Breeders’ Cup Saturday offers six hours of Grade 1 racing, on dirt and turf for fillies, mares, colts, horses, and gelding, going short and going long.

The fields are full, the handicapping a challenge, and the big scores will be available.

On Saturday, coverage will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app and feature the first two Breeders’ Cup races. From 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock will broadcast five Breeders’ Cup races, culminating with the Classic. The final two Breeders’ Cup races, the Turf Sprint and the Sprint, will not be part of any NBC telecast.

Advertisement

I tend to bet more in vertical exotics (exactas, trifectas, superfectas) than I do horizontals (pick 3, pick 4, pick 5, pick 6), so I shy away from short favorites; if they beat me, they beat me, and I’ll try to find a horse at a bit of price.

Good luck and safe trips to all.

GO DEEPER

What to know about Breeders' Cup 2023: Start time, favorites, post positions and more

Dirt Mile

Post time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Purse: $1 million

Distance: 1 mile

Cody’s Wish (9-5) is the story of this year’s Dirt Mile. He gained nationwide affection at last year’s event when the horse’s namesake, Cody Dorman, was featured during the broadcast. Now 18, Dorman is from Richmond, KY and was born with Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome. Dorman attended the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland last year and was part of the winner’s circle ceremony when Cody’s Wish won by a head. The horse has won three of his four races this year and 10 of 15 lifetime. The Breeders’ Cup linesmaker isn’t swayed by sentimentality; count Cody’s Wish out at your peril.

Zozos (6-1) and Skippylongstocking (12-1) are both speed horses, and I suspect neither is good enough to hold their speed long enough to win, especially if they take each other on early and burn themselves out.

Though on paper longshot Shirl’s Bee (20-1) looks like a no-hoper, I love his pedigree and trainer Dallas Stewart is known for springing upsets in big races.

Filly and Mare Turf

Post time: 3:10 p.m. ET

Purse: $2 million purse

Distance: 1 1/4 miles

A horse bred in the U.S. hasn’t won this race since 2014, and it’s not going to happen this year, either, because not a single stateside-bred horse is entered, though several of the runners have spent most or all of their careers here.

Fev Rover (8-1) has proven that she can compete against these and has two wins at the distance. Purchased in England for shy of $1 million, she tends to set the pace but has also demonstrated that she can close. She might be forced to go early with In Italian (4-1), an inveterate speedster; if In Italian gets loose on the lead, she may run the sort of race that’s gotten her four Grade 1 wins over the last 16 months.

Didia (8-1) has nine wins and two seconds in 13 career starts, a win at Santa Anita at this distance last out in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive, and three wins and a second in four lifetime starts at 10 furlongs.