TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Tackles the Breeders’ Cup

Wandering Eyes · October 30

The TDN Writers' Room, which is presented by Keeneland, took a different route this week, handicapping every Breeders' Cup race. How did we do? We'll know late Saturday evening.

Here are the highlights of the picks made by Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss.

FRIDAY:

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: Predicting that Aidan O'Brien is going to have a huge Friday, Finley picked True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never), pointing out that the filly is coming off a Group I win in the Cheveley Park S. and looks to be the class of the race. Moss vowed to try to beat many of the favorites. He thought the draw did O'Brien no favors and said it was a four-horse race-True Love, Cy Fair (Not This Time), Lennilu (Leinster) and Havana Anna (GB) (Havana Grey ({GB}). Cadman was confident that True Love would win.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Both Cadman and Finley liked Percy's Bar (Upstart), who crossed the wire in front of the hot favorite Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), who was placed first through disqualification, in the GI Alcibiades S. Finley said Percy's Bar was the best horse in the Alcibiades, despite the DQ. But Cadman was worried that Percy's Bar would bounce, so said to include Explora (Blame) on your tickets. Moss went with Explora. He didn't think Tommy Jo could get the distance.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Finley picked the O'Brien-trained Precise (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), though was worried about his post position, the 13 hole. Moss said Precise would be too short a price and made Ultimate Love (Curlin) his top pick. Cadman gave out three horses, Precise, Ultimate Love and Brave Deb (Authentic). Of Ultimate Love, she said, “She was just the easiest of winners (in the Selima). She's a big, beautiful daughter of Curlin.”

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: As much as he liked Ted Noffey, Finley picked Blackout Time (Not This Time) on top, figuring that the Kenny McPeek-trained horse had yet to peak. He said to box Ted Noffey and Black Out Time in the exacta. Cadman also like Ted Noffey, but said Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) is capable of posting the upset. Moss said the price on Ted Noffey will be too low, so he went for the Bob Baffert-trained Brant (Gun Runner). “He's going to set the pace,” Moss said. “Wire-to-wire.”

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Finley and Moss agreed that this was one of the toughest races among all the Breeders' Cup. Finley settled on Street Beast (Street Sense). Moss also took Street Beast. Neither of them appeared too confident. Based on how impressed she was with the way Bottas (Vekoma) has looked in the mornings, he was Cadman's pick. “He's a gorgeous son of Vekoma,” she said.

SATURDAY:

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint: Saying he was ultra-impressed with the Oct. 24 workout at Santa Anita, Hope Road (Quality Road) was Finley's pick. Cadman went with Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca). Despite the filly having relatively slow Beyer figures, she said not to throw out Tamara (Bolt d'Oro). Moss also liked Hope Road but was also high on the chances of Sweet Azteca.

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Acknowledging that it was a sentimental pick, Finley went with the 9-year-old Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). He said his last race, a win in the GII Woodford at Keeneland, was ultra impressive after he got off slowly. “He runs a lot better in the U.S. than he does in Europe, and that's probably because he loves firm turf,” Finley said. Cadman went with the mare, Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy). “She looks like a man amongst boys,” she said. Moss said the race was between Ag Bullet and Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

The Breeders' Cup Sprint: All agreed that it wasn't the strongest Breeders' Cup Sprint ever assembled. Finley, Cadman and Moss all picked Bentornato (Valiant Minister), with Moss implying that he was his best bet in the Breeders' Cup. “I've been trying to beat all the favorites. I can't try to beat this one,” Moss said. Cadman didn't pick Kopion (Omaha Beach) but said her last workout (three furlongs in 33 1/5) was sensational.

Breeders' Cup Distaff: Finley, who said Baffert will have a huge Breeders' Cup, thought Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) was the most likely winner of all his Breeder' Cup starters. “Her Beyer numbers, she's so much faster than everyone else,” he said. Cadman took a stand against Seismic Beauty, saying she hasn't been all that impressed with the way she was training up to the race. She went with Dorth Vader (Girvin) and so did Moss. “I think there could be enough pace pressure on Seismic Beauty to maybe soften her up a little bit, so, it's Dorth Vader for me,” Moss said.

Breeders' Cup Turf: Finley didn't expect any surprises, saying it was a two-horse race between the European stars, Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). He tabbed Rebel's Romance on top. “Charlie Appleby versus Aidan O'Brien. What's better than that?” Finley. Moss agreed. “These are the two standouts,” he said.” It's almost a coin flip.” He thought Amiloc (GB) (Postponed {Ire}) had a good chance to round out the trifecta. Cadman picked Minnie Hauk, the runner-up in the GI Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Breeders' Cup Classic: It became a much different race with the official scratch of Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and none of our handicappers had a firm opinion. Finley went with Fierceness (City of Light), but said he was worried about the horse's erratic nature. Cadman went with last year's winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). “Leone looks great coming in from Saratoga. He's actually honed up a little bit. He's a little tighter than the last time I saw him,” she said. Moss, who loves to pick Japanese horses, went with Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steal {Jpn}), saying he was very impressed with his win in the GI Saudi Cup.

Breeders' Cup Mile: Another one of the tougher races on the card. Moss liked Johannes (Nyquist), saying he'll be a steal if he goes off at his morning-line odds of 8-1. Looking for a price, Finley picked the European invader Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is coming off a a win in the GI Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Also looking for a price, Cadman picked Jonquil (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Finley predicted a repeat win for Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), saying he will love the turn back to the mile after finishing second in the nine furlong GI Goodwood. Cadman said it would be a Baffert exacta, Nysos (Nyquist) over Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Moss was also on the Nysos bandwagon.

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf: Finley was on Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), saying she had no chance in the Arc and would run back to her big efforts in the GI Prix Vermeille and GI Prix de Diane. Moss said he is a big fan of She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), but doesn't think she will like the distance. He liked both Charlie Appleby horses, Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) and Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal). “I am not using She Feels Pretty for the reasons Randy mentioned. She just can't relax,” Cadman said. She picked Diamond Rain.

The “Fastest Horse of the Week” was the bargain-basement buy Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), who got a 103 Beyer for his win in a Keeneland allowance. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar.

The podcast is also sponsored by 1/ST TV, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, Gainesway, West Point Thoroughbreds and the KTOB.