Breeders Cup Picks: Turf
The eighth and second-richest Breeders’ Cup race of the day is the $4 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf for 3-year-olds and up over 1 ½ miles. A field of 12 is slated as race 11 with an approximate post time of 7:40 p.m. ET.
#4, Bricks and Mortar, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 9-5
California say hello to Bricks and Mortar. 10 wins in 12 career starts, including 5-for-5 this year and winner of six straight, Bricks and Mortar is a monster. Some have said he can’t get the 1 ½ miles. I say you won’t know until you try and I believe he can. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., he comes into this race off a ¾ of a length win over Magic Wand (IRE) in the $1 million G1 Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes on Aug. 10. The last time he finished something other than first was back-to-back third-place finishes at Saratoga in the G3 Saranac Stakes and G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes… more than two years ago! The pick.
#10, Old Persian (GB), William Buick, 4-1
Old Persian (GB) is 9-0-2 in 16 career starts and is 3-0-1 in five starts this year, his team has pointed to this race for quite some time. His first time in the states, Old Persian (GB) comes into this race off a 2 ½ length victory over Nessy and Focus Group in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 14 and had something in the tank at the end. With William Buick aboard, trainer Charlie Appleby has his horse in fine form coming into this. Runner-up.
#5, Anthony Van Dyck (IRE), Ryan Moore, 3-1
Only five starts this year (2-1-1), trainer Aidan O’Brien, with jockey Ryan Moore, has Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) refreshed and ready, coming off a third-place finish in the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 14. The last win: three starts back in the G1 Investec Derby Stakes at Epsom on June 1. Plus, he is looking to bounce back from issues down the stretch in last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs, where he finished 9th in his only appearance in the states, exactly one year from today. What a remarkable 360 that would be if he could somehow capture this. Contender.
#5, Channel Maker, John Velazquez, 10-1
Channel Maker will make his 29th career start (5-5-3) and seventh this year (1-1-0), including a runner-up finish in his last by a ½ length to today’s entrant Arklow in the $500,000 G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. I think that performance will give him some confidence after missing in the money the last three starts prior (all 4th-place finishes). John Velazquez and trainer William Mott I think are confident as well in an improved and big performance. In the mix.
PICKS: 4-10-5-6
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