Breeders' Cup 2015 Post Positions: Friday's Horse Odds, Prize Money, Predictions
The last big thoroughbred event of the year starts Friday in Louisville, Kentucky, as the first four races of the 2015 Breeders' Cup are held at Keeneland. There will be $6 million in prize money for these four races.
In two of these races, favorites have drawn outside positions. Here's the lineup, courtesy of the Daily Racing Form:
| Post Position and Horse | Odds: |
| 1. Dressed In Hermes | 20-1 |
| 2. Azar | 12-1 |
| 3. Manhattan Dan | 20-1 |
| 4. Shogun | 15-1 |
| 5. Highland Sky | 30-1 |
| 6. Birchwood | 8-1 |
| 7. Ray's the Bar | 15-1 |
| 8. Aeroforce | 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 | 15-1 |
| Also Eligible: 15. Sheikh of Sheikhs | 20-1 |
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In the $1 million Juvenile Turf, Cymric is way out in the unlucky No. 13 spot, so I am picking local horse Aeroforce to edge out the win. He's experienced on this track. I'm taking Hollywood Don for third in what is a return to grass for the California champion.
| Post Position and Horse | 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 Envoy | 30-1 |
In the $1 million Dirt Mile, there doesn't seem to be any way possible to pick against the favorite, Liam's Map, to win. The DFR notes say he would have been a contender in the Classic. She has finished in the money in five of six races this year (via Horse Racing Nation), so I'm going with Lea to place and, after a second-place finish (via Horse Racing Nation) running at Belmont earlier this month, I'm going with Wicked Smart to show.
I'm predicting the top three horses for this race start out within fairly close position of each other, in the three, five and eight spots.
| Post Postion and Horse: | Odd: |
| 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: Time and Motion | 20-1 |
For the $2,000,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf, I like the fact that Illuminate was an elite horse in her age group, so I'm picking her to win in her first move up against older horses. I think Catch a Glimpse will get out of the gate quickly in the four spot and come in second, with favorite Harmonize disappointing a bit with a mere show.
| Post Position and Horse: | Odds: |
| 1. I'm a Chatterbox | 8-1 |
| 2. Frivilous | 20-1 |
| 3. Salama | 30-1 |
| 4. Stopchargingmaria | 15-1 |
| 5. Calamity Kate | 30-1 |
| 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 | 5-1 |
| 12. Got Lucky | 6-1 |
| 13. Warren's Veneda | 30-1 |
| 14. Sheer Drama | 7-2 |
| Also Eligible: 15. Peace and War | 30-1 |
For the $2,000,000 Distaff, I think the veteran mare Sheer Drama will make a dramatic run from the far, No. 14 position to beat the field. She's won three races and hasn't finished below second in 2015 (via Horse Racing Nation).
I'm taking Got Lucky to make her papa, A.P. Indy, proud and run a good race to place second from the 12. This is a great bloodline that I expect to see make strong showings throughout the weekend. I'm picking Curalina to run strong and take the show position in her first test against an older field.
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