Breeders' Cup 2016 Odds: Lines and Predictions for All Horses on Friday
The Breeders' Cup is a two-day horse racing event that starts with four races Friday.
The Friday card used to comprise filly races only, but that is no longer the case, with the Juvenile Turf, Dirt Mile, Juvenile Fillies Turf and Distaff all featuring on Nov. 4.
This marks the ninth time the Breeders' Cup has been held at Santa Anita Race Track, and handicappers will know that speed has held up well here before. There have been more wire-to-wire winners at Santa Anita than any other Breeders' Cup site.
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Additionally, inside horses perform well on the dirt track, while outside horses perform better in turf races.
Here's our look at Friday's four Breeders' Cup races.
| Juvenile Turf | 5:25 p.m. | Big Score | Oscar Performance | Ticonderoga |
| Dirt Mile | 6:05 p.m. | Gun Runner | Dortmund | Tom's Ready |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | 6:50 p.m. | La Coronel | Intricately | New Money Honey |
| Distaff | 7:35 p.m. | Beholder | Song Bird | Stellar Wind |
Juvenile Turf
Oscar Performance is the 4-1 favorite in the one-mile turf race that features a full field of 14 horses.
He is a notable horse who has two major victories in his last two races in New York, and his No. 13 post position gives him a good opportunity to get out and running well from the start.
The only negative with Oscar Performance is that New York horses usually don't perform as well at Santa Anita, and that will keep some bettors off of him.
As a result, take a strong look at No. 6 Big Score, who won a stakes race at Santa Anita within the last four weeks and has the ability to close well. He should be in an excellent position to pull an upset.
Ticonderoga will start from the No. 14 hole just outside Oscar Performance, and he has the ability to challenge the best horses in the field.
No. 8 Intelligence Cross is also worth consideration because he has been so consistent running in Europe. In addition to his success overseas, he has performed well on firm turf courses, which is normally the case at Santa Anita.
Prediction for Juvenile Turf: 1. Big Score; 2. Oscar Performance; 3. Ticonderoga.
Dirt Mile
While favorites have not always performed well in the Breeders' Cup—and that is even more the case when the event is held at Santa Anita—it's difficult to write off 6-5 favorite Dortmund in the nine-horse Dirt Mile field.
Dortmund was a Santa Anita Derby winner a year ago and challenged California Chrome in a race on the same course before coming up a couple of lengths short. He also likes the one-mile distance as he won his only race at that length.
Gun Runner will provide an interesting challenge because he won the Louisiana Derby before running in the Kentucky Derby and leading for part of that race.
Tom's Ready has also shown the ability to beat strong fields, as he has won two of his last three races. The horse has never run at Santa Anita, though, and that could be an issue.
Prediction for Dirt Mile: 1. Gun Runner; 2. Dortmund; 3. Tom's Ready.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
The Juvenile Fillies Turf has traditionally been one of the most wide-open races in the Breeders' Cup, and this year's field of 14 fillies should follow that same pattern.
This should be a good race to throw out the favorite, Roly Poly. That filly has done well in Europe, but she has never raced more than six furlongs (three-quarters of a mile), and this race is one mile.
As a result, look at Intricately to have a strong chance at 6-1. She pulled off a surprise victory in a Group 1 race in Europe but could be challenged Hydrangea, who also has a good chance to run well in this race.
La Coronel may be the best of the American horses in the race. She has run two solid races in a row and had a five-length win over New Money Honey at Saratoga. It would not be a shock to see La Coronel come up with the victory in this race.
Prediction for Juvenile Fillies Turf: 1. La Coronel; 2. Intricately; 3. New Money Honey.
Distaff
Songbird appears to be a dominant runner who should have an excellent chance to win this 1 1/16-mile race that includes eight runners. It is difficult to overlook a filly who is 11-for-11 in her career, and one of those victories came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies a year ago.
Beholder is a legitimate challenger to Songbird because the six-year-old won all five races she entered in 2015 and has also been competitive this year, with two wins and a second to California Chrome in the Pacific Handicap.
Those who like Beholder also have to be impressed with Stellar Wind, who has recorded two wins over the former in her career.
Prediction for Distaff: 1. Beholder; 2. Songbird; 3. Stellar Wind.
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