will be in the stirrups.

#5 TRIBHUVAN led throughout in the United Nations (G1) two back and is one of two serious pace players in the cast. Brown trainee has elevated his game in 2021 with two graded tallies and a second in the Manhattan S. (G1), and he could sit a dream trip from second early on if not too headstrong in the early stages. Jose Ortiz has the call.

#6 ACCLIMATE brings big early foot to the field as the likely pacesetter in the field for conditioner Phil D’amato. California-bred has won or placed in four straight graded tries on the lawn while going long, and he could be a dangerous player for the gimmicks at a big price.

#7 WALTON STREET comes off a facile romp at Woodbine most recently when taking the Canadian International (G1) by more than five lengths. Charlie Appleby pupil is lightly raced for a seven-year-old, and he showed his class in Dubai earlier this season with a trio of very good performances. James Doyle will be in the silks atop the obvious contender.

#8 BROOME is the first of the Aidan O’Brien contingent and has a lot of appeal at a big price with Dettori riding. Australia five-year-old didn’t take to the heavy going at Longchamp most recently, but the Irish-bred can show much improvement while making his stateside bow in this spot on ground with less give to it. He rates as a top-four contender.

#9 SISFAHAN bagged a Group 1 event in Germany in July, which preceded a strong second in the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) behind subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Torquator Tasso. Chestnut sophomore still faces a tall task against this crew, but the form is excellent and he could be lively at a square number with Demuro in the stirrups.

#10 YIBIR aced his initial U.S. test when dominating the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park last time out, and I will tab him here. Appleby trainee is undoubtedly doing well in advance of this tilt, and while he might be a hint below the top players in the cast on paper, I think that he is sitting on a huge race on Saturday. In a year where Godolphin has won numerous big events, the gelding could be in line to add to the list. William Buick will ride.

#11 GUFO scored in the Sword Dancer (G1) two back, prior to checking in third in the Turf Classic for Clement. Stout late runner has been a bit more involved since adding blinkers three back, and his consistency makes him something of an exotics must use despite the depth of this field.

#12 TEONA faces males coming off a huge tally in the Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp. Roger Varian trainee is full of ability, and while she is relatively inexperienced, the daughter of Sea the Stars could be good enough to overcome it against this cast. David Egan has the assignment.

#13 TARNAWA toppled arguably a better field when taking this race down in 2020 at Keeneland for Dermot Weld. Classy lass was a bit unlucky when second best in both the Irish Champion S. (G1) and Arc in her last pair, and the daughter of Shamardal is the class standout in this field with Colin Keane in the silks. She is formidable.

#14 JAPAN looked very good when finishing a narrow second in the Sword Dancer two back, only to register a flat effort in the Turf Classic last out. O’Brien charge can be especially good on his best day, but the inconsistency that the son of Galileo shows makes him difficult to back with confidence, especially from the widest post.

#15 BOLSHOI BALLET was best when eclipsing the Belmont Derby (G1) in his U.S. debut, but the sophomore has been less impressive in two subsequent performances. Galileo colt faces a tall task from an impossible post on Saturday.

#16 CHANNEL MAKER gave a great account of himself when third in the race in 2020, but he is in questionable current form with four straight unplaced efforts. The Bill Mott pupil has been training in swift fashion as of late, but will need a lifetime best to make the frame if he gets into the field.

#17 MOGUL was a standout three-year-old who ran a good one in this at Keeneland last season, but the bay has not been on point during his four-year-old campaign. He missed by just three lengths from the widest post in 2020, but would be a surprise this time around for O’Brien.

#18 FRIAR’S ROAD will need multiple defections from the race to draw in for McCarthy. The son of Quality Road finished a neck back in the recent John Henry Turf Championship (G2) while making just his second lifetime run on the lawn. Has seemingly found his niche, but looks to be in deep facing this cast.

• More Tipsheets:
  • Breeders' Cup Juvenile
  • Breeders' Cup Distaff
  • Breeders' Cup Turf
  • Breeders' Cup Mile
  • Breeders' Cup Classic