BC Juvenile
Purse $2,000.000 (+KYD)
For Colts And Geldings Two Years Old
1 1/16 on Dirt Del Mar Fairgrounds and Racetrack
Del Mar, California

As if $2,000.000 on the line plus a shot in the Kentucky Derby wasn’t enough, The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile also has an air about it that not only brings back memories of past great performances, but holds a special atmosphere of possibilities to come, both within the race itself and with the future of those participating.

Nobody that watched the 1991 running of the race will ever forget the run by Arazi.
By the time the field reached the far turn, Arazi was far back, more than a dozen lengths behind the front-running Bertrando. Suddenly, Arazi progressed through the field until he reached the third- and fourth-place horses. He moved between the two, swinging wide to pull up alongside Bertrando. at the top of the stretch, Arazi passed Bertrando and pulled away from the field. He was taken under a hard hold by his jockey and slowed as he crossed the finish line. As he did, NBC Sports race announcer Tom Durkin called, “Here indeed is a superstar!”

Reciprocal Rubber from the Maxmillion Farm might be the purchase of the year if he can pull off the win. Bought for a mere $45.000 back in May, the gelded son of Burning Rubber has improved in each of his five lifetime starts to date. His last run in The Champagne was his best yet. Speed to be in whatever position is needed, “Rubber” will be all in trying to give his connections not only a marque win but hope for the future at the same time. Control The Center from the Mb Stables is a scant nose away from coming into this with four straight victories. “Center” draws the rail and has plenty of gas to make good use of it. Fast enough to win sprinting and when he switched to two turns, he looked incredibly comfortable on the engine and never really tested. He will take some beating in this. The only possible negative would be a tardy takeoff from his rail position, as doing so on west coast main tracks is usually the kiss of death. On the other hand, stablemate Apirana, also from Mb Stables, is drawn outside and showed last time that a tardy takeoff is no problem for him. Apirana came out slow into stride and then just kind of circled the oval until the real running started. He then kicked it into high gear and caught all but his stablemate in The Pharoah Stakes. If any kind of a pace duel happens, Apirana will be the benefactor. Hurts from Royalty Stables is a four for five-win machine. A late running sprinter who tried two turns for the first time in his last start, Hurts circled the field, just as he had done in his sprints, showing that the distance of today’s event is no concern. The only reason Hurts isn’t being picked higher is the fact that closers dominated that two turn event and the overall competition wasn’t the top of the division. Will be the best price of his career for his backers today.

Of the rest:

Need Cash Now also from Mb Stables has run back-to-back second place finishes to Reciprocal Rubber and Hurts, respectively, and that alone stamps him as a contender. “Now” has plenty of gas to try whatever game the connections feel is most beneficial today. Only one try at two turns, top barn calling the shots. so, no argument with his backers can be made.

Dime Symphony from Asgar has as much gas as anybody else signed up but has not seen two turns. Perfect post draw allows for any tactics warranted by the connections, but it would be hard to imagine a grab job here and now. Distance should be within range but would have preferred to see it before today.

The Hunter from the Hunterman Stables should be able to drift back and get a ground saving trip from this post. Closed nicely to run second in his first try at two turns. Retains that jockey, so all systems go. Just a matter of the competition around him today.

Up To No Good from Riggins Racing is drawn out near the refreshment stand in parking lot D. However, he might just be able to overcome the terrible post position and still make his presence felt. “Good” will probably come out at his leisure and then dive straight down to the rail. If he is able to do that, he should build momentum and then try to weave his way through traffic after hitting the half mile pole. Will need all the breaks to go his way to score points here, but the run in The Champagne was no fluke. Add him to your exotic wagers for sure.

Haggis Glory from The Sidley Stud showed promise around two turns by winning The Iroquois Stakes but then got eliminated at the break when drawn in post fourteen of The Breeders Futurity. Throw that effort out and expect a decent closing run today at a square price.

Heel Turn from Bigchief Stables broke his maiden going a flat mile and then ran second to Haggis Glory in The Iroquois Stakes. Drawn in the middle and has a touch of gas to get position. Will need to improve to participate for prize money today.

Poetico from Acber Farms won around two turns in a first level allowance and then ran a big race in a stakes, making a visually impressive move between the last two calls of The Breeders Futurity. Needs to obviously get the breaks and also run the career best number to play here.

Lemon Aid from Red Fox Farms broke against the bit and subsequently ran poorly in The Champagne after running a very credible race in The Hopeful. From my vantage point he looks like a pace casualty today from the post draw.

Magic Fighter from Grimley stables is bred to run all day long but has yet to go beyond seven-eights. Today is as tough as it gets in trying something new. The post draw is also a killer. On the bright side, the number earned in The Sanford was solid. He has no speed and will probably drop back and attempt to make one big run. Will need a pace battle up front and a ton of luck moving through the pack. Expect more than a solid price to get it done.

Warrior Bay from Aer Stables won the Best Pal over this track going six furlongs and then failed to get to the front when he “stretched out” to seven-eighths in The Del Mar Futurity. He is the fastest horse on paper and breeding suggest two turns is within range. “Bay” made the veterinarian report the night of the Del Mar Futurity as a new gelding and hasn’t been seen in the afternoons since. Demand a square price but know that it is not mission impossible. He is quick.

Good Luck to all the entries and cheer’s to a bright future!

-Trackman

Categories: BC 2025, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP