Jason Weaver: Nine picks on the Breeders’ Cup meet that will sweep you off your feet

The Shark has pitched up on the Pacific Coast and intends to get his teeth into the local meat...

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – 19:00 Saturday

Pick: Heavenly Love

This two-year-old filly brings an excellent recent winning form. She managed to win over 6 furlongs at Kentucky Downs on the turf before switching to the main track at Keeneland. She bolted up in Group 1 company last time.

In Del Mar, she’s drawn down on the fence and that can be the deciding factor as the likely favourite is posted very deep in stall 13 – Heavenly Love can get our Breeders’ Cup off to a flyer.

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Turf Sprint – 19:37 Saturday

Pick: Marsha

Sir Mark Prescott has his first runner in 40 years training at this years Breeders’ Cup – talk about waiting for the right one to come along.

She’ll be racing on medication also, but we know her form and it’s top class. Admittedly, it’s a big ask for her to race around the sharp left-hand turn but I’m relying on Sir Mark working the Oracle and already having put in the ground work required to handle what’s being asked of his Rocket Filly.

Filly & Mare Sprint – 20:14 Saturday

Pick: Finleysluckycharm

Finleysluckycharm is racing here at Del Mar for the very first time but that ought not be a problem as she has the required early speed to handle this test.

Over this distance she will be required to crack 22 seconds for the first two furlongs, and she can do that comfortably on her home track of Churchill Downs. It’s a long run down the backstretch so being drawn wide in stall nine is not a problem.

Filly & Mare Turf – 21:00 Saturday

Pick: Wuheida

There’s no doubting that the home team has a very strong representative in the shape of Lady Eli –  however, she is going to be very short and for that reason Charlie Appleby’s Wuheida does not deserve to be around 20/1.

She has had hardly any racing, and her form ties in with the very best Fillies of her generation and, drawn well in five, she is a massive each-way player.

Sprint – 21:37 Saturday

Pick: Drefong

Drefong looks the banker on this card. He has already won over course and distance, though he had a blip two starts back when he ducked out into the gap at Del Mar. Hopefully there will not be a repeat of that, and if I was giving riding orders to the jockey it would simply be: point and shoot.

Mile – 22:19 Saturday

Pick: Lancaster Bomber

He has to be the highest rated pacemaker in the world at the moment and still seems to retain all of his enthusiasm. He ran a cracker in the Woodbine Mile when he was blocked in behind runners and surely would’ve gone close with a clear passage.

Ribchester may go off a red hot favourite but I’m not convinced of his ability to handle a sharp two turn mile. So, for that reason we’ll have a crack at Lancaster Bomber at a massive each-way price

Juvenile – 22:58 Saturday

Pick: Bolt d’Oro

Bringing in a perfect three from three record including two victories here at De Mar, the only thing between him and victory is his wide position, drawn deep on the track in 11.

The best thing about this beautifully bread two-year-old colt is the fact that he’s a very lazy worker in the mornings – but when he turns up in the afternoon he’s always on top form. We can expect this rocket juvenile to keep his 100% record intact.

Turf – 23:27 Saturday

Pick: Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher is very much on the recovery mission after running an absolute shocker in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. However, that was under very soft conditions and back on a fast turf track over a mile and a half, with the help of medication, he can outrun his massive odds.

I’ve long been an admirer of his jockey, who I call the pocket rocket, so he won’t be lacking in the saddle. He probably should’ve won the Irish Champion Stakes when trapped in down on the fence and he was the Ballydoyle number one hope in the Epsom Derby. He’s going to fly in under the radar.

Classic – 23:58 Saturday

Pick: West Coast

I’m afraid it’s time for Arrogate and Gun Runner to move over – the new kid on the block appears to be another Bob Baffert runner in the shape of West Coast.

It looks set up for a pace war on the front end and I expect the Breeders’ Cup Classic to be run at a break-neck gallop.

Out of Churchill and War Decree I’d give the latter the best chance on pedigree but it’s a prize that looks like staying at home. West Coast can stalk the front runners without any kickback and pounce late on. He looks like being a decent price as well to boot.

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