Breeders’ Cup 2016: Queen’s Trust and Sweet Loretta among Saturday tips
Published:2016 Breeders’ Cup Saturday tips
Coral horse racing experts provided their 2016 Breeders’ Cup Saturday tips for all nine races on the card at Santa Anita, featuring superstars such as California Chrome and Found, but also value bets like Sweet Loretta odds and Queen’s Trust.
Here’s our race-by-race guide to a super Saturday night of action:
Sweet on the chances of Loretta in Juvenile Fillies
Sweet Loretta looks an exciting prospect and can make it four wins on the bounce in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (19:05).
Trained by Todd Pletcher, who has nine Breeders’ Cup victories to his name, the filly won her maiden by seven lengths before coming from off the pace to land a Grade 3 at Saratoga by just over four lengths.
Sweet Loretta then showed that she was versatile tactically when racing more prominently and dead-heating in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at the same venue in a race where nothing went to plan.
After stumbling at the start, the daughter of Tapit had endured a lot of dirt being kicked-back into her face before showing a tremendous attitude to share the spoils
She has since being given a two-month break, a move that worked for Pletcher in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup with Liam’s Map and Stopchargingmaria winning the Dirt Mile and Distaff respectively.
Queen’s Trust can reign supreme in Filly And Mare Turf
Queen’s Trust looks decent value to provide trainer Sir Michael Stoute with his third winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf (19:43).
The Newmarket handler saddled Islington and Dank to land the spoils in 2003 and 2013 respectively. In Queen’s Trust, he has a filly who has run some cracking races this season, despite not getting her head in front.
They include when a fine second to Minding in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and unlucky in-running third to Journey last time out in the Group 1 British Champion Fillies & Mares at Ascot.
Queen’s Trust found herself in an uncompromising position at the back of the field in the latter after being slowly away, but showed a nice turn of foot in the home straight to be gaining all the way to the line and beaten just over four lengths.
It was a terrific run, given how the race panned out, and one which suggested the daughter of Dansili had a big race like this in her.
Lord Nelson primed for Cup Sprint battle
Lord Nelson has a progressive profile and looks the answer to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (20:21).
The Bob Baffert trained four-year-old is unbeaten in four starts this season and three of those successes have come at this venue.
He completed a hat-trick of Grade 1 successes when easily beating All Run by 2 1/2 length over course and distance last month, travelling well throughout before shooting clear 150 yards from home to win going away.
The son of Puplit is clearly in the form of his life and has the prefect combination of a high cruising speed and potent turn of foot.
Draw six is not ideal, but Lord Nelson has enough tactical speed to get in a good early position to stalk the pace and his course form is a huge plus.
Undrafted each-way value in Turf Sprint
Undrafted looks decent each-way value in a wide-open renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (21:05).
Wes Ward’s six-year-old is bidding to make it third time lucky in the race, having finished third over course and distance in 2014 and fifth in Keeneland 12 months ago.
The gelding is a hold-up horse that needs things to drop right and showed what he is capable off when coming with a surging run to win last year’s Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Undrafted has managed to get his head in front just once since, when scoring at Keeneland back in April, but has posted some solid efforts and wasn’t beaten far when sixth to the re-opposing Mongolian Saturday at that venue last time out.
With plenty of trailblazers in the race, it could be set up for a closer and Undrafted is undoubtedly one that fits that bill.
Not This Time ticks plenty of boxes in Juvenile
Not This Time put in a sensational performance when scoring last time out and can take the step up into Grade 1 company in his stride to land the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (21:43).
The Dale Romans trained colt found 6f too sharp when fifth on debut before opening his account with an impressive 10 length success over 1m at Ellis Park.
Jockey Robbie Albarado made comparisons to greats like Curlin and Mineshaft after that runaway victory. Not This Time has since gone on to stamp himself as a leading contender for next year’s Kentucky Derby with an 8 3/4 length romp in in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The son of Giant’s Causeway made a move mid-race and came wide around the field to swoop clear under a hand ride.
Not This Time posted an improved speed figure in the process and it was a performance which marked him out as a something potentially very special.
Found a worthy favourite to retain Cup Turf crown
Arc de Triomphe heroine Found looks a worthy favourite to land back-to-back runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (22:22), so check out our separate piece on that race.
By The Moon can shine in Filly And Mare Sprint
By The Moon was a big eye-catcher when runner-up last time out and can go one better to land the Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Sprint (23:01).
Trained by Michelle Nevin, the four-year-old filly is a consistent sort who has won four of her 12 starts and been placed on five occasions.
There was lot to like about her latest effort in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga where she showed plenty of pace to chase the leaders before coming with what looked a winning run two from home.
After leading entering the final furlong, By The Moon got headed inside the final 50 yards to go down by a head to Haveyougoneaway.
This track should suit her run style and, if ridden more aggressively (tactics which have paid off in the past), By The Moon could take some pegging back.
Alice Springs appeals in Mile
Tepin and Limato head the betting for a cracking renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Mile (23:04), but Alice Springs looks value to lower their colours and cause a bit of an upset.
The Aidan O’Brien trained filly posted a fast finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland 12 months ago and has since developed into a top-class three-year-old.
Since finishing third to stable companion Minding in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Alice Springs has gone on to land three Group 1 contests.
They include a 3 1/4 length success in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown where the daughter of Galileo came from off the pace and showed a sensational turn of foot to power clear.
Alice Springs has since gone on to land the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket by 3/4 of a length, where she idled once hitting the front, and is clearly thriving on her racing.
This demands more, but Alice Springs seems to still be improving, should get the race run so suit and has the services of big race jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle.
California Chrome to shine in Classic
California Chrome is expected to turn on the style and get the better of Arrogate in a mouth watering Breeders’ Cup Classic (00:35), so for more details check out our specific race piece.
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