Zipse: How I'm betting Breeders' Cup 2020 Friday races

Friday is not only a great day of racing to kick off the Breeders' Cup, but the Future Stars card also gives us coming attractions of American racing. The best young horses in the nation, as well as many top prospects from overseas, will come to Keeneland in search of their biggest victory to date.

Three overflowing turf races and two championship dirt races offer plenty of intriguing betting opportunities and a chance to boost your bankroll heading into Saturday's slate of nine Breeders' Cup races. The following are my favorite wagers on Friday.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Just how good is Golden Pal? In his Skidmore victory, he looked like a turf sprinter not only capable of beating horses his age, but perhaps ready to take on the fastest turf horses in the land. Yes, he was that good.

Clearly the son of Uncle Mo and Lady Shipman will be a heavy favorite on Friday, but his assignment got a little tougher with the draw of the far outside 14-post. Still, he should be able to use his impressive speed to secure a spot on the lead as they head into the turn. From there, he will be tough to beat — if he can run anything like his last one.

Of the rest, I see the horse who won last time at Keeneland as the most interesting. Bodenheimer has plenty of speed, so a duel with Golden Pal might not be the best thing for his chances, but his win in the Indian Summer was too good to ignore. I also will use Cowan, who rallied for second that afternoon.

$5 Pick 3: 14 Golden Pal with 2 New Mandate, 6 Mutasaabeq, 10 Battleground with 1 Simply Ravishing, 2 Vequist = $30

$1 Pick 3: 5 Cowan, 10 Bodenheimer with 2 New Mandate, 6 Mutasaabeq, 10 Battleground with 1 Simply Ravishing, 2 Vequist = $12

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

The day's next race is the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and I am looking for the Europeans to have their best shot of the day in this one. Battleground, a son of Breeders’ Cup champ Found, looks to be the best of the ones coming over and is a must-use. I also like New Mandate, who has rallied for two straight wins overseas.

While I do see the Europeans as tough in this one, my top pick will be the American Mutasaabeq, who ran two good dirt races before taking to turf in a big way with an impressive rallying win over the Keeneland turf course last time. With plenty of speed in here, I like one of these three to rally up for the win, and the Californian Ebeko as a long shot.

$2 Exacta Box: 2 New Mandate, 6 Mutasaabeq, 9 Battleground, 10 Ebeko = $24

$3 Exacta Box: 2 New Mandate, 6 Mutasaabeq, 9 Battleground = $18

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Four undefeated fillies highlight an interesting, compact field looking to win an Eclipse Award Friday in the Juvenile Fillies. I really don’t have a strong opinion on who will prove best, but it’s hard not to respect the speed of Simply Ravishing. She will break from the rail, and she has a nice win over the track.

After the undefeated fillies, take a long look at Vequist. The daughter of Nyquist, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, was probably not helped by the race setup last time, and I believe she can rebound this time with more speed to run at.

$10 Exacta Box: 1 Simply Ravishing and 2 Vequist = $20

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

A very strong-looking group of young turf fillies are set to contest this one-mile grass race, led by Aunt Pearl, Campanelle and Plum Ali. All three have been very impressive in racking up the wins, but two of them are speed horses. With other early speed in the race, I will look for the filly with late kick. 

Plum Ali could be the one to finally get it done for trainer Christophe Clement, as she has the ability to pounce and strike off this fast pace. She already has won at three tracks — and has looked good doing so.

$20 Win: 4 Plum Ali = $20

Breeders' Cup Juvenile

This race certainly could be dominated by the imposing early speed of Jackie’s Warrior, who has been sensational in four career starts. Rather than trying to beat him, I will play the race from the bottom up, looking for a bomb to rally into the trifecta.

That bomb will be Keepmeinmind, who already has displayed some toughness in his first two starts, including a second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Working well since, he could take another step forward in here at big odds. The horse who beat him in there, Essential Quality, looks like the second most likely winner behind the favorite.

$2 Trifecta part wheel: 7 Jackie’s Warrior with 6 Keepmeinmind with 3 Reinvestment Risk, 4 Likeable, 5 Essential Quality, 9 Sittin on Go, 10 Next = $10

$2 Trifecta part wheel: 7 Jackie’s Warrior with 3 Reinvestment Risk, 4 Likeable, 5 Essential Quality, 9 Sittin on Go, 10 Next with 6 Keepmeinmind = $10

$1 Trifecta part wheel: 5 Essential Quality with 6 Keepmeinmind with 3 Reinvestment Risk, 4 Likeable, 7 Jackie’s Warrior, 9 Sittin on Go, 10 Next = $5

$1 Trifecta part wheel: 5 Essential Quality with 3 Reinvestment Risk, 4 Likeable, 7 Jackie’s Warrior, 9 Sittin on Go, 10 Next with 6 Keepmeinmind= $5