Breeders Cup Archives - A Game of Skill (2024)

November 28, 2023 by Editor Leave a Comment

SEAN BOARMAN DECLARED OFFICIAL WINNER OF 2023 BREEDERS’ CUP BETTING CHALLENGE
Kentucky Native Made Winning Score on Breeders’ Cup Sprint Exacta to Claim Largest Payday in Tournament History

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2023) ― Collecting more than $120,000 in the final race of the tournament and taking down the largest winning total in event history, Kentucky native Sean Boarman has been declared the official winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. The announcement was made upon completion of a full audit, in accordance with BCBC rules and regulations.

The 15th annual BCBC, Thoroughbred racing’s biggest live-money tournament, drew a record 571 entries as top horseplayers wagered Nov. 3-4 on the 40th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The tournament players generated an all-time contest-record wagering handle of $7,759,434. Over $4.6 million of that total was wagered at Santa Anita Park, representing more than 23.6% of the total on-track handle.

In the 2023 BCBC, each player was required to fund a $2,500 buy-in and a $7,500 betting bankroll ($10,000 total).  All buy-in monies were applied to the prize pool, making the total prize pool $1,427,500. Players made real wagers (win, place, show, exacta, trifecta and daily double) with their $7,500 bankroll and kept all monies earned from their wagering.

Boarman, 43, finished with a total score of 231,238 points. Combined with his first-place prize of $411,125, he earned a grand total of $642,363, the highest total any player has achieved in BCBC history. Kevan Strom of Niskayuna, New York finished second, with 215,453 points, and with his $274,075 prize money added, he amassed a total of $489,528. Mike Mulvihill of Palatine, Illinois finished third with 173,160 points, and combined with prize money of $148,450, he earned a grand total of $321,610.

In addition to those playing at Santa Anita, players competed from satellite locations at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Players also participated online at TVG.com ― the official wagering partner of Breeders’ Cup ― well as numerous ADW locations including HPI in Canada and domestic ADW’s Xpressbet.com, and NYRABets.com.

Boarman, born and raised in Lexington, became interested in horse racing more than 20 years ago while a student at the University of Kentucky. He still lives in Lexington with his wife and two children.

“Winning the BCBC is obviously a huge financial windfall, but it means much more than that to me,” said Boarman. “I was very confident going into the contest that I had a good strategy mapped out and to see that come to fruition against the best of the best in the BCBC is very gratifying.”  

How Sean Boarman Won the 2023 BCBC

Boarman’s strategy centered around putting himself into position to make a large wager on White Abarrio in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). He achieved that when he landed a $6,500 daily double wager on Inspiral (GB) capturing the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) with Goodnight Olive taking the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). That wager yielded approximately $36,000. Three races later, his win bet on White Abarrio returned $126,000, and set him up in third place overall with two races remaining.

“I knew that I did not want to risk the entire 126,000 in order to win the contest, and ultimately settled on making a $20,000 bet in the last race, the [Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup] Sprint (G1).” Boarman recalled. “I played a $16,000 exacta with Elite Power on top of Gunite and $4,000 worth of saver trifectas with Gunite third, as insurance.”

The exacta play returned $128,000, boosting his point total to more than $231,000 and securing the BCBC title.

“I am particularly proud of finding a way to make a winning wager using my handicapping opinion of the last race without risking my entire bankroll to do so,” Boarman added.

Complete tournament results are available here. Participant Vince Foglia made a place wager on his own horse, a violation of BCBC rules which was discovered during the audit. As a result, the winnings from this non-approved wager ($14,000) were deducted from the final score, which resulted in Foglia dropping from 8th place to 13th place in the final standings.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through an 80-race series hosted by 11 countries, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.

The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, was held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will return to the West Coast the next two years in Del Mar, California, set to host Nov. 1-2. The 2024 Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Filed Under: , Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News Tagged With: 2023 Breeders' Cup, bcbc, Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, How Professional Handicapper Sean Boarman Won the 2023 BCBC, Sean Boarban

November 6, 2023 by Editor Leave a Comment

In a statement online today, November 6, 2023, the family posted that Cody Dorman passed away on the trip back to Kentucky following his namesake’s dramatic victory in the BC Dirt Mile.

