Best bets for the first Breeders' Cup 2018 future wager
Future wagering on the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic and Distaff opens Friday and runs through 6 p.m. ET Sunday (Classic) and 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday (Distaff), with the pari-mutuel pools similar to the popular Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
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Here are the hopefuls to consider playing, via Horse Racing Nation handicapper Jarrod Horak:
The 3-year-olds seem like the most interesting choices in the Classic. Many of them are lightly raced with upside, and one could easily peak under the Twin Spires on Saturday, Nov. 3. A big effort in the Travers (G1) could knock the price down on such horses as Bravazo, Catholic Boy, Good Magic, and Gronkowski, so I will stay away from those runners for the time being.
McKinzie might be the most intriguing name on the list, and he is 30-1. He was supposed to be trainer Bob Baffert’s Derby horse, but he got hurt, Justify emerged, and the rest is history. He has not been seen since crossing the line first before disqualified in the San Felipe (G2) on March 10, but he has been working steadily since Aug. 1, and might resurface in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx on Sept. 22. If he runs a big race in his next start, look for his connections to target the Classic.
Hofburg is another sophomore listed at 30-1, and a fever knocked him out of the Travers. The Florida Derby runner-up and Belmont Stakes show finisher looked great in the Curlin Stakes at a mile and an eighth at Saratoga on July 27, and the longer the better for the well-bred Juddmonte Farms/Bill Mott runner. If he recovers quickly from his recent fever, look for him to target either the Penn Derby or the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park a week later.
Blue Prize caught my eye at 30-1, and her connections are probably glad that the Distaff is at Churchill Downs this fall. In her last two graded starts under the Twin Spires, she won the Falls City Handicap (G2) last November and the Fleur de Lis (G2) on June 16. Both of those races were at a mile an an eighth, the same distance as the Distaff. Her last published workout was at Keeneland on Aug. 18, and she might shoot for the Spinster (G1) at the Lexington track on Oct. 7.
La Force will likely drift up from her 12-1 morning line price. I have been following her closely in Southern California, and she is a much-improved mare for trainer Paddy Gallagher. She was clearly second best behind recently retired Hollendorfer star Unique Bella in her last pair, though she gave that one a bit of a scare in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar July 29. La Force returned to the work tab at Del Mar on Aug. 14, and the Zenyatta Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on Sept. 30 is her next likely target.
Elate might not be a strong value contender at 6-1, but she was my Distaff pick last year, and she ran a surprisingly flat fourth that day. She looked great in her much-anticipated 4-year-old debut in the Delaware Handicap (G2) and takes on Abel Tasman in Saturday's Personal Ensign (G1). She might end up the Distaff favorite with a big effort on Saturday. Of course, Abel Tasman or another entrant could beat her in the Personal Ensign, and that might help Elate's Distaff price.