Horseplayers are likely to recall how the wagering went in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup, but for millions ready to tune in and bet during racing’s biggest weekend – two-days and 14 races at Del Mar on Nov. 1-2 -- here’s some pertinent information:
Santa Anita's Stars Shine: Favorites Rule Day 2 of Breeders' Cup 2023Last year at Santa Anita, eight of the 14 Breeders' Cup races saw the favorite deliver the goods – 1-for-5 on day 1 which featured unpredictable 2-year-olds, and an eye-opening 7-for-9 on day 2 with established stars ruling the card.
Following is the chalkboard of winners on day 2, with the $2 win bet payoff in parentheses.
Goodnight Olive ($4.20), BC Filly & Mare Sprint
Cody’s Wish ($3.60), BC Dirt Mile
Inspiral ($7), BC Filly & Mare Turf
Elite Power ($5.40), BC Sprint
Idiomatic ($5.60), BC Distaff
Auguste Rodin ($7), BC Turf
White Abarrio ($7.20), BC Classic
The other two favorites on day 2, Motorius in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and Songline in the Breeders' Cup Mile, each finished fifth.
On day 1, it was Unquestionable ($5) winning the BC Juvenile Turf after the first four Breeders' Cup races saw the favorites fail: No Nay Mets (fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint); Tamara (sixth in the BC Juvenile Fillies); She Feels Pretty (third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf); and Locked (third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile).
If you bet $2 to win on the favorite in all 14 races, your total wager of $28 returned $45. Not exciting, but profitable.
As we move closer to this year’s Breeders’ Cup, you may want to consider last year’s results before tossing over your money hoping for an Arcangues, who won the 1993 Classic at 133-1 odds and returned $269.20 on a $2 win bet.
One of the nation’s top 3-year-old sprinters, Book’em Danno is the 2-1 favorite in the $300,000 Perryville Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on Saturday, meaning there will be no Breeders’ Cup for the popular New Jersey-bred.
Trainer Derek Ryan has guided Book’em Danno through a terrific 2024 campaign, beginning with a 12 ½-length romp in the 7-furlong Paco at Tampa Bay Downs.
Book’em Danno started next in Saudi Arabia, where he was caught in the final strides by Breeders' Cup Classic-bound Forever Young in the Saudi Derby (G3). He rebounded with a victory in the 7-furlong Woody Stephens (G1), then won the Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park before running third in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
“He’s doing great; hopefully he gets the job done,” Ryan said. “I thought he should have won the Jerkens [he was third, 1 ¼ lengths behind Domestic Product]. If he gets to the outside, he wins. The rail that day was dead.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., will be aboard Book’em Danno.
Also in the field is 3-1 Knightsbridge, 2-for-2 by a combined 19 1/2 lengths, and Locked (7-2), making his first start since finishing third in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
Marathon man Next worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 at Turfway Park on Wednesday (Oct. 16), and trainer Doug Cowans said the 6-year-old gray gelding remains on track for the Breeders’ Cup.
Which race is a question as Cowans said Next could be nominated for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at 1 ¼ miles or the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at 1 ½ miles. Next is 4-for-4 in 2024, with his best distance in longer races and his best surface on dirt.
In his last race, Next won the Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx by 10 lengths on Sept. 21 going 1 ½ miles on dirt.
The pre-entry deadline for the Breeders’ Cup is Oct. 21. Next is scheduled for one more workout on Oct. 24.
“I’m not leaning either way at the moment,’’ Cowans told thoroughbreddailynews.com. “I want to see how both races look, how he would fit, and how the race would play into his hands and try to pick the best of the two.”
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
