Breeders' Cup Juvenile 2021: Odds, picks, free PPs and more

Bob Baffert, the center of horse racing controversy in 2021, will saddle the likely favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Corniche (5-2) is the shortest price remaining on the morning line for the 2021 Juvenile after the Thursday scratch of 9-5 favorite Jack Christopher. Post time Friday at Del Mar is 7:50 p.m. EDT, with NBCSN to broadcast the 1 1/16-mile event.

The Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile has determined the Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old colt each year since 2015. Essential Quality (2020), Nyquist (2015) and Street Sense (2006) are among the race’s notable victors.

Baffert has trained four Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winners: Game Winner (2018), New Year’s Day (2013), Midshipman (2008) and Vindication (2002). He has three starters set to go Friday in Corniche, Pinehurst (8-1) and Barossa (10-1).

Related: Podcast: Handicapper Mike Shutty on Breeders' Cup

The Southern California-based Baffert enters the 2021 World Championships on home soil but also on thin ice. The Breeders’ Cup reviewed his participation in this year’s event as part of fallout from Medina Spirit’s failed drug test after winning the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert was allowed to run his top horses this weekend at Del Mar, but with strings attached. His runners have been subject to enhanced pre-race drug testing and his barn subject to 24-hour surveillance – all at the trainer’s cost.

Despite the clouds around Baffert, his stable is once again stocked with well-bred prospects.

Corniche enters the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 2-for-2 in his career, having won a Del Mar debut and then the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. Jockey Mike Smith will pilot the Quality Road colt who fetched $1.5 million this spring at an Ocala auction.

Pinehurst also has won both career starts, one of which came in September’s Del Mar Futurity (G1). Barossa earned his diploma last month on his third try and makes his stakes debut in this spot.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has a pair of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile starters in Commandperformance (5-1) and Double Thunder (20-1). Both exit runner-up finishes last month in Grade 1 races: Commandperformance in Belmont Park’s Champagne Stakes and Double Thunder in Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity.

Here is a look at the field for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Jack Christopher, SCR

2. Jasper Great (Hideyuki Mori, Yuichi Fukunaga), 15-1

3. Oviatt Class (Keith Desormeaux, Kent Desormeaux), 20-1

4. Pappacap (Mark Casse, Joe Bravo), 15-1

5. Double Thunder (Todd Pletcher, Flavien Prat), 20-1

6. American Sanctuary (Christopher Davis, Florent Geroux), 30-1

7. Giant Game (Dale Romans, Joe Talamo), 30-1

8. Barossa (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez), 10-1

9. Pinehurst (Bob Baffert, John Velazquez), 8-1

10. Commandperformance (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 5-1

11. Tough to Tame (Christopher Davis, Sophie Doyle), 30-1

12. Corniche (Bob Baffert, Mike Smith), 5-2

TimeformUS’ pace projections show favorite Corniche going out to an early lead under Smith to set a fast pace, followed by stablemates Barossa and Pinehurst. Note that TimeformUS lacks pace data on Japanese runner Jasper Great.

Visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for more information on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, plus looks at Saturday’s Distaff and Classic.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile links

The HRN staff makes expert picks for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Mike Smith, the winningest jockey in Breeders’ Cup history, has only three mounts in this year’s World Championships. But one of those comes in the Juvenile on Corniche, who he says enjoys a “home-field advantage” at Del Mar.

Laurie Ross explains why 20-1 long shot Double Thunder can pull a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile upset.

The Juvenile is part of a Late Pick 4 that has paid handsomely each of the last two years thanks to upset winners. Padraic Manocchio analyzes Friday’s sequence.

HorseCenter hosts Matt Shifman and Brian Zipse offer picks for all five Breeders’ Cup races taking place Friday, including the Juvenile.

J. Keeler Johnson identifies 11 of his watch list runners competing Friday in the Breeders’ Cup, including four in the Juvenile.

Listen to the latest episode of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod as Las Vegas bookmakers handicap the 2021 Breeders’ Cup.

Dale Romans, who has Giant Game running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, joined the Kentucky Winners’ Circle Podcast to discuss fellow trainer Bob Baffert.

Other Breeders’ Cup races

Here is a look at other Breeders’ Cup races taking place Friday at Del Mar. All post times are EDT, and all races will be broadcast on NBCSN.

Related: Analysis: Two singles to consider in Breeders' Cup Day 1

5:50 p.m. – $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2), 2-year-olds, five furlongs (turf)

Averly Jane (5-2) aims to deliver trainer Wesley Ward his third consecutive win in this event. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will ride the Midshipman filly, whose 4-for-4 record includes stakes wins at Churchill Downs, Keeneland and Saratoga. Ward also conditions Twilight Gleaming (4-1), a Royal Ascot runner-up who won a stakes last out at Deauville. One Timer (4-1) sports a 3-for-3 ledger for trainer Larry Rivelli, including a Santa Anita stakes score.

Related: Rivelli eyes 1st BC win with horse named for son

6:30 p.m. – $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles

Echo Zulu (4-5) already owns a pair of Grade 1 wins for trainer Steve Asmussen, coming in Saratoga’s Spinaway Stakes and Belmont Park’s Frizette Stakes. All three of her wins have come under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., but Joel Rosario gets the call on the Gun Runner filly Friday. Brad Cox trains Juju’s Map (5-2), who showed she can score a Grade 1 victory at two turns when taking Keeneland’s Alcibiades Stakes. Hidden Connection (5-2) won Churchill Downs’ Pocahontas Stakes (G3) for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Related: Analysis: Echo Zulu is a superstar in the making

7:10 p.m. – $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), 2-year-old fillies, one mile (turf)

Pizza Bianca (5-1) leads a wide-open renewal of this event for trainer Christophe Clement. Jockey Jose Ortiz will pilot the Fastnet Rock filly, a Saratoga debut winner who was second last out at Woodbine in the Natalma Stakes (G1). Arnaud Delacour trains Koala Princess (6-1), whose 2-for-2 record includes a Kentucky Downs stakes triumph. Mise En Scene (6-1) makes her first start on North American soil for trainer James Ferguson.

8:30 p.m. – $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), 2-year-olds, one mile (turf)

Dubawi Legend (4-1) is the shortest price on the morning line for a Juvenile Turf that, like its filly counterpart, lacks a convincing favorite. Hugo Palmer trains the Dubawi colt, who makes his first U.S. start off a runner-up finish in a Group 1 stakes at Newmarket. Modern Games (5-1) enters off back-to-back wins at Newmarket for trainer Charles Appleby but has never faced a field above the Group 3 level. The shortest U.S.-based price is Pilgrim Stakes (G2) second-place finisher Portfolio Company (6-1) for trainer Chad Brown.

Related: Gargan, in 1st Breeders' Cup, on what a win would mean