Breeders’ Cup: 188 futures options are updated for all races

As the likely starters became more clear, the international futures market for the Breeders’ Cup did, too, in the final hours before Wednesday’s announcement of pre-entries.

Flightline held firm Wednesday morning at 4-9 (minus 225) for the $6 million Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. So, too, did Nest stay put, at 6-5, for the $2 million Distaff.

See Ed DeRosa's fair odds for the Breeders’ Cup.

Other favorites like Jackie’s Warrior in the Sprint, Jack Christopher in the Dirt Mile, Rebel’s Romance in the Turf and Cave Rock in the Nov. 4 Juvenile saw their odds shortened.

So, too, did Blue Rose Cen. Even though trainer Christopher Head ruled her out Tuesday after she bruised herself stepping on a rock, the Costa Rica site Bovada still had her listed Wednesday morning as the 3-1 favorite to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Let the buyer beware, then, as the odds for all 14 races were updated by that bookmaker to include 188 betting options. They are shown with last week’s odds.

Classic. While world No. 1 Flightline held firm, 3-year-old Taiba was the only betting choice whose odds were cut for the 1 1/4-mile climax to the Breeders’ Cup. The two-time Grade 1 winner who is trained by Bob Baffert shortened from 8-1 to 7-1. Seven of the eight horses with the longest odds drifted in the international market. Nine others who had been listed last week were dropped when it became apparent they would not be entered.

Distaff. Will 3-year-old Nest or her 4-year-old stablemate Malathaat be the morning-line favorite for this 1 1/8-mile race? Before Nick Tammaro makes that decision next week between the Todd Pletcher-trained fillies, the international market kept Nest as the 6-5 favorite and Malathaat the 3-1 second choice. The only change in the odds was with Cotillion (G1) winner Society, who went from 6-1 to 7-1.

Sprint. Reigning division champion Jackie’s Warrior was cut from 8-5 (actually plus 165) to 3-2 (plus 150) to win this six-furlong race. Three-time Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher held firm as the 5-2 second choice after trainer Chad Brown said the Sprint would be his first preference.

Dirt Mile. Remember that caveat about international futures? It actually applies to all futures, since all bets are action the moment they are made, and there are no refunds for failure to start a race. That comes into play here, too. Even after Brown said he was leaning toward the Sprint for Jack Christopher, the 3-year-old Munnings colt shortened from 7-4 to 2-1 to win instead in this two-turn race. Conversely, two-time Grade 1 winner Cyberknife jumped into the market after trainer Brad Cox said the 3-year-old Gun Runner colt might have it easier in this race than in the Classic. Cyberknife and Baffert’s Grade 2 winner Laurel River each were 3-1.

Turf. With British Champion (G1) runner-up Adayar out of Godolphin’s plans for Keeneland, stablemate Rebel’s Romance went from joint favorite to the clear 5-2 top choice to win this $4 million race. The two-time Group 1 winner in Germany had company from trainer Charlie Appleby’s operation. Nations Pride, who had a second and two wins in the New York turf triple, was cut from 5-1 to 7-2.

Mile. Appleby also was at the top of the market for this $2 million race. Modern Games, who won the 2021 Juvenile Turf after he had been scratched wrongfully and prematurely, held his ground at 3-2. Annapolis, who won the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) for Pletcher over the same course he would see Nov. 5, was cut from 10-1 to 6-1 third choice.

Filly & Mare Turf. Prix de l’Opêra runner-up Nashwa was cut from 2-1 to 7-4, third-place finisher Above the Curve opened at 9-2, and rested Prix du Moulin winner Dreamloper shortened form 9-1 to 11-2 to win this 1 3/16-mile race. In Italian, whose First Lady victory at Keeneland was her second in a row in a Grade 1 race, went from 7-1 to 8-1.

Turf Sprint. With an 8-for-8 U.S. record in this division, Golden Pal has been a stalwart in the market for this 5 1/2-furlong race. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt trained by Wesley Ward maintained his role as the 5-4 favorite. Highland Princess, coming off the bench after winning the Flying Five (G1) at the Curragh in September, firmed as the 11-4 second choice.

Filly & Mare Sprint. Ballerina Handicap (G1) winner Goodnight Olive still was the 5-2 favorite to run her winning streak to six with this seven-furlong race. Echo Zulu, who seemed pointed from Asmussen’s barn into this race, went from 5-1 to a clear 4-1 second favorite. Three-time graded-stakes winner Kimari opened as the 5-1 third choice.

Juvenile. Already the 15-1 favorite in the Caesars Sportsbook futures for the Kentucky Derby, Cave Rock was cut from even money to 2-3, the only price change in the market for the 1 1/16-mile feature Nov. 4. He should be conspicuous by his absence from the first expanded, pari-mutuel Kentucky Derby Future Wager next week. Since Bob Baffert’s suspension from Churchill Downs runs through next year’s Derby, Cave Rock was expected to be part of the “all others” mutuel field.

Juvenile Fillies. Chocolate Gelato, winner of the Frizette (G1) for Pletcher, moved ahead of Mark Casse’s Alcibiades (G1) victor Wonder Wheel and into the favorite’s position for this 1 1/16-mile contest. Chocolate Gelato went from 9-2 to 3-1; Wonder Wheel from 4-1 to 9-2. Since 20 fillies are among the betting choices, something has to give, because the field is limited to 14.

Juvenile Turf. Appleby won this race last year, and he has the favorite next week. Silver Knott won the Autumn Stakes (G3) last month at Newmarket, England, and was cut from 5-2 to 7-4. Fifteen males are listed in this division, so at least one must be dropped come post time.

Juvenile Fillies Turf. There sits Blue Rose Cen, the listed favorite for this race, even though she will not make the trip from Europe. By default, Jessamine (G2) winner Delight and Appleby’s Group 3 victor Fairy Cross assume the role of top choice. Each is 6-1, at least until the bookmaker realizes what is or is not going on with the pre-entries.

Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Platinum Queen, the filly who won the Prix de l’Abbaye on a very soft, five-furlong straight course this month in France, bolted from 7-2 to become the 2-1 favorite for this 5 1/2-furlong dash around one turn at Keeneland. Again from the warning label to beware, Blackbeard still was shown as the 5-2 second choice even though trainer Aidan O’Brien said he was injured and forced into retirement. As it was, there were 20 betting choice for this race that is limited to 12 starters.