From BreedersCup.com prior to the win by Cody’s Wish in the Dirt Mile:

Those who ply their trade on backstretches from Belmont Park to Churchill Downs to Santa Anita Park have all heard the story.

There doesn’t seem to be anyone in horse racing who doesn’t know about the tug-at-the-heart relationship between Godolphin’s Cody’s Wish and Cody Dorman.

“If there is a better story than this one, I don’t know it. Do you?” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said.

The 5-year-old horse, the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), met up with his best pal, 17-year-old Cody Doman late Thursday afternoon.

“We are all pulling for him,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said about the two Codys. “I am running against him (with Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure), but I think this is just great.”

Cody Dorman, along with his dad Kelly, mom Leslie and 10-year-old sister Kylie made the trip from Kentucky to root for Cody’s Wish.

They had a personal, half-hour meet-and-greet with the horse and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Cody Dorman, who is able to communicate via tablet, gobbles up all things Cody’s Wish. He can watch videos of the horse training or walking or racing for hours on end. His bedroom at home is filled with all things Cody.

It’s a love affair that has been going on since young Cody, who was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, a rare genetic disease, met Cody’s Wish when he was a foal in 2018.

“This story touches everyone,” said Nora McCormack, an exercise rider for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “If you don’t feel something when you see or hear about this story… I’ll be rooting for Cody, but I’ll also be rooting for us.”

Pletcher will be represented by Charge It in the Dirt Mile.

McCormack knows the special connection a horse can have with a human. She has been working for Pletcher for five years and has been the exercise rider for the champion filly, Nest.

“When Nest came in as a baby, I rode her every day,” she said. “She was so sweet on the track. We were best friends. We get very attached to these horses. You trust them and they trust you.”

The Cody Dorman-Cody’s Wish love story gained steam when the horse won the Dirt Mile last year. It has made the youngster a rock star as he and his four-legged friend’s friendship has been chronicled by media outlets throughout the land.

It has proven to many what those who work closely with these Thoroughbreds have always known.

“These horses can bring so much joy,” Baffert said. “Being around horses can distract you from things that are negative in your life. They are so noble and beautiful. To see the (Dorman) parents and the kids watching this horse … it brings so much joy to them. It’s a feel-good story and, right now, we need feel-good stories in racing.”

Casse always has been one who wants to share his horses with the public. He trained the great Tepin, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning mare who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022.

People loved Tepin and Tepin loved people.

“A lot of horses are loving,” Casse said.

He can relate to the bond between Cody’s Wish and Cody Dorman. And, like everyone else, he wants to see a happy ending in the Dirt Mile, which is the 16th and final race of Cody’s Wish career.

“Oh, I’ll be rooting for him,” Casse said. “I want it all to go good.”

Filed Under: Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News Tagged With: Breeders' Cup 2023, cody dorman, Cody Wish's Story, Cody's wish

November 1, 2023 by Editor Leave a Comment

Simple Pace Report covers both days of the Breeders’ Cup: Nov. 3-4, 2023 at Santa Anita

• Pace Forecasts for every race
• Covering 2 days – all 22 races for Friday and Saturday!
• New feature identifies the horses that will benefit from the pace scenario!
• Lone speed runners identified***

New and improved report identifies the horses that will benefit from the pace and race shape! Handicappers know that one of the most critical elements to selecting winners is to evaluate the pace. That’s where the Simple Pace Report comes in. Based on decades of experience, the Simple Pace Report utilizes an algorithm that analyzes expert pace ratings, running styles and unique horse tendencies to arrive at an accurate forecast for each race. European horses incoporated into the runstyle analysis.

