2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf - Reviewing the Field

Thirteen colts are scheduled to line up in the starting gate of the  Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The race is a good opportunity to pad your bankroll or to recoup your losses from the Marathon or previous races.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the possible favorites and logical long shots.

 

The names Ramsey, Brown and Kitten’s Joy are synonymous with winning. Their colt Bobby's Kitten blew away the field in the 1 1/16 mile Pilgrim Stakes by over six lengths and he is the morning line 5-2 favorite.  Only one favorite has won the Juvenile Turf, while four favorites ran second and one was unplaced.

 

The stallion  War Front is one of the hottest sires around. Two of his sons will contest the Juvenile Turf and both have a strong chance of winning.  Giovanni Boldini  represents the folks who brought us the last two Juvenile Colts Turf heroes. Third in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Ire-Gr.1), the Aidan O’Brian trainee won his last race, which was over the polytrack, by over 4 lengths. European colts have won half of the six Juvenile turf races since the races inception in 2007.

 

Bashart is the second entry by War Front.  After winning his maiden and With Anticipation Stakes, the Todd Pletcher trainee finished second in the Bourbon, which was switched off the turf to polytrack. At 6-1 morning line, he’s definitely playable for exotics. It’ll be tough for him to win from the far outside.

 

Outstrip is one of the best-bred colts in the Juvie Turf. By a Champion Australia Turf Sprinter, he is the first foal born from the multiple Graded Stakes turf mare Asi Siempre. Similar to last year’s winner George Vancouver, Outstrip was third in the Dewhurst, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by the top class War Command. Outstrip had to travel over boggy ground that day and he should love the firm Santa Anita lawn.  He opens on the board at 4-1.

 

Giovanni Boldini’s stablemate WilshireBoulevard is well traveled, having raced at six different tracks, and he should take shipping to California in stride. Wilshire Boulevard is a half-brother to the Group 1 winning sprinter Zoffany. He may appear to be a cut below the very best, but he’s a determined, tough competitor who could surprise. His morning line of 8-1 could rise.

 

The local horse  Aotearoa beat the stakes winning Diamond Bachelor  and Juvenile Turf entrant Got Shades in the Zuma Beach Stakes. He may be out-classed but has the home court advantage. 12-1 morning line odds may rise and with the right trip, he could finish in the money.

 

One longshot with a very good chance of upsetting the field is Poker Player.  He roared from the back of the pack to overtake Bashart in the Bourbon Stakes. His speed figures are improving and he owns the highest late pace speed figure in the field. He’s also 12-1 and his odds could drift higher.    

 

The rest of the field appears up against it.