The Conductor’s eyes are bleeding after preparing for this year’s Breeders’ Cup. There are very competitive races without many short priced standouts on both days. Just the way Mr. Ductor likes it. Hopefully the Del Mar dirt plays more fairly to closers than it did this summer. If its not a highway, there could be bombs galore. Grab a shovel, he can’t haul all this coal himself. Let’s Ride.
Friday Race 4: 1 Mile. (Turf) Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes
#2 Smash It (10/1) – This gelding really impressed the Conductor in his turf debut last time. He missed break, rushed up and made a nice move on the turn. That was a very game 2nd and he’ll be all alone on the lead today stretching out to a mile for the 1st time. Trainer Todd Fincher is 26% this year with a +ROI this year with first time routers. Smash It has talent and can wire the field at a nice price.
Friday Race 8: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.G1 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
#1 Lake Victoria (8/5) – This filly looks she’s the goods from across the pond. With a nice rail draw and Ryan Moore aboard, the Conductor will be very surprised if she loses. She’s the lone chalk he won’t be trying to beat this weekend.
Friday 1 1/16 Mile.G1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
#7 Gaming (8/1) – The Conductor thinks all three Baffert horses are live in this race and they won’t be the favorites. This colt beat the other two handily in the Del Mar Futurity and has been training up to this race. He looks to get a perfect stalking trip behind a quick pace and he’ll get first run before the talented deep closers. 8/1 would be a treat.
Saturday Race 6: 1 1/16 G1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
#5 Sugar Fish (20/1) – The Conductor thinks #2 Thorpeda Anna (4/5) is vulnerable here after regressing in the Cotillion Stakes at Parx last time. She’s been tremendous, but has endured a long campaign and may be a bit over the top. Sugar Fish is a bomb the Conductor likes best at a big price. She’s improving with each start and ran a huge late pace figure last time closing into a slow pace. She looks to get the same rail trip again today, and there will be a hot pace to run at. The Japanese filly, #4 Alice Verite (30/1) will be out in front winging it on the front end. She’s another looney tune bomb the Conductor thinks could surprise everyone if she takes to the dirt.
Saturday Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. G1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
*Gullet Shot of the Day #13 Newgate (20/1) – A Baffert horse at 20/1 in the Classic, that ran better than it looks last time? The Conductor thinks he’ll be in the 10/1 range, but that’s still good enough for him. Newgate showed talent last year and ran huge off the bench last time. He closed wide behind a slow pace and just missed in the California Crown Stakes. He’s working bullets entering today and looks primed to run his best 2nd off a layoff. Newgate should get a perfect outside stalking trip and pounce when they enter the stretch. The Conductor thinks Bobby B is going to have another massive weekend.
Race 12: 6 Furlongs. G1 Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint
#2 Gun Pilot (20/1) – This race is going to have a scorching early pace and the Conductor is looking for a closer. He thinks #4 Nakatomi (6/1) and #9 Remake (8/1) will also get good trips, but prefers Gun Pilot at a bigger price. Gun Pilot has been up against slow paces and troubled trips in his last few starts. He finally looks to get the setup he needs today and he’ll be flying late in the stretch. If the Conductor is right this weekend, he may be retired by Monday. Skip