Leaders marked with * hold a possible pace advantage and should be seriously considered. Horses marked in gray/bold figure to benefit from the expected pace scenario and are must-uses in exotic wagers, vertical and horizontal.

Get both tracks in ONE DOWNLOAD for one low price! Download this 4-page PDF file to any device for only $12

Filed Under: Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News Tagged With: Breeders' Cup 2023, santa anita, Simple Pace Report

October 15, 2023 by Editor Leave a Comment

Unbeaten Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor Ace Impact has been retired to stud.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, the three-year-old has enjoyed an exemplary campaign, rising through the ranks from a Cagnes-Sur-Mer all-weather win in January to an electrifying length-and-three-quarters victory in the ParisLongchamp showpiece at the start of this month.

After his initial win in January, Rouget bided his time until sending Ace Impact for a conditions win in April, with a Listed success coming the following month.

Upped to Group One level for the Prix du Jockey Club after that, the son of Cracksman showed his trademark turn of foot to win the French equivalent of the Derby by three and a half lengths from Big Rock.

Read more about Ace Impact

Look for this horse in the company lines of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Past Performances!

How to Watch the Breeders’ Cup from Santa Anita

Filed Under: Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News, International Horse Racing Tagged With: Ace Impact, Breeder Cup 2023

October 4, 2023 by Editor Leave a Comment

Live Coverage of Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park will be featured on NBC, Peaco*ck, USA Network, and FanDuel TV

Here is the broadcast coverage schedule for the 40th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The two-day championship event will be shown live across NBC, Peaco*ck, USA Network, and FanDuel TV on Friday and Saturday.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup begins Nov. 3 with Future Stars Friday, featuring all five Breeders’ Cup World Championships races for 2-year-olds. There will be four undercard races preceding the first Breeders’ Cup race on Friday’s 10-race program, with the first race post time at 2:30 p.m. ET.

USA Network and FanDuel TV will both televise the first day of this year’s World Championships. USA Network coverage will take place from 4-8 p.m. ET and will include one undercard race and all five Breeders’ Cup races, concluding with the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at 7:40 p.m. ET. FanDuel TV coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET with the first undercard race and will conclude with undercard Race #10 at 8:10 p.m. ET.

Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Schedule

Nine Breeders’ Cup races anchor a 12-race card on Saturday, Nov. 4. First post is 1:10 p.m. ET, with two undercard races preceding the first Breeders’ Cup race, which will have a post time of 2:30 p.m. ET.

The USA Network coverage on Saturday is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET, followed by an extended 3 1/2 hours of live programming on NBC and Peaco*ck from 3:30-7 p.m. ET that will feature five World Championship races, concluding their coverage with the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Post time for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Race #9, will be 6:40 p.m. ET. The Classic will lead into NBC Sports’ Big Ten Football coverage.

FanDuel TV will also televise the first two undercard races and eight of the nine Breeders’ Cup World Championships races on Saturday. Following the running of the Breeders’ Cup Classic on NBC and Peaco*ck, FanDuel TV will televise the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and will conclude its coverage with a final undercard race with a post time of 8:32 p.m. ET.

This year marks the first time that Breeders’ Cup World Championships races will be held after the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The official race order and final post times for the 2023 World Championships will be released on Oct. 25.

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP

Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through an 80-race series hosted by 11 countries, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.

The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will return to the West Coast in 2024 with Del Mar in Del Mar, California, set to host Nov. 1-2. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Source: edited press release

Filed Under: Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News Tagged With: How to Watch the 2023 Breeders' Cup from Santa Anita

September 21, 2023 by Editor Leave a Comment

Moyglare Stud Farm’s dual group stakes-winner Malavath will look to secure her first stateside score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Noble Damsel, a one-mile inner turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the 4-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Mehmas captured the 2021 Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly and the Group 3 Prix Impudence last April at Deauville for her former conditioner Francis-Henri Graffard.

Malavath completed her sophom*ore season with a trio of top-flight tries, finishing a close fourth in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild last August at Deauville and posting a runner-up effort to Kinross in October in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret. She was a rallying fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Keeneland to close out her campaign when 1 3/4-lengths back of the victorious Modern Games.

