Dubai World Cup 2019 picks: How to bet Saturday's race

 Quick Guide to the 2019 Dubai World Cup

Saturday's 2019 Dubai World Cup (G1) looks like a wide-open betting contest with an evenly matched international field. Morning line favorite North America should be joined on or near the lead by Capezzano and Thunder Snow, while Seeking the Soul and Yoshida appear to be the best the United States has to offer.

Before choosing how to bet Satuday’s ninth race at Meydan, set for 12:40 p.m. ET, let's analyze the field:

The Favorite

#3 North America (5-2) cruised in the first two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge and enters this event as a fresh, dangerous pace player. He broke slow in this race last year but may have been over the top. He is in peak form this year and should be competitive throughout. 

Value Win Contenders

#5 Seeking the Soul (7-1) was my value top pick in the Pegasus World Cup, and he was up for the place behind City of Light in a solid effort at 34-1. He is an honest sort from off the pace. Mike Smith takes the call. 

#10 Yoshida (8-1) was my value top choice in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and he was an OK fourth that day. He was the beaten favorite in the Pegasus World Cup Turf on yielding ground last time and is back on dirt for this. He won the Turf Classic on grass and the Woodward (G1) on dirt last year. He should offer value again. Look for him late under Jose Ortiz. 

Live Longshots

#1 Gunnevera (12-1) always shows up in these big races and has made a nice living hitting the board in races like the Travers, Pegasus World Cup, Woodward, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. He will try to get involved late and might land a minor share. 

Remaining Entrants

#2 Capezzano (7-2) showed good speed and rolled to an easy local win in Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1). He romped in his last three local starts and looms a pace factor at the very least. 

#4 Audible (12-1) caught the slop in three of his last four starts, so his form might be better than it appears. He is 5-for-6 on a fast track but needs to run faster and might not want to go this far. 

#6 Pavel (20-1) is 0-for-6 at this distance, and his recent form is suspect. He was fourth in this event last year and might not be able to do any better this time around. 

#7 Gronkowski (20-1) jumped up and ran a big race to land the place in the Belmont Stakes last year but has not done much in four starts since. 

#8 Axelrod (20-1) shipped to Meydan and was nowhere in his lone local stakes start. He really is not a mile and a quarter horse. 

#9 New Trails (30-1) was an OK second in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge and a well-beaten fourth in Round 3. Things do not get any easier in this event. 

#11 K T Brave (30-1)  lost his last three starts in Japan, including a disappointing second as the heavy favorite on Jan 30. He does some of his best work at this distance but is not on top of his game currently. 

#12 Thunder Snow (6-1) easily went all the way in this event last year but is likely going to have to stalk outside if he expects to repeat. He is consistent, but I am not sure about his recent form after a distant second in Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge (G1). 

#13 Dolkong (30-1) was only a neck behind Thunder Snow last time but got the worst of it at the post draw.  

Wagering Strategies

The Plays: 

#10 to win

Exacta Box 5-10

Exacta 5-10/1-3

Trifecta 3-5-10/ALL/1