The Breeders Cup odds have been shifting throughout the summer, and they could be on the move again after Saturday's Grade III Jockey Club Oaks at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet, and the Grade I Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack.
The Jockey Club Oaks could be used as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, while the Woodbine Mile is always a key race preceding the Breeders' Cup Mile.
I'll take a look at both turf tests below.
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Jockey Club Oaks odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Belmont at Aqueduct Race 9
- Post time: 5:21 p.m. ET
- TV: FS2
| Post | Horse | Track odds |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Last Call | 7-2 | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| 2 | Quarrel | 8-1 | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| 3 | Neecie Marie | 12-1 | +1,200 | +1,200 | +1,200 |
| 4 | Stephanie's Charm | 30-1 | +3,000 | +3,000 | +3,000 |
| 5 | Highland Grace | 5-1 | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| 6 | Eternal Hope | EVEN | +100 | +100 | +100 |
| 7 | Speirling Beag | 5-1 | +500 | +500 | +500 |
Odds as of September 14, 2023.
No. 6 Eternal Hope (EVEN, morning-line favorite) faces a soft field for her first stateside start for Charlie Appleby and gets the call. Though she's never won on turf, she has taken multiple events on synthetic dirt, including one going 1 1/2 miles, so the 11-furlong distance of the Jockey Club Oaks should not hinder her.
Eternal Hope was in very tough in the Group I Epsom Oaks two-back and was a decent third in a Group II event at Deauville when last seen behind a next-out winner. This should represent significant class relief, and Jamie Spencer ships in for the assignment.
No. 5 Highland Grace (5-1) looks like the Americans' best hope here. After dusting a group of maidens two-back, she rallied past allowance foes with similar ease going 10 furlongs on a yielding surface. Distance is a question for many here, but not for her. And like many outside of Eternal Hope, she seems a little vulnerable from a class perspective. However, that should not prevent her and Javier Castellano from running into the exacta at a minimum.
Best bet: $15 exacta 6/5, $5 exacta 5/6 ($20)
Woodbine Mile odds, prediction and best bet
- Race: Woodbine Race 9
- Post time: 5:42 p.m. ET
- TV: FanDuel TV
| Post | Horse | Track odds | |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master of The Seas | EVEN | +100 | +100 | +120 |
| 2 | War Bomber | 6-1 | +600 | +600 | +500 |
| 3 | Shirl's Speight | 5-2 | +250 | +250 | +500 |
| 4 | Ice Chocolat | 9-2 | +450 | +450 | +500 |
| 5 | My Sea Cottage | 15-1 | +1,500 | +1,500 | +1,600 |
| 6 | Lucky Score | 15-1 | +1,500 | +1,500 | +800 |
Odds as of September 14, 2023.
No. 1 Master of The Seas (EVEN, morning-line favorite) is a multiple group stakes winner overseas, with his most recent score in that category coming in the Group II Zabeel Mile at Meydan in January. He was also a close third in the Group I Jebel Hatta Stakes before misfiring in the prestigious Group I Dubai Turf.
Master of The Seas bounced back at Ascot in July, taking a listed stakes event by four comfortable lengths. The speed figure he earned that day would be good enough to beat these by a pole.
European shippers are never a shoo-in, it just seems that way when it's Appleby training. He's taken each of the last seven Grade I grass events at Woodbine. William Buick sees fit to fly in for the call.
No. 2 War Bomber (6-1) is in good form at the moment, taking the Grade II King Edward Stakes and going one mile after settling for second in the seven-furlong Grade II Connaught Cup two-back. He could get the first run at potential pacesetter My Sea Cottage.
No. 6 Lucky Score (15-1) has run behind War Bomber in each of his last two starts but has gotten the worse of the two trips each time. However, with a smaller field, Lucky Score should not be floated as wide as he's been of late, even from this outside draw.
Best bet: $10 trifecta 1/2,6/2,6 ($20)
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Road to the Breeders' Cup Classic Schedule
| Race | Date | Track | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| February Stakes* | February 19 | Tokyo Racecourse (Japan) | Lemon Pop |
| Kentucky Derby | May 6 | Churchill Downs | Mage |
| Preakness Stakes | May 20 | Pimlico | National Treasure |
| Belmont Stakes | June 10 | Belmont Park | Arcangelo |
| Metropolitan Handicap | June 10 | Belmont Park | Cody's Wish |
| Stephen Foster Stakes* | July 1 | Ellis Park | West Will Power |
| Haskell Stakes* | July 22 | Monmouth Park | Geaux Rocket Ride |
| Whitney Stakes* | August 5 | Saratoga | White Abarrio |
| Juddmonte International Stakes (turf)* | August 23 | York (UK) | Mostahdaf |
| Travers Stakes | August 26 | Saratoga | Arcangelo |
| Pacific Classic* | September 2 | Del Mar | Arabian Knight |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup* | September 2 | Saratoga | Bright Future |
| Pennsylvania Derby | September 23 | Parx | TBD |
| Awesome Again Stakes* | September 30 | Santa Anita Park | TBD |
| Lukas Classic | September 30 | Churchill Downs | TBD |
*denotes "Win & You're In" race for Breeders' Cup Classic
