Breeders' Cup 2015 Entries: Lineup Odds and Predictions for Friday Races

One of the biggest events on the thoroughbred calendar kicks off later Friday, when the Breeders' Cup holds the first four races of its 12-race schedule in Lexington, Kentucky, at Keeneland, one of the sport's historic venues. 

The Juvenile Turf, Dirt Mile, Juvenile Fillies Turf and Distaff all take place Friday. Per the Daily Racing Form, here's a look at the latest lineup and odds for each race:

Horse and Number	Odds
1. Dressed In Hermes	20-1
2. Azar	12-1
3. Manhattan Dan	20-1
4. Shogun	15-1
5. Highland Sky	20-1
6. Birchwood	8-1
7. Ray's the Bar	15-1
8. Airoforce	9-2
9. Sky Marshal	15-1
10. Conquest Daddyo	10-1
11. Hollywood Don	10-1
12. Camelot Kitten	12-1
13. Cymric	4-1
14. Hit It a Bomb	12-1
Also Eligible: 15. Sheikh of Sheikhs	20-1

In the Juvenile Turf, Cymric, a slight favorite at 4-1, has been cursed with a poor outside post position. Expect Airoforce, just behind at 9-2, to make this a very good race. As Evan Hammonds of the Blood-Horse noted, Airoforce has won before on the Keeneland surface, running a very impressive race there only this month.

For this race, I like Airoforce followed by Cymric, with the Del Mar Juvenile Turf champion, Hollywood Don, taking the show spot. An interesting note is that Hollywood Don had won two straight races on turf and will be returning to the surface here, after a third-place finisher on dirt in his last race (stats via Horse Racing Nation).  

Horse and Number	Odds
1. Red Vine	6-1
2 Bradester	12-1
3. Liam's Map	1-1
4. Mr. Z	20-1
5. Lea	5-1
6. Street Strategy	20-1
7. War Envoy	30-1
8. Wicked Strong	8-1
9. Tapiture	15-1
10. Valid	12-1
11. War Story	30-1

When a horse is going at 1-1 odds like Liam's Map in the Dirt Mile, it's rarely smart money to bet against it. Liam's Map has won five of seven races, all on dirt, since debuting in 2014 and finished second in the other two (stats via Horse Racing Nation).

He would be viewed as an interesting horse in the $5 million Classic. He should win here. 

In back of him, I am going with Lea for second, who has finished in the money (via Horse Racing Nation) for five of six races this year already. I'm riding a hunch to pick Wicked Strong for third, following his strong second-place finish at the Jockey Club Gold in Belmont earlier this month.

Ed Reinke/Associated Press

Horse and Number	Odds
1. Tin Type Gal	Scratched
2. Thrilled	10-1
3. Alice Springs	6-1
4. Catch a Glimpse	5-1
5. Ruby Notion	20-1
6. Andreya's Reward	30-1
7. Sapphire Kitten	8-1
8, Harmonize	7-2
9. Nemoralia	12-1
10. Illuminate	4-1
11. Pricedtoperfection	20-1
12. Gliding By	30-1
13. Mirage	30-1
14. Last Waltz	12-1
Also Eligible: 15. Time and Motion	20-1

For the Juvenile Fillies Turf field, I'm picking Illuminate, who has been an impressive short-distance horse on the English circuit. This is her first time above six furloughs, though. Melissa Bauer-Herzog of America's Best Racing pointed out that Illuminate's sire, Zoffany, was best on short distances, so her genetics could limit her. 

Behind her, I'm going with Catch a Glimpse to start strong, as he did at the Natalma Stakes, but end up dropping to second, with the favorite, Harmonize, to come in a disappointing show. 

Horse and Number	Odds
1. I'm a Chatterbox	8-1
2. Frivolous	20-1
3. Salama	30-1
4. Stopchargingmaria	15-1
5. Calamity Kate	20-1
6. My Sweet Addiction	30-1
7. Wedding Toast	4-1
8. Curalina	10-1
9. Stellar Wind	15-1
10. Yahilwa	12-1
11. Untapable	Scratched
12. Got Lucky	6-1
13. Warren's Veneda	30-1
14. Sheer Drama	7-2
15. Peace and War	30-1

After a big performance at Saratoga Race Course in the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes, Sheer Drama is the favorite for the Distaff. The mare's trainers sounded confident talking to the Blood-Horse last week, and I'm going with her to win here.

I'm taking Got Lucky, a daughter of A.P. Indy, for second. She's won four races this year, including the G1 Spinster, earlier this month (via Horse Racing Nation).

I've got Curalina to finish a surprising third in her first step up to race older horses. She's never finished out of the money in any of her first three races.