The Breeder’s Cup is a series of horse races over two days that showcase the best in all of the sport. From Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky will be the home for two days of the best of the best horses for 2022.
Many of these horses will be Kentucky born, and with all the races, there are so many things to watch and bet on. Today marks the return of fans, so this coupled with good weather, could bring out amazing finishes. Friday was the series of races for Juveniles. Here are your winners with the entire run attached!
Friday’s Breeder’s Cup results (Race – Winner)
Juvenile Turf Sprint – Mischief Magic
HOLY CRAP! Last to first in the Juvenile Turf Sprint! https://t.co/RWKcB1mbxm
— Bill Petrello (@Petrorock44) November 5, 2022
Last to first! Whoa!
Juvenile Fillies – Wonder Wheel
REPLAY: Wonder Wheel wins the $1 Million @NetJets #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies on #FutureStarsFriday at @keenelandracing! Congrats to all of the connections! pic.twitter.com/smmIRhtcxE
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 4, 2022
Juvenile Fillies Turf – Mediate
REPLAY: Meditate wins the $1 Million #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Turf on #FutureStarsFriday at @keenelandracing! Cheers to all of the connections! pic.twitter.com/8irf7OQ8pp
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 4, 2022
Breeder’s Cup Juvenile – Forte
REPLAY: Forte captures the $2 Million @FanDuel #BreedersCup Juvenile pres. by @TBAftercare! Congrats to the connections on a thrilling #FutureStarsFriday victory! pic.twitter.com/1Duzr91nbO
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 4, 2022
Juvenile Turf – Victoria Road
Watch Victoria Road win the $1 Million #BreedersCup Juvenile Turf on #FutureStarsFriday at @keenelandracing! Cheers to the connections! pic.twitter.com/xozdqTV2xW
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 4, 2022
Saturday’s Main – Classic
But the main race is The Classic, scheduled for 5:30 PM on Saturday. Here are the horses set to ride: Post, Odds, Horse, Jockey, Trainer.
| 1 | 8-1 | Taiba | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert |
| 2 | 6-1 | Life Is Good | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher |
| 3 | 30-1 | Happy Saver | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher |
| 4 | 3-5 | Flightline | Flavien Prat | John W. Sadler |
| 5 | 15-1 | Hot Rod Charlie | Tyler Gaffalione | Doug F. O’Neill |
| 6 | 5-1 | Epicenter | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen |
| 7 | 10-1 | Olympiad | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott |
| 8 | 20-1 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | Eric Reed |
So, let’s do a quick overview for each horse.
Favorites
Doug O’Neill, trainer for Hot Rod Charlie said it best when interviewed this week. (Courtesy of Daily Racing Form and writer David Grening)
“If Flightine shows up like the Flightline we’ve seen so far, everyone’s running for second!” (DRF, David Grening)
Flightline
The favorite in this race, Flightline last won the 2022 Pacific Classic. A good dirt horse, with Flavien Prat as jockey, this horse will be watched by every other jockey, trainer, owner and fan in the race. Daily Racing Form says Flightline is proven at the 1 ¼ mile and THE standout horse.
AP Photo/John Minchillo, File
Flavien Prat commented on his ride:
“Now he is the best horse I ever rode but also the best horse I will ever ride. He’s shown he is the best horse on dirt in the world for sure.
Epicenter
Hodges photography
Epicenter had a dominating performance in a win at the Travers Stakes. This horse is proven at this distance, too. As the favorite at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Epicenter finished second in both races. Asmussen and Rosario would like nothing better than to end the year with a win.
But Epicenter hasn’t raced since August. Interesting to see what happens here. Most of the horses have raced in September or early October.
Life Is Good
Coady Photograph
A two horse race with Flightline vs Life Is Good battling the entire mile and a quarter would be phenomenal television. Life Is Good is a tremendously fast horse, but will the distance be a problem? The horse is coming off a win at the Woodward.
Others in the race
Taiba
First in the Pennsylvania Derby. Could be a sleeper. Finished a disappointing 12th in the Kentucky Derby after a great start to the year, winning the Santa Anita Derby.
Olympiad
1st in Jockey Club Gold Cup. A four year old, he has won six of seven starts this year. His only non-win was in the Whitney Stakes, won by Life Is Good. If he wins this, you could say he should be the Horse of the Year!
Longshots
Hot Rod Charlie
First in the Lukas Classic Stakes. 3 of the 8 horses in today’s Classic ran in the Lukas.
Rich Strike
Kentucky Derby surprise winner and a great story for the $30k price the owners paid! 2nd in Lukas to Hot Rod Charlie.
Rich Strike had a cough after a late October workout but seems to be fine now.
Happy Saver
Five second place finishes. Last race was a disappointing 4th in the Lukas Classic Stakes.
Injured prior to Wednesday’s workout. Saturday is up in the air.
My Choice?
Win: Flightline
Place: Epicenter
Show: Life Is Good
Longshot? Olympiad.
Flightline is in top form and it’s hard to see anyone defeating this horse. Epicenter in second is fitting since that’s the 2022 trend for the horse in big races. Life Is Good will be first or second in the beginning, but the distance is just a bit much for the horse.
I’m betting on Olympiad as my longshot. Why not? With the Powerball at astronomical odds, it wouldn’t surprise me to see someone win that and Olympiad shocking the horse racing world on the same day.
Enjoy the day, everyone!
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