Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Expert Picks and Predictions 🏆

The 40^th edition of the Breeders’ Cup, thoroughbred racing’s two-day, 14-race extravaganza with more than $31 million in prize money, opens with Future Stars Friday at Santa Anita Park.

Friday’s card features five Breeders’ Cup races, all Grade 1s and all for 2-year-olds. The $2 million Juvenile (race 8, post time 7 p.m. ET) is the premier event with the winner traditionally becoming the early favorite for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Hall of Famers Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert each have three in a field of 10. Pletcher: Fierceness, Locked, and Noted. Baffert: Muth, Prince of Monaco, and Wine Me Up. Muth is the 7-2 morning-line favorite, and the popular pick of our team.

Breeder’s Cup Juvenile: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The Professor:

1 Muth 2 Locked 3 Timberlake

“Pletcher and Baffert are poised to carve up the spoils. Give the nod to Baffert with Muth, looking for another win on his home track.”

Mr. Tout:

1 Muth 2 Locked 3 Prince of Monaco

“2-for-2 at Santa Anita has won around two turns, which his stablemate Prince of Monaco hasn’t.”

Trifecta:

1 Locked 2 Muth 3 Timberlake

“Pletcher is always loaded with 2-year-old talents; this one looks to be his best right now.”

MrWPS:

1 Prince of Monaco 2 Locked 3 The Wine Steward

“Home track rules.”

Cha-ching:

1 The Wine Steward 2 Muth 3 Locked

“A game second to Locked in the Breeders’ Futurity was the first loss in four starts for The Wine Steward; feel a cork-popping performance is in the cards.’’

Harriet ‘Capper:

1 Prince of Monaco 2 Timberlake 3 Noted

“Undefeated colt keeps getting better and has all the credentials to take this race.’’