By: Nick Tammaro (@NTamm1215)
Friday, Race #5: The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
(Turf – 5 Furlongs) 2 YO
Purse: $1 Million
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint has found a lovely home at the two-day extravaganza as the “lidlifter” on Friday afternoon. It will once again bring together a full field and 12 will go to the post at the 5 furlong trip. The European contingent looks strong as this race was won by an international runner for the first time in 2022. Let’s break the contenders down by category and dig into the race a bit more.
THE EUROS
The most fancied international runner will undoubtedly be #4 BIG EVS. He has been very good in his last three starts which included a blowout win last time at Doncaster. In that 5 furlong heat he quickly assumed command after breaking like a rocket and never looked back. The competition was hardly robust, but he made mince meat of them in the victory.
I’m intrigued by #5 GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS who comes in off a 4th place finish in the Middle Park, a Group I run at Newmarket in late September. This colt disputed the pace and was firmly in contention until the final furlong or so. That’s not a worry today given the 5 furlong trip, a distance at which he is 1-1 in his brief career. The pace is also liable to help him given his preferred off the pace trip.
#3 Tiger Belle and #10 Valiant Force both enter off 60+ day layoffs and would be fringe players against a weak American contingent, let alone what we have in 2023.
THE AMERICANS
George Weaver has had a tremendous 2023, specifically with 2YOs sprinting on grass and he’ll be well represented here once again. He has #1 CRIMSON ADVOCATE, #2 NO NAY METS and #9 AMIDST WAVES. All feel like horses who can win this race, though ‘Mets is the most appealing to me given his frontrunning style. He’ll be firmly in the mix from the outset.
The Indian Summer is a problematic race that you have to take a stand on because of the 1-2-3 finishers coming back. I’d prefer the 3rd best runner moving forward given that #7 Shards was stuck in the most traffic while Amdist Waves and #12 Committee of One enjoyed largely ideal trips.
THE PLAYS:
$50 Win on #5 GIVE ME THE BEATBOYS
$25 Exactas 5 with 2,7
