Happy Future Stars Friday! 

The Juvenile has a heavy favorite in the form of Bob Baffert’s Hughes. The Juvenile Turf is wide open and it should be noted Aiden O’Brien has won last four editions of the Juvenile Turf and eight of the seventeen editions of the race. He has four in the starting gate today in the 10th race. 

Trivia Question: Which trainer has won the most Breeders’ Cup races? 

Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade I 

One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt for Two Year Olds 

1. Damavand: Broke his maiden in his second career race going two turns at Keeneland as he tracked the leaders and wore down the favorite to win by a neck (75 Beyer). Saez takes over for Johnny V who rides American History. Will need to improve to contend.
2. Gaudreau: SCRATCHED.
3. Salahudin: Undefeated Baffert trainee runs here off a win in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill where he overcame a tough trip and being hung four wide on the turn but kept at it to win by a half a length (83 Beyer). Uncle Mo colt looked better as he has added ground and now goes two turns after handling the flat mile in the Iroquois. “Other Baffert” angle. Possible.
4. Earth Song: Won at first asking as he defeated a three horse MSW field at Monmouth where he was much the best (69 Beyer). Went to the Champagne off that win and was in position turning for home but was bumped by U.S. S. Valor at the quarter pole and faded after that contact (79 Beyer). Not fast enough. Passing.
5. Hughes: Undefeated in four starts for Baffert. Most recently in the Grade I American Pharoah where he earned a 100 Beyer as he stalked and then got clear easily. Two back in the DelMar Futurity he won easily while under wraps (84 Beyer). That triple digit Beyer stands out but he hasn’t beaten much not to mention that he had several faster ones to his outside that he will have to deal with. Prat in the irons. Logical favorite.
6. American History: Won the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland where he made up five lengths to catch Coach Pope (85 Beyer) at today’s distance. That followed a blowout MSW win at the Spa where he was wide and then he drew off (73 Beyer).  He should have some pace in front of him to run at from mid-pack. Win candidate.
7. Coach Pope: Broke his maiden going the flat mile at Churchill (86 Beyer) and then went to the Breeders’ Futurity where he was up on a strong pace but couldn’t handle a closing American History (83 Beyer) in the final sixteenth. The Pick.
8. He Is No Lie: Second in the Bashford Manor (86 Beyer) where he was in a pace duel as he was just nipped at the wire. In the Iroquois he pressed a strong pace but couldn’t hold off odds on favorite Salahudin (82 Beyer). Should go to the front from this outside post. Maybe a piece of it.

Picks 7-6-5-3 

Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf  – Grade I 

One Mile on the Turf for Two Year Olds 

1. Induction: SCRATCHED
2. Avec Toi: Started his career with four straight wins in France including the Group 3 Prix la Rochette at Longchamps where he was prominent from the gate and took field the entire way just getting the head bob at the wire. Then moved to Group 1 company earlier this month in the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere also at Longchamp where he traveled mid-pack but did have the necessary quickening as he finished 6th. Prat in the irons. Blinkers ON. Gets a piece.
3. Florida Bay: Two most recent efforts for the Aiden O’Brien trainee have been in Group 1 company. In the National Stakes at the Curragh in September he led until the final furlong where Folsom Blues exploded to his outside. Last out he was fourth in the Prix Lean-Luc Lagardere he attended the pace and got to the lead in the final furlong but couldn’t handle the late movers and finished fourth. A step below.
4. Haffner: Three time winner for Aiden O’Brien won last out at Newmarket in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes as he finished strongest going a mile which was just two weeks after failing to fire in the National Stakes over a yielding surface where Folsom Blues was best. Should get firm ground today which looks like is his preference. The Pick.
5. How’s Al Today: Has won both of his turf starts for Riley Mott including a win in the Juvenile Mile Stakes at Kentucky Downs (94 Beyer) where he tracked the leaders and then ran them down. Had a similar trip and result as he defeated allowance company ten days earlier also at Kentucky Downs (82 Beyer). We know he can get a mile, but Keeneland is nothing like Kentucky Downs. Underneath.
6. Pikachu: Broke his maiden in his fourth career start and then went to the Group 1 Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown where he was a distant fourth as he lacked a punch when the running really started. Gets a weight break as he goes from 131lbs and 133lbs in his two most recent starts to 122lbs. His speed fig will need to jump up significantly to contend. Passing.
7. Let Em Know: Won the Pilgrim last out as he stalked the leaders and was best in the final eighth as he held off the closers (77 Beyer). Two back in the Summer Stakes he got buried on the rail and had to wait for space but once it opened up he finished a close up fifth (72 Beyer). Beyers are lacking. Passing.
8. Liam’s Law: Broke his maiden at the Spa going two turns as he went gate to wire. In the With Anticipation he only defeated two other runners including the 1/2 favorite (72 Beyer). Might be the pace setter. Not fast enough. Don’t see it.
9. Sale Shark: Oisin Murphy comes over to ride this colt who has won two 5F sprints from six starts. Has not gone beyond six furlongs. Will have to show he wants a route of ground. Passing.

10. Folsom Blues: Joesph O’Brien trainee has hit the board in all six career starts. Last out he was a strong second last out at Longchamps in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as he was out finished. Two back he was best in the Group 1 National Stakes as he rallied from the back of the pack and blew past the leaders. Has been best on soft or yielding ground. Win candidate.
11. Man’s Best Friend: Won a Group 2 at Goodwood in July and then went to France where he was fourth in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville and then was a close third in the Group 1 Jena-Luc Lagardere at Longchamps. Ryan Moore moves to Great Barrier Reef. Lean against.
12. Oscar: Broke his maiden at the Spa where he sat a pocket trip and got through on the hedge to just out finish Bold Leadership who was 1/2 (70 Beyer). Went to Woodbine for the Grade 1 Summer Stakes where he was covered up in mid-pack, got to the lead, but couldn’t hold off  3/5 Godolphin colt Al Hudaiba who ran greenly but was still best (75 Beyer).  Exotics play.
13. Agate: Runs here off a nice win in the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland as he sat chilly on the rail and got clear when the space opened up (81 Beyer). That effort matched his Beyer two back in the Juvenile Mile at Kentucky Downs where he finished third. Possible slice.
14. Great Barrier Reef: Won his first three starts for Aiden O’Brien including the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Off that win he was sick and didn’t run again until August when he lost a head bob in the Group 3 Round Table Stakes at the Curragh. Three weeks ago in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes he didn’t fire when asked – finishing third of five. Ryan Moore rides here over other options. If he is rounding back into form he is dangerous, but this is a tough post. Lean against.
15. Popcorn: AE that draws in. Catholic Boy colt broke his maiden first out and then won the Kitten’s Joy at Colonial as the odd on favorite (71 Beyer). In the Bourbon over this track he was way off the pace and made a run to get fourth. He’ll drop out the back and come running late. Decent price horse underneath in supers and triples.

Picks 4-10-2-15 

Trivia Answer: Aiden O’Brien and Bob Baffert are tied with the most Breeders’ Cup wins (21). The late great D. Wayne Lucas is third with 20.