The two-day Breeders' Cup opens at Del Mar today with 5 championship races for the 2-year-olds. I've got a couple of undercard plays before the main events, and a potential upsetter in today's Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Del Mar - Race #2: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes
#5 Plutarch: Hate to be down at a short price, but I think he's the right one here. The class on his page stands out, having run into a couple of tough customers already. Think he'll handle this crew.
#1 Migo: Considered this one as a swing on top, but I liked the race last time out and think there is some upside today. Guessing he'll find the right kind of spot near the top.
#2 Conducted: Sharp effort last time out to score, and something like that probably keeps him in the mix right back with this stakes crew.
Del Mar - Race #4: Senator Ken Maddy Stakes
#6 Shoot It True: She was already a stakes winner on the dirt, but she really came to life when getting over to the turf a couple starts back. Nothing wrong with either of the last two.
#8 Jungle Peace: Maybe I've overestimated her a touch, but her last at Kentucky Downs wasn't all bad, and I wonder if this sharper trip might wake her up a little bit. Want her on the tickets.
#4 Queen Maxima: Wouldn't argue that hard with anyone landing here, as she was within a length of Motorious in her last try, and that guy will go as one of the favorites in tomorrow's Turf Sprint.
Del Mar - Race #8: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
#11 Ground Support: She went from a 100/1 debut winner to a Grade II winner in about five weeks, and I loved the way she did it both times. Tough draw, but she's quick enough to potentially find a spot into the turn right up on or near the top. Think she's legit, and the presence of the next one might skew some prices a bit.
#13 Precise: Tough draw is the concern here, too, but she might dunk on these anyway if she finds any kind of trip. She's got stellar Euro form that should land this race almost any way you cut it on paper. Only these two horses on top on main plays for me.
#4 Infinite Sky: I'm not that interested in spreading around in this race, as the chalk likely wins it, and I'm really only interested in Ground Support as an alternative. That said, I kept coming back to this one as an outside possibility if a bunch of the tactical types start making middle moves and this becomes a race where the very last run lands it -- could be her? My only backup.
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