On Saturday at Aqueduct, the featured race will showcase some potential Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the $250,000 Withers Stakes. The Grade 3 race, contested at a mile and a sixteenth, has drawn a field of seven colts and geldings.
El Kabeir headlines the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 8-5 for trainer John Terranova. Purchased for $250,000 as a yearling by Zayat Stables, the gray son of Scat Daddy has won three of his six career starts and enters this race off of back-to-back graded stakes victories. He was last seen winning the Jerome (G3) at Aqueduct as the favorite in his sophomore debut. Chuck Lopez will be back aboard and they will break from the outside post.
Second choice at 2-1 on the morning line is Classy Class for the loaded Kiaran McLaughlin barn. A bay son of Discreetly Mine, he was purchased for $250,000 as a juvenile and broke his maiden at first asking at Belmont in October. He was fourth in the Remsen (G2) in his only start against winners and has been on the shelf since then. He has been training steadily and will break from the rail under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 15-1 is General Bellamy for trainer Bill Mott. A dark bay son of Bellamy Road, the colt broke his maiden in his third career start in a front-running effort in November at Aqueduct. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished third behind El Kabeir in the Jerome (G3) despite an awkward start. He will race with Lasix for the first time and will have Junior Alvarado back aboard from post six.
Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Let's have a look at the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf betting picks and predictions.
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