Handicapping Breeders' Cup 2018's Head2Head matchup wagers

With sports betting becoming more widely legalized this year, the Breeders' Cup added a series of Head2Head matchups to its wagering menu for this weekend's championships. There are some individual props, meaning your horse of choice doesn't have to win, but only beat a select other horse in the race, as well as a USA vs. Europe flavor in many of the turf races.

The wagers are all $10 minimum bets with a 10 percent takeout. Here's how I'll be playing them:

Friday

Race 6 – Juvenile Fillies Turf: USA (1) vs Europe (2)

In this first head to head Breeders' Cup matchup on the Friday card, USA has the numbers with more runners, headed by possible superstar Newspaperofrecord. Europe's contingent includes a couple of interesting shippers, but I am siding with USA in this one. 

Race 8 – Juvenile Turf: USA (1) vs. Europe (2)

In this second head to head BC matchup on the Friday card, the USA again has the numbers with more runners, but Europe has the quality with Line of Duty and Anthony Van Dyck leading the team. I will side with Europe.

Race 9 – Juvenile: Complexity (1) vs. Game Winner (2)

This is an interesting battle. East Coast speed for Chad Brown vs. West Coast stamina for Bob Baffert. Game Winner is more versatile, and he can beat you in different ways, so he gets the nod from me. 

Saturday 

Race 6 – Filly & Mare Turf: USA (1) vs. Europe (2)

In the last six years, overseas runners have won this race three times. American trainer Chad Brown saddled the other three winners. Looking at the 2018 renewal, it looks like Chad Brown or the Europeans again. I think the top two overseas runners, Magic Illusion and Magic Wand, are more talented than the five Brown trainees, so I'll side with the invaders here.

Race 8 – Mile: USA (1) vs. Europe (2)

There are no superstars on the U.S. side, while Europe comes in with a deep cast, mainly Polydream. I am expecting an overseas runner to win this race. 

Race 10 – Turf: Enable (GB) (1) vs. the Field (2)

As good as Enable is, there are numerous horses with the ability to upset her, including but not limited to defending champion Talismanic, Robert Bruce, Magical and Waldgeist. I have to take the Field in this one. 

Race 11 – Classic: Mendelssohn (1) vs. Thunder Snow (2)

The final head to head matchup is intriguing, and really could go either way. Thunder Snow finished in front of Mendelssohn in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but the latter did all of the pace dirty work and actually ran a better race. Thunder Snow has looked good in his training sessions leading up to this race, and he could end up sitting a nice ground saving trip behind the speed. Mendelssohn should be forwardly placed throughout, and this race has been his target for quite some time. I do not think that either of these runners will win, but at the end of the day, I think Mendelssohn will turn the tables and finish in front of Thunder Snow.