Breeders’ Cup 2019 best bets: 8 experts weigh in

The Breeders’ Cup brings together the best racing has to offer with future stars, established names and international runners all on display Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

With so many stars in the same fields, there's a different sort of value opportunity you can't get the rest of the year.

We at Horse Racing Nation asked our staffers to identify one horse they're most looking forward to betting this weekend. Answers ranged from solid favorites to live longshots.

Here’s who they're playing:

Jeffrey Byrnes: Villa Marina (Filly & Mare Turf)

This filly, who comes over from France, has never finished worse than fourth in her eight-race career. She will get a firmer turf course than back home and just defeated a couple of her rivals here last time out in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp. Her jockey, Olivier Peslier, has won multiple Breeders' Cup races over the Santa Anita turf course. I would play her as part of a trifecta box with Sistercharlie and Iridessa.

Nick Costa: Sistercharlie (Filly & Mare Turf)

Sistercharlie, having won six straight Grade 1 races, hasn’t lost since June 2018. She's always been exceptionally talented and ultra-consistent at the highest level throughout her career. She has been pointed to this race all season, and I prefer horses that have been targeted specifically to a goal. 

Additionally, Sistercharlie’s mission was alleviated considerably when it was announced the Champion Stakes (G1) winner Magical would not be participating in the Breeders' Cup. As an extra added attraction, Sistercharlie resides in the shed row of Chad Brown, the best turf trainer in the country, who has won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf a record four times. Post No. 2 is absolutely ideal for her.

I will key Sistercharlie in the top slot in trifectas and superfectas.

Candice Curtis: Scabbard (Juvenile)

This colt, originally named Noose, was noticed over the summer for all the wrong reasons. Now sporting a new name, Scabbard is my stealth Breeders’ Cup bomber.

Dennis' Moment and Eight Rings are getting all of the Juvenile buzz and will take most of the money. But Scabbard has done nothing but improve in each start.

He is a troubled trip away from defeating Dennis’ Moment going this distance in Churchill Downs’ Iroquois (G3), so I’ll have him across the board and on top in all of my exotics.

Jarrod Horak: Shancelot (Sprint)

Shancelot drew perfectly and can run these into the ground. He is the fastest horse in this race by far if he runs anywhere close to his sensational Amsterdam (G2) number, and I like the rider switch to Jose Ortiz. I thought he should have won his last two Grade 1 starts, but jockey Emisael Jaramillo was passive, and he was stuck on the dead inside in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1), then inexplicably left the rail open in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1). He has a good race over the track and is training forwardly. 

Jonathan Lintner: Old Persian (Turf)

It’s unfortunate this guy showed up to Santa Anita Park looking so good in the mornings. “Wise guy” fever could be setting in, and those horses never seem to A, go off at a square price, or B, win. But I still like this classy Godolphin runner who just made a trans-Atlantic trip to win Woodbine’s Northern Dancer Turf (G1) and earned big figures in a race he might have needed. After getting a bit tired over the summer, he got a break and could be the European runner who simply proves too classy for a suspect bunch of American rivals — Bricks and Mortar included. If that 4-1 morning line price can be realized, I’ll play win/place and won’t go too deep in this race horizontally given the strong opinion.

Reinier Macatangay: Omaha Beach (Dirt Mile)

Despite a six-month layoff, Omaha Beach defeated the fast sprinter Shancelot in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) by a head. Expect him to step forward now in his second start off the bench. He owns the tactical speed to stay close and should handle any closers, as none of them are in the same league.

I’ll bet Omaha Beach to win and use him on top in an exacta wheel with Diamond Oops and Snapper Sinclair underneath.

Mark Midland: Our Country (Juvenile Turf)

With a field of 14, a strong pace setup and a short run into the turn, this race has all the makings of a good price play. The favorite, Arizona, is stuck in the 12 post and may get compromised by the trip. 

With a good pace, I expect longshot closers Our Country and Vitalogy to make strong closing runs. Our Country is the preference because of the higher price and the inside post. In the Pilgrim Stakes, he was last behind a moderate pace but had to circle seven-wide to only lose by 1 1/4 lengths to the Chad Brown-trained Structor. Our Country has yet to get anything remotely resembling a clean trip in four starts, and if he gets it here, he could work his way onto the board.

I don't necessarily expect him to win, but he'll probably go off at around 30-1, making him a great longshot to use in all three spots. Here is how I'll play him:

$2 exacta 2,3,4,5,12 with 1 = $10 

$0.50 Trifecta 2,3,4,5,12 with 2,3,4,5,12,13,14 with 1 = $15

$0.20 Super 2,3,4,5,12 with 2,3,4,5,12,13,14 with 2,3,4,5,7,11,12,13,14 with 1 = $33.60

Given that Arizona may be a total standout, it probably makes sense to repeat each of these wagers with just the 12 winning. That would only cost another $13.40. And if Vitalogy, the 5, is well into the double digits, you could add him into the same spots as the 1, Our Country.

Matt Shifman: Engage (Sprint)

Over the years, I have had some of my best returns in the Breeders’ Cup by playing deep closers in the Sprint. Since Steve Asmussen took over his training, he has posted two impressive wins, the first time since the beginning of his career that the talented son of Into Mischief has put together top efforts. With the excitement of the Breeders’ Cup, sprinters get pumped up, and the early pace is going to be hot. Engage, who is 15-1 on the morning line, is going to get an ideal setup for his late run.

I’ll play a $5 exacta key box: Engage with Catalina Cruiser, Firenze Fire, Imperial Hint, Shancelot, and Mitole = $50.