Breeders’ Cup Mile Breakdown
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DEL MAR, CA - NOVEMBER 04: World Approval #5, ridden by John Velazquez, wins the Breeders' Cup Mile race on Day 2 of the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Racing Club on November 4, 2017 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Kazushi Ishida/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
Breeders’ Cup Saturday Races
Race 8: 1 Mile. (Turf) Breeders’ Cup Mile
Talk about a crap shoot, this race is wide open, and it will take an expert handicapper to narrow down the field. Somebody who has seen it all, somebody like the Conductor.
#1 One Master (12/1) – This filly continues to improve as she steps up in class and she is proven over soft turf. She’s beaten a combined 28 horses in her last 2 victories and has shown she can navigate through traffic. The Conductor is absolutely using her.
*Top Pick #4 Polydream (5/1) – She’s the buzz horse coming from France, with all the talent in the world and exiting a brutal trip where she had no chance. She has the connections that led Goldikova to three straight victories in this race and looks poised to show her best. There is a chance she puts on a show and annihilates this field.
#5 Oscar Performance (6/1) – The soft turf is the concern for the Conductor, but he’s won over it as a 2-year-old. There is not a lot of pace signed on this race and he should get his preferred trip on the front end. The Conductor won’t let himself get beat by the leader turning into the stretch.
#8 I Can Fly (10/1) – Losing by a neck to the super star Roaring Lion last start this filly is progressing and may be peaking at the last time. She’ll get the exact same circumstances as her last start going a mile on soft turf, and there are no Roaring Lions in this field.
*Underneath Uppercut Below the Belt #15 Divisidero (30/1) – This old boy has had legitimate excuses all year, getting slow paces and tough trips. The mile distance is a little short for him, but he gets back to Churchill downs where he does his best running. He has the class and past performances to beat this field on his best day and the Conductor with key him underneath with a sprinkle on top.