Moyglare Stud Farm then purchased Malavath for more than $3.3 million from the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale and sent her to Clement’s care at Payson Park in Florida. She made her debut for current connections in April when a distant fifth in the one-mile Plenty of Grace here and returned two month’s later to land sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth Park, finishing 6 1/2-lengths back of next-out graded stakes-winner Consumer Spending.

The chestnut has breezed back 11 times, including a bullet half-mile in 49 seconds flat Friday over the Oklahoma training turf.

“She had two starts so far for us, they were rather disappointing,” said Clement, who shares the record for most Noble Damsel scores of five with Chad Brown. “We didn’t run her after the race in New Jersey, we opted to give her some time and regroup. Her works have been nice on the turf at Saratoga and it’s time to go on again.”

Out of the New Approach mare Fidaaha, Malavath is a full-sister to Group 3-winner Knight, who is currently in training with Simon and Ed Crisford.

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 4 aboard Malavath, who is assigned 122 pounds.

Rival Not So Close

Marylou Whitney Stables’ Kentucky homebred Not So Close [post 3, Jose Lezcano, 122 pounds] enters from a gate-to-wire score traveling one mile over good going on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Norm Casse, Not So Close made her first six starts over the main track, including frontrunning scores in an off-the-turf one-mile maiden special weight last July at Ellis Park and in an optional-claiming route in March at Fair Grounds. She finished a close second in her turf debut on July 1 at Ellis Park ahead of her Spa score which the third-place finisher, Sister Lou Ann, exited to win the One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs.

Not So Close, by Empire Maker, is out of the Mineshaft mare Bird Legacy, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winners Birdstone and Bird Town.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who took this event five straight years from 2016-2020, will be represented by multiple graded stakes-winner Fluffy Socks [post 5, Manny Franco, 126 pounds], Grade 1-winner Gina Romantica [post 6, Flavien Prat, 122 pounds] and the Grade 2-winner Gerrymander [post 7, Jose Ortiz, 122 pounds], who makes her turf debut.

Head of Plains Partners’ Kentucky homebred Fluffy Socks has enjoyed a lightly-raced but productive 5-year-old campaign, taking the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile in May at Churchill Downs and finishing a last-out second in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa on August 24 at Saratoga when a head back of Evvie Jets. Her other effort this year was a non-threatening fifth in July in the Spa’s Grade 1 Diana.

The 5-year-old Slumber mare boasts past graded scores in the 2020 Grade 3 Jimmy Durante at Del Mar and the 2021 Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Park.

Peter Brant’s Gina Romantica won 4-of-7 starts last year, including an impressive 1 3/4-length score over stablemate McKulick in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in October at Keeneland to cap her campaign.

The 4-year-old Into Mischief bay, a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Gift Box, was purchased for $1,025,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She has made two starts this year, finishing fourth in the Eatontown ahead of a runner-up effort to Fev Rover on August 12 in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Colonial Downs.

Gerrymander, a 4-year-old Into Mischief bay, boasts a record of 13-3-4-2 for purse earnings of $509,500. She has done most of her best work over Big Sandy, finishing second to Echo Zulu in the 2021 Grade 1 Frizette and posting wins in that year’s Tempted and the Grade 2 Mother Goose last June.

A half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Lone Rock, Gerrymander is out of the graded stakes-placed Hard Spun mare Ruby Lips, who is a half-sister to multiple turf stakes-winner Like a Gem – the dam of multiple Grade 1-winning turfer Hard Not to Like.

Rounding out the field is five-time winning New York-bred Sunset Louise [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche, 122 pounds] for trainer Bruce Levine; and the Linda Rice-trained mu

ltiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred Runaway Rumour [post 2, Dylan Davis, 122 pounds], who is cross-entered in Friday’s $125,000 John Hettinger for state-breds.

