Five potential Breeders' Cup 2020 singles

HRN Staff
Photo: Coady Photography

This year's Breeders' Cup is full of depth and great wagering opportunities. The vast array of opinions from handicappers around the world will help ensure that the Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 wagers have fruitful payoffs on both days, even if the results end up being chalky. Our team tabbed five horses that they feel are the best singles in this year's Breeders' Cup.

Cadillac, Juvenile Turf – Padraic Manocchio, HRN Content Producer

Golden Pal in the Turf Sprint and Monomoy Girl in the Distaff are the first two horses who came to mind when thinking of singles, but I'm going to think outside the box a bit and say Cadillac in the Juvenile Turf.

This import has everything I look for in a European coming to America for the Breeders' Cup. He already owns a victory at one mile, and his two best races by far have come around left-handed turns.

He won his debut by 9 and defeated Ebeko, who eventually would come to America to win the Zuma Beach. After running second in a soft turf straightaway race, he cruised home in the G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes at one mile while running on a left-handed course. He disappointed last out in another straightaway on a very soft course against Group 1 foes.

He will get firmer turf, catches a field lacking a superstar and should be a square price off of his last race.

Nashville, Sprint – Reinier Macatangay, HRN Handicapper

If Nashville enters the Sprint, then he is a single. According to TimeformUS Pace Projector, he is supposed to secure the lead through a fast pace, with his stablemate Yaupon nearby. But trainer Steve Asmussen is not likely to direct Yaupon's jockey to duel with Nashville and ruin both of their chances.
Yaupon will give about a half-length to a length of cushion. Right behind them on the graphic is Empire of Gold and Frank's Rockette, who both fall into the presser category rather than pacesetter. In all likelihood, the pace will run at a moderately fast clip and allow a quality pacesetter such as Nashville to save something for the stretch. With his 130 on TimeformUS, Nashville also owns the important speed figure advantage. He is the only logical choice.

Essential Quality, Juvenile – Jarrod Horak, HRN Handicapper

Many handicappers are going to single Jackie's Warrior in the Juvenile. He is the fastest horse on paper and almost certainly will prove an elusive target if he secures a clear early lead again. However, this is his first start around two turns, and other Juvenile hopefuls have shown early interest.

If Jackie's Warrior is pressured early and expends too much early energy, there is a realistic chance that Essential Quality gets the job done. My Juvenile top choice easily captured both of his career starts as the betting favorite, including the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at a mile and a sixteenth at Keeneland.

I like his running style versatility, and he has the tactical speed to keep the leaders in his sights. Adding credence to the strength of the Breeders' Futurity, a pair of runners from that heat (King Fury, Super Stock) returned to finish first and second in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on Oct. 25. 

Maximum Security, Classic - Mark Midland, HRN CEO

With deep and contentious fields for two days, it's tough to find any singles out of the 14 Breeders' Cup races. But having to find one, I would fall back to Maximum Security, who already is proven at this 1 1/4-mile Classic distance, has crossed the wire first in an incredible 11 of 13 races and never has finished a race worst than second (other than his disqualification to 17th in the 2019 Kentucky Derby). So, we know this horse loves to win. 
Plus, we get the added bonus of a better price because he finished second in his last race behind his stablemate Improbable. He actually might have run the better race as he moved into a hot pace, going in :46 1/5 and 1:09 3/5.  
Also, if you're playing multi-race bets such as the Pick 4, there is a bit of an advantage to singling the last race (as opposed to an earlier leg) in that if you're alive to the last leg with a single, you have a bit of equity and you can hedge by betting other contenders to win or in exactas over your horse. If you single in one of the early legs, you're out and get nothing. 

Golden Pal, Juvenile Turf Sprint - Mike Shutty, Super Screener author

This is Wesley Ward’s specialty, and among this entrants, Golden Pal is the top player. He just missed defeating 11 others at Ascot in June. He is very fast early and holds his speed for the duration of the race. Plus, he is working super. Pointed here.

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