Breeders’ Cup 2022 preview and tips for Keeneland

Breeders’ Cup Tips: Saturday, November 5

1pt win Gunite at 5.10 Keeneland at 5/1 (General)

1pt win Kinross in 7.10 Keeneland at 9/2 (Unibet, Hills)

3 Points Win Nations Pride at 20.40 Keeneland at 9/4 (General)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

All times GMT

SLAMMED – 3.50 Keeneland (Dirt)

Nine races on Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup card and we can start by battling favorite Goodnight Olive in the Filly & Mare Sprint, as she has found herself well in the market for Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz Jr.

The Ghostzapper mare was impressive in the Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga last time when she had several of those rivals behind her, breaking really well and getting a dream trip just off the pace. However, it is not guaranteed to happen again here from stable eight, and from stable one Todd Finchers STABLE looks a threat under Florent Geroux.

She has to turn around a half-length deficit with Edgeway from Del Mar but was impressive in a Grade 2 at this track last time, so she looks good on a track she likes from the inside berth.

The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint looks set to be one of the races in the meeting with Wesley Ward’s Golden Pal going for his third consecutive World Championship victory at his home track where he is unbeaten.

His early speed is a serious weapon on a track like this and he is likely to be out of stall eight quickly, in stark contrast to his Royal Ascot no-show where he had all sorts of issues at the start.

This could be set up nicely for John Quinns PRINCESS OF HIGHFIELDbut when she breaks well herself and the way she traveled outside The Platinum Queen’s factions in Nunthorpe highlights her own speed.

Brilliant again over the stiff five furlongs at the Curragh, this five-and-a-half furlong trip looks perfect and she has freshened up considerably since completing a Group 1 hat-trick in Europe in mid-September.

Steve Asmussen GUNITE can go one better than his sire Gun Runner in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

The three-year-old is improving rapidly and produced a career-best run at this track just two weeks ago when cruising to clear success under Tyler Gaffalione.

His 1st second to Jack Christopher in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga was a strong hint that he will improve for the mile and an even trip looks likely from a good move at five.

Asmussen likes him during his short break (see video below) and prices as high as 5/1 with the UK bookies look a bit big.

NASHWA can round off his campaign in spectacular style by seeing off his rivals in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Stö & Mare Turf.

The John & Thady Gosden daughter of Frankel has been in good form over 10 furlongs all year, her busy first half of the season yielding victories in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly and the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

She raced freely in the French Oaks from a prominent field, but relaxed better at Goodwood when held up at the back and she is adaptable to whatever scenario this race throws up.

Her turn of foot is a powerful weapon and she should have brought a lot from her Prix de l’Opera second coming back from over two months off the track.

KIMARI – 6.30 Keeneland (Dirt)

Jackie’s Warrior is bidding to finally win a Breeders’ Cup race at the third attempt after even-money and 1/2 losses in the last two championships.

Picked out of the closest in last year’s Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint, he is a low price once again, but it could be worth lining up as second favorite KIMARI for Wesley Ward.

The colt will come to the attention of British racing fans after her runner-up to Golden Horde in the 2020 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and she looks better than ever at five years of age.

She was good in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes at Belmont At The Big A last time and Jose Ortiz can sit on the leader’s shoulder from a good move before claiming in the steps.

KINROSS – 7.10 Keeneland (Turf)

The European team has a really strong hand in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile and Modern Games is hard to break for Charlie Appleby.

He travels over to North America and his wins in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and Woodbine Mile show and he ran well on less than ideal ground in the QEII on Champions Day at Ascot.

In all cases, KINROSS stole the show that day with a stunning win in the Champion Sprint and at double odds for the Modern Games he looks a valuable bet against the favourite.

His wide draw is not ideal but Frankie Dettori will relish the challenge and his seven-furlong pace, as with Space Blues last year, could be a crucial asset in the race.

Todd Pletcher has the strongest hands in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and STAY looks best in the hands of Irad Ortiz Jr.

The daughter of Curlin has thrived since jumping back in the trip after the Belmont Stakes, winning back-to-back Grade 1s in the American Oaks and Alabama Stakes before pulling home in her Breeders’ Cup prep.

She wouldn’t want a late start in this company, but if she breaks well she could run the pace and have a better position at the top of the stretch than stablemate Malathaat, who looks set to make ground from mid-division.

Charlie Appleby can hold on to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf thanks to PRIDE OF NATIONS which has European banker status in the penultimate race on the card.

The son of Teofilo burst onto the scene at Newmarket this spring and was sent off at 15/2 for the Derby before flopping at Epsom.

Given time to develop by his excellent trainer, he returned to the Belmont five weeks later with a second, before taking his form to another level in the Saratoga Derby, beating subsequent Coolmore Turf Mile winner Annapolis with ease.

An easy win in the Jockey Club Invitational at Belmont at Big A completed his Breeders’ Cup preparations and he looks like a 10-furlong stopping horse – which I like against a bunch of out and out 1m4f horses.

FLIGHT LINE can confirm himself as the best horse on the planet with a decisive victory in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

John Sadler’s son of Tapit has won his three Grade 1s over 7f, 1m and 1m2f by a combined margin of 37 lengths, earning himself Timeform’s highest ever rating for a dirt horse with a rating of 143.

That’s 5 pounds clear of Cigar, second on the list, and just 4 pounds shy of Frankel, the highest-ranked horse in Timeform history.

If he beats rivals like Life Is Good and Epicenter like he beat Country Grammar in the Pacific Classic, we’ll be in for a treat, and he looks impossible to oppose.

Published at 2140 GMT on 04/11/22

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