Hopefully by the time some of you are reading this, you already took down your share of $10,000 that was up for grabs during Friday’s Breeders’ Cup card through 1/ST BET and Xpressbet’s Exacta-Thon promotion. If not, you have another chance and an outstanding card to attack. Just remember to register before taking your swing at connecting on as many exactas as possible over the full Saturday card. If you connect on six, you split $7500 with all others who do and then the horseplayer with the most exactas will get $2500 more.
Here are three races I will be including amongst my Breeders’ Cup Saturday Exacta-Thon plays:
Race 10: Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)
As is usually the case, this year’s Sprint should see a fast early pace. With #1 Raging Torrent and #3 Federal Judge drawn on the inside and #8 Straight No Chaser and #11 Skelly on the outside, it would be a big surprise if this did not at least give closers a fair shake when they turn for home.
#10 Mullikin also draws to the outside and will likely need to avoid getting caught up in that early battle if he wants to have enough left late to earn his fifth consecutive victory. With Flavien Prat aboard, you would expect him to try to settle just off the pace, but being drawn between Straight No Chaser and Skelly could make things a bit tricky. If he can relax early, he is the clear one to beat. If not, I think it sets things up for a runner from further off the pace.
#9 Remake was dominant in his prep in the Korea Sprint (G3). I love the way he settled and finished. The 5YO clearly fits against the best sprinters in the world and could get the right setup to earn his tenth career victory. #4 Nakatomi also might get the run of the race. The son of Firing Line comes in off a runner-up effort to Federal Judge in the Phoenix (G2), but that came on a day where speed was very good at Keeneland. Nakatomi makes plenty of sense but his morning line is a bit shorter than I would be willing to swallow.
Plays:
$5 Exacta Box 9+10
$5 Exacta Wheel 9+10 with 4+9+10
Race 11: Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)
European-based runners have dominated the Mile over the last several years with Master of The Seas being the recent Charles Appleby/Godolphin runner to capture the Grade 1 event. Therefore, it stands to reason that the public will likely flock to their strong contingent again in 2024. I do not necessarily blame them, but do think a Stateside runner has a big chance this year as well.
#9 Johannes (pictured above) has been awesome throughout his career, but especially in 2024. The Nyquist colt has rattled off four straight wins over Southern California turf courses and done so in impressive fashion. There is little question that he has not faced the caliber of horse he meets in the Mile, but I believe he will be up for the challenge. Hopefully, we get more than 9-2 on the Win end, but I will key him on top from an Exacta-Thon perspective.
There is a slew of options to include underneath, but I will keep it to three. #6 Notable Speech who comes in off a fifth-place effort in the Prix de Moulin de Longchamp (G1) and aims to give trainer Charles Appleby his fourth consecutive win in this event, #7 Porta Fortuna who has rattled off three consecutive Group 1 wins in the United Kingdom, and longshot #8 More Than Looks who should be rolling late if the pace is honest.
Play:
$10 Exacta Wheel 9 with 6+7+8
Race 12: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1)
Breeders’ Cup ’24 concludes with another two-turn edition of the Dirt Mile where it is difficult to imagine anything, but a quick first half-mile. #1 Saudi Crown, #2 T O Saint Denis, and #3 Full Serrano all want to be prominent, as well as #7 Tumbarumba, #13 Pipeline, and #14 Skippylongstocking. This bodes very well for #8 Post Time. The Maryland-bred has had almost all of his success in one-turn races, but I thought he proved he can handle a route of ground when he ran a solid third to Arthur’s Ride in the Whitney (G1) this summer. Hopefully, regular rider Sheldon Russell finds his way to the rail early and has a ton of horse when they turn for home. He is my key horse in the finale.
I will key Post Time with #9 Domestic Product who I think has a stronger punch at one-turn, but still should get a favorable setup and #12 Mufasa who hopefully can avoid a wide voyage into that first-turn.
Play:
$10 Exacta 8 with 9+12
$5 Exacta 9+12 with 8
Good luck!
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