Breeders' Cup Juvenile 2020: Latest Odds & Preview

This year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile might lack overall depth, but it features two colts at the top who could be absolute stars.

Jackie's Warrior has been the early favorite since his win in the Graade 2 Saratoga Special. He strengthened that claim with an impressive win in the Hopeful (G1) in September.

Just when it looked like the Maclean's Music colt would run away with the Juvenile, Essential Quality emerged as a serious threat with a powerful win in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Not only was it a visually impressive victory, but the win came over the surface of the Juvenile and going two turns in only his second career start.

Suddenly, Jackie's Warrior looked to have some real competition as he prepared for his final prep in the Champagne Stakes (G1). Steve Asmussen's colt responded the way great ones do with his best performance yet. He crushed the talented Reinvestment Risk and earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure while hardly being asked.

Related: See the latest preview & odds for Breeders' Cup races:

Classic, Distaff, Dirt Mile, Turf, Sprint, Juvenile, FM Sprint, FM Turf

The statement victory brought to mind the great Gatorade commercial many years ago featuring Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm.

The Champagne was Jackie's Warrior's way of telling Essential Quality, "anything you can do, I can do better."

Essential Quality will have to run faster to compete with Jackie's Warrior, but the upside is there to do so. He will have his chance to respond when Jackie's Warrior tries two turns for the first time when they clash in an exciting Juvenile matchup.

Recent Breeders' Cup Juvenile News

• Debut winner Freedom Fighter has not worked since Aug. 22, making the Bob Baffert colt highly unlikely for the Juvenile.

• Cazadero has not worked since his disappointing run in the Saratoga Special and will not run in the Juvenile.

• Kelly Breen told HRN on Tuesday that there is a "small chance" Smoke Glacken Stakes winner Pickin' Time will run in the Juvenile.

• Peter Miller confirmed to HRN that Get Her Number would run in the Juvenile and stated that Superman Shaq is possible, though he would like to get another race into him prior to the Juvenile.

Previous Breeders' Cup Juvenile Notes

• Ignacio Correas confirmed to HRN that Therideofalifetime would not run in the Juvenile.

• Robertino Diodoro told HRN that he plans to enter Breeders' Futurity runner-up Keepmeinmind in the Juvenile and is considering running recent Keeneland allowance winner Dreamer's Disease as well.

• Brad Cox told HRN that Essential Quality came out of his Breeders' Futurity win in good order and is targeting the Juvenile next.

• Ryan Hanson confirmed to HRN that Best Pal winner Weston would bypass the Juvenile.

Who's already going:  Get Her Number, Essential Quality, Sittin on Go, Keepmeinmind, Jackie's Warrior, Reinvestment Risk

Who could be going: Vittorio, Spielberg, Superman Shaq, Upstriker, Super Stock, Dreamer's Disease, Midnight Bourbon, Pickin' Time, Founder