A Betting Guide to the 2023 Breeders’ Cup

SANTA ANITA — By Monique Vag

Get ready for 14 races across two days of action in Arcadia, California as Santa Anita plays host to the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

$31 million USD on the line as we witness the best equine athletes looking to cement themselves with the title of the best in the world.

All eyes across both the racing and sports world will be glued to these two unique days of action. Here’s a wagering guide on five of the biggest and best races to bet across both days.

Future Stars Friday

10 races in total – five of them Breeders’ Cup races headlined by the two-year-olds.

Race 5: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Race 6: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Race 7: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Race 8: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Race 9: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies & Colts

Contested at 1 1/16th of a mile, usually on dirt, but depending on the configuration of the host track, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is a race restricted to two-year-old females racing for a purse of $2 million USD.

The male counterpart, or equivalent is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile also racing for a purse of $2 million USD. The richest two-year-old race in North America also contested at 1 1/16th of a mile which often serves as a preview of the stars in next year’s Triple Crown trail.

Here are some unique tidbits and stats thatmay be useful in handicapping these two races:

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies:

– Jockey Joel Rosario has won three of the last five editions of this race: in 2018 with JAYWALK, 2020 with VEQUIST, and 2021 with ECHO ZULU. We will have a new winner this year, as he does not have a mount in the Juvenile Fillies.

– Favorites have been strong in this race with the top choice prevailing in 19 of the last 39 editions – 49 percent.

– Over the last decade speed has been key to success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with eight of the last 12 winners racing first, second, or third (within 2 1/2 lengths of the lead) after the opening half-mile. Five were leading the whole way.

– The Grade 1 Frizette Stakes has proven to be a key prep race heading into this. The winner of this race has produced six of the last 12 winners. That could be good news for backers of #12 JUST FYI (8-1 ML).

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Colts:

– Trainer Bob Baffert has won two of the last five editions of the Juvenile: in 2018 with GAME WINNER, and 2021 with CORNICHE.

– 10 of the last 13 winners of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile entered with a win in their prior contest.

–  Over the past 20 editions, only five post time favorites have been victorious.

– Eight of the last 20 Juvenile winners have been odds of 20-1 or higher.

Saturday’s Big Dance

Nine total Breeders’ Cup Races:

Race 3: Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Race 4: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Race 5: PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Race 6: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (Turf)

Race 7: Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Race 8: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf

Race 9: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic

Race 10: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Race 11: Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Let’s have a closer look at two of the marquee events headlining Saturday’s card of racing:

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Contested at 1 mile over the turf the Breeders’ Cup Mile is a race held for three-year-olds and up run over a grass course. The purse is $2 million USD contested over different turf courses depending on the host site of the World Championships.

– Favorites have won back-to-back editions with MODERN GAMES and SPACE BLUES. Both out of Godolphin trained by Charles Appleby and ridden by William Buick.

– Three-year-olds have fared well winning three of the last five editions despite facing some older rivals.

– The last winner to lead in the Mile from start to finish was LURE in 1992. Since then there has been a good mix of different racing styles to win; no one dominant style stands out.

– Nine of the last 20 winners were bred in Europe – six Irish bred winners.

– Favorites have gone 8-for-20 over the past twenty editions.

Breeders’ Cup Classic

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 contest for three-year-olds and up contested at a distance of 1 mile 1/4 on dirt. Widely considered the premier thoroughbred horse race of the year in the United States with participants racing for a purse of $6 million USD.

– While this race is open to both genders, the lone female to win this is the great ZENYATTA in 2010.

– 14 of the last 20 winners were victorious in their final prep race heading into this – 11 of the 14 were a Grade 1 contest.

– Six of the last 20 editions have been won by post time favorites.

– Three-year-olds have also fared well in here up against older winning six of the last 20 editions.