ITV Racing Tips for Friday’s Breeders Cup Meeting at Keenland

Brian Healy
Breeders’ Cup Racing Tips

The ITV Racing cameras head Stateside on Friday night for the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, with Ed Chamberlain and the team covering all five Grade One races on the opening day of the world-famous fixture. It is Future Stars Friday, the juvenile card, and below are our selections for every race on the ITV coverage.

ITV Racing Selections at a Glance

  • 18:55 Keeneland – Libertango (13/8)
  • 19:35 Keeneland – Emphatic (2/1)
  • 20:15 Keeneland – Sun Goddess (4/5)
  • 20:55 Keeneland – Hughes (5/4)
  • 21:35 Keeneland – Folsom Blues (3/1)

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18:55 Keeneland: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1)

LIBERTANGO brings solid top-level form into this, and George Boughey’s filly can take the prize. The No Nay Never filly has won three of her five starts this term, beaten only by Senorita Bonita in a Group Two at Newmarket and, more recently, by the top-class Sun Goddess when the pair clashed in the Cheveley Park. She was outbattled by the eventual winner that day, going down by just one length, and the form of her earlier Lowther success has been franked. This is a slight drop back in trip, but she has shown no shortage of speed and looks sure to run a big race.

19:35 Keeneland: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1)

A wide draw may not be ideal for EMPHATIC, but Brendan Walsh’s filly is aptly named, having won her last three in good style, and the Nyquist filly can win again. She was a good winner of the Grade One Darley Alcibiades Stakes last time, beating Summer Starlet on her first try at the top level, and there could be plenty more to come. This will be harder, especially as she might struggle to get a position from her outside berth given she likes to go forward. But if she can find her stride early, she ought to be involved at the finish.

20:15 Keeneland: John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1)

It is hard to get away from SUN GODDESS adding to her impressive tally, and the Sioux Nation filly can give Aidan O’Brien a third win in five years in this contest. She has won her last five since being beaten by Libertango at Ascot in June, including an impressive six-length defeat of Green Empress in the Moyglare Stud before gaining revenge on Libertango at Newmarket. That Curragh win has been franked by the runner-up taking the Prix Marcel Boussac, and Libertango can boost the form earlier on the card. She steps up to a mile for the first time, but got seven furlongs easily at the Curragh and may improve for the stamina test. Only the exertions of a long season worry.

20:55 Keeneland: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade 1)

Bob Baffert saddles two, and HUGHES looks the one to focus on, with Flavian Prat taking the reins. The Into Mischief colt is four from four, most recently demolishing his field in the American Pharaoh Stakes at Santa Anita at the start of the month, and doing so in a time below the standard for the course and distance. The expensive purchase has looked out of the top drawer so far. Admittedly, that was not the strongest race, and this is much tougher, but it has been hard not to be impressed by him each time, and with plenty more improvement likely, it would be no shock to see him win again.

21:35 Keeneland: Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1)

FOLSOM BLUES steps up to a mile for the first time, and Joseph O’Brien’s colt can get back to winning ways having found only one too good at Longchamp last time. The Blue Point colt has not finished out of the frame in six starts this campaign, with two wins including a defeat of Monogram in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh in September. Before that he found only Sun Goddess too good over a trip arguably too short for him in the Phoenix Stakes, and he was beaten just over a length by Amusingly in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere – form since boosted by the fifth’s fine third in the Criterium International. His wide draw lets him drop in, the likely quick ground is no concern, and a big run looks likely.

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Selections are our opinion and not guaranteed – odds and runners are subject to change, so always check the card before betting. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.

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