What to watch for: McKinzie leads Breeders' Cup prep fields

From Friday through Sunday, 10 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races will run around the world, with events in England and Japan along with the U.S.

Overseas, Newmarket on Friday hosts the Shadwell Rockfel (G2) for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf hopefuls; the Juddmonte Royal Lodge (G2) runs Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf division; and a bid to the Turf Sprint will go to the winner of Sunday’s Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse.

Domestically, most eyes will be on a pair of automatic qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and their counterparts looking toward the Distaff. Here’s an early glance at those prospective fields…

RELATED: American Pharoah, Chandelier stakes draw Tuesday

Awesome Again Stakes (G1)

We’ll start at the top, with McKinzie getting the chance to secure his Classic favoritism in the Awesome Again. This will mark his first start at home in California since the spring and follows a dominant victory at the same 1 1/8-mile distance in Saratoga’s Whitney (G1).

If not for the towering top choice, you could make a case for many here in the win spot as Seeking the Soul ships in after a flop in the Pacific Classic (G1) but rarely strings together top performances; Higher Power comes in fresh off taking the Pacific Classic (G1); and Fawree is an improving type for the John Sadler barn.

Zenyatta Stakes (G1)

Following Saturday’s Awesome Again, the Zenyatta goes Sunday for fillies and mares. The usual California suspects are expected in a small but competitive field led by Ollie’s Candy, who re-rallied to win the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar and remains new to Sadler’ care.

Secret Speice was a closed second that day and will look to turn the tables for the Richard Baltas barn. Earlier this season, she became a Grade 1 winner of the Beholder Mile.

Paradise Woods has had an up-and-down season, much of that related to how she breaks, while La Force always knocks heads with these types and often picks up a check.

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)

This one looks like anybody’s race with Travers Stakes (G1) winner Code of Honor set to face older, including the Woodward Stakes (G1) hero Preservationist.

Tacitus, another 3-year-old, has done everything but win a Grade 1 race, while Yoshida seems to be coming back around at the right time. Vino Rosso’s connections skipped the Woodward in favor of this 1 1/4-mile race, as he won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) back in May.

To boot, Tenfold ran better than his east coast counterparts when fourth last time in the Pacific Classic and owns a win at 10 furlongs in the Pimlico Special.

This is squarely Midnight Bisou’s race to lose. And if she wins, she’ll go as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, expected to be the 4-year-old filly’s final career start before heading to the auction ring.

The daughter of Midnight Lute is 6-for-6 this season, with each of those wins in graded stakes company. And she answered a big question in winning the Personal Ensign (G1) last out, prevailing at the Beldame’s nine-furlong distance.

Wow Cat may still be formidable. She also came into this race third off the layoff and won it for the Chad Brown barn, then went on to be second to Monomoy Girl in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Vosburgh Stakes (G1)

The other U.S. Breeders’ Cup qualifier run on the Jockey Club Gold Cup undercard will be a single on many players’ multi-race wagers.

Imperial Hint coasted to win last year’s Vosburgh on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said this week he’s hoping for another comfortable win in this final prep.

Last time out, of course, he finished up in Saratoga’s Vanderbilt (G1) in record time. He’ll look to defend another race win here, likely going to the post as an odds-on favorite.