Zipse: How I’m betting Breeders’ Cup 2019's Friday races

Friday's Breeders' Cup card is all about the 2-year-olds. The best young horses in America, as well as many top runners from overseas, will converge at Santa Anita Park to not only announce themselves as stars of the future, but also take a shot at a rich victory to close their juvenile season.

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

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

In the undefeated colt Four Wheel Drive and the well-traveled filly Kimari, trainer Wesley Ward may well have the two best horses in the race.

Having said that, however, there are a pair of Europeans, A'Ali and Band Practice, that have strong experience and look very interesting to me. Thanks to the Ward favorites, they should go off at square prices.

With the two standouts likely tough to beat, and the two European runners poised to run big, I like my chances to hit the exotics in the day's first Breeders' Cup race.

$2 Ex Box - 2 Band Practice, 7 Kimari, 9 Four Wheel Drive, 10 A'Ali = $24

$1 Tri Key - 7 Kimari, 9 Four Wheel Drive/1 Chimney Rock, 2 Band Practice, 7 Kimari, 9 Four Wheel Drive, 10 A'Ali/1 Chimney Rock, 2 Band Practice, 7 Kimari, 9 Four Wheel Drive, 10 A'Ali = $24

50-cent Tri Key - 2 Band Practice, 10 A'Ali/1 Chimney Rock, 2 Band Practice, 7 Kimari, 9 Four Wheel Drive, 10 A'Ali/1 Chimney Rock, 2 Band Practice, 7 Kimari, 9 Four Wheel Drive, 10 A'Ali = $12

The day's next race looks to be the most wide open of all this year's Breeders' Cup events, and frankly I do not have a strong opinion. I will take a pass in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

I am of the belief the east coast fillies are better than their California counterparts this year. With four virtual co-favorites, this could pay off at the windows.

I'm not sure that both will bring their best out to Santa Anita, but I really think that one or the other of Wicked Whisper, who ran them off their feet in both a Saratoga maiden, and Belmont's Frizette (G1), and British Idiom, winner of Keeneland's Alcibiades (G1), will prevail.

$4 Pick 3 - 4 British Idiom, 7 Wicked Whisper/3 Shadn, 5 Daahyeh, 11 Sharing, 13 Selflessly/1 Dennis' Moment = $32

$1 Pick 3 - 4 British Idiom, 7 Wicked Whisper/3 Shadn, 5 Daahyeh, 11 Sharing, 13 Selflessly/5 Scabbard = $8

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

My opinions are a bit stronger here than in the male version. I believe the Chad Brown-trained Selflessly is the one to beat, and the good news is that the lightly raced filly is an attractive 8-1 on the morning line. 

Meanwhile, the Graham Motion-trained longshot Sharing is well-bred, good looking and on the improve. I'll use her along with my top two European picks, the consistent Daahyeh and the recent Group 2 winner Shadn.

$3 Ex Box - 3 Shadn, 5 Daahyeh, 11 Sharing, 13 Selflessly = $36 

We will uncover the early favorite for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, and I believe that horse is most likely to be Dennis' Moment.

I've loved the son of Tiznow since I saw him scorch the earth in his maiden breaker at Ellis Park. His controlled, facile victory in the Iroquois (G3) only strengthened my belief that he stands atop this crop.

On paper, this race sets up as a virtual match race early with the other race favorite, Eight Rings, which could have set the table for the talented late runner Maxfield. With news of his scratch, though, I will look for a Iroquois repeat by using Scabbard as the one to run by a tiring Eight Rings in the stretch.

$20 Exacta - 1 Dennis' Moment/5 Scabbard = $20