With the National Weather Service calling for a 60 percent chance of rain Saturday in Ozone Park, additional main-track only entrants are graded stakes-winner Battle Bling, multiple graded stakes-placed Venti Valentine, stakes-winner Balpool, five-time winner Movie Moxy and stakes-placed Bustin Bay.

The Noble Damsel is slated as Race 7 on Saturday’s 10-race card which also features the $125,000 Ashley T. Cole in Race 3. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

Source: Nyra.com

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Breeders Cup Tagged With: G3 Noble Damsel in New York, Malavath

November 6, 2022 by Editor Leave a Comment

The great Flightline faced the best field of his lifetime in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on November 5, 2022 and he was up to the task. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Flightline drew off to a decisive 8 1/2 length victory over a stellar field. Post-race comments include Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey.

Filed Under: Great Horse Racing Videos, Breeders Cup, Horse Racing News Tagged With: 2022 Breeders Cup, Breeders' Cup Classic Won by Flightline, Flightline, keeneland

October 31, 2022 by Editor Leave a Comment

Order Nilsen’s Breeders’ Cup Package & Save Lives in the Process! Read on…

When you purchase Rich Nilsen’s Breeders’ Cup package, you will also be buying a water filter that will last 5-10 years in a developing community in Central America.

AGameofSkill.com has partnered with our friendRudy Shaffer’s Water4Life Ministry (501c3) to provide you with this opportunity to bring hope and life-saving measures to an entire village in either Central America or Africa. I’m doing this unique offer because I believe in my friends and all the good people in racing to support a great cause. I have given out some great winners over the years on these big race days and I hope to do so again at one of my home tracks of Keeneland. Will you join me in supporting this ministry?

18x NHC Qualifier Rich Nilsen offers up his Pace Scenarios, Spot Plays w/ Wagers, Top Selections and Analysis for BOTH days of the Breeders’ Cup in ONE report – pre-order today.

Nilsen, who has had some monster days in the past with his major race selection sheets, is back for both days of this year’sBreeders’ Cup at Keeneland, but this time we have a mission.

Included in his report are top selections for all 5 Breeders’ Cup stakes on Friday and all 9 stakes on Saturday (all 14 Breeders’ Cup races). Includes commentary on all the contenders listed, plus spot play wagers.

BONUS: Free pace chart for every race on both days at Keeneland!

You will also receive Nilsen’s expert pace analysis, which is often the key to selecting the winner. Nilsen will haveSpot Plays with wagering strategies to attack these races hard.

Get every Breeders’ Cup race for BOTH days (Friday & Saturday) in one sheet! Download instantly to any type of device. Only $30 for all 9 Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday + bonus pace chart for the full cards on Fri. and Sat.

Download today to any device

Highlights from Previous Breeders’ Cup Spot Play Winners from Nilsen’s Analysis!

2020: Several winners at Keeneland with the monster longshot score of $37.60 winner Audarya the highlight! See the write-up below on the monster $199.20 cold exacta in the 2020 Filly & Mar Turf!!!

$29.40 Sprint Spot Play Winner Trinniberg with Cold $203.40 Exacta!

$15.80 Turf Sprint Spot Play Winner Mizdirection, keying$1,757.65 Pick-4 wager!

$40.40 Spot Play Winner Work All Week with$1,064.70 Trifecta!

$13.00 F&M Turf Spot Play winnerDayathespa

$16.40 Turf Sprint WinnerBobby’s Kitten

$64.80 Exacta with Main Sequence over Flintshire in the Breeders’ Cup Turf

The list goes on and on!

1st- # 11 AUDARYA (12/1) was boxed in a little bit during the stretch run in the Arc and finished well on her wrong lead in straight. She never really seemed comfortable racing along the inside behind the two speed horses, but, despite that, ran very well and nearly won the prestigious race.

In her prior start she was an upset winner in France, giving her trainer a third career win in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet Stakes. There was a gap of about 4 lengths to the show horse. The place horse was Ambition who came back to run a decent 5^th in the Arc.

Her top trainer in France, James Fanshawe, is ending a 30-year wait for a runner at the Breeders’ Cup. Fanshawe has trained the likes of Soviet Song and The Tin Man, among other Group 1 winners.

On her latest effort at Longchamp, Fanshawe said, “Audarya ran an excellent race, but there wasn’t much coverage of it afterwards. Most of the attention seemed to focus on the winner Tarnawa and Jessica Harrington’s filly Alpine Star who finished second.”

She’s a major player based on her recent form.

2nd- # 6 RUSHING FALL (5/2) – Has won 11 of 14 lifetime and banked over $2.5M. She was last seen finishing in under 34 seconds when she gamely captured the G1 Diana at Saratoga. Trainer Chad Brown has been working her every 7 days since that win in preparation for this start at a track where she is 5 for 6 lifetime.

She’s unproven at the distance but Brown has won many times with this type of stretch out turf runner. Brown has also won this BC race 4 times…

About Nilsen’s Analysis

In this comprehensive yet concise report, I provide selections for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races for both days, as well as pace scenario analysis which is absolutely vital for predicting the outcomes of these events.

Spot Plays are my best bets and key wagering horses for the big weekend. Picking your spots is key to profiting on the races, especially when it comes to the Breeders’ Cup. The opportunities are plentiful but you improve your chances by selecting key spot plays and focusing most of your bets on those plays.

Set aside a budget for these two days and be sure to have plenty of ammunition for the bigger of the two days, Saturday. Best of luck!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rich Nilsen caught the horse racing bug at a young age when his father took him to the racetracks in New York. He eventually attended the University of Louisville Equine Business Program with the goal of making a career in the horse racing industry.

Nilsen has worked the past 29+ years in the equine industry, serving most of those years as the Marketing Director for Brisnet.com and TwinSpires.com, the Official Wagering Site of the Kentucky Derby.

Nilsen managed the successful Players’ Pool syndicate, which pooled funds from the account wagering members to go after large Pick-6 carryovers. During Nilsen’s leadership, the Players’ Pool produced a significant profit for the members over the course of seven years. One of the best hits was when the Players’ Pool took down half of the Pick-6 pool on Kentucky Derby Day 2007, with a gross return of over $500,000. The Pool had several other hits over $250,000.

The $3 Million National Handicapping Championship (NHC) is the premier horse racing tournament in the nation. It is basically horse racing’s version of the World Series of Poker, with the main difference being that players cannot buy their way into the NHC. Players can only win their way in via tournaments held throughout the country. Nilsen is one of the top participants in the history of the event, having qualified 18 times. He is a dual qualifier for the 2022 NHC and a member of the NHC Players’ Committee. He was the first player, and one of only a handful, to finish in the top 10 at the NHC twice.

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Breeders Cup Tagged With: analysis, Breeders Cup handicapping, Rich Nilsen, spot plays, wagers

October 11, 2022 by Editor Leave a Comment

What an impressive run from a sophom*ore colt! Hear from 34-year-old Perry Bass, the third generation Kentucky horse owner-breeder who heads his family’s Bass Racing, after the 3-year-old Annapolis beats older horses in the Grade 1, $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile. Bass discusses the type of “ground” that this horse requires to be at his best.

Annapolis finished the race in stakes-record time of 1:33.29 at Keeneland Racecourse to earn a fees-paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on turf. The Breeders’ Cup is the first weekend in November at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.

Filed Under: Breeders Cup Tagged With: Breeders' Cup Watch

October 10, 2022 by Editor Leave a Comment

Owner Susan Moulton and trainer Wayne Catalano discuss winning the Grade 2 $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon with Andthewinneris two days after they teamed with Manny Wah to win the Grade 2 Phoenix and a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The impressive two year old earns a fees-paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Watch this interview with the owner and trainer from Keeneland.

Filed Under: Breeders Cup Tagged With: Breeders' Cup Watch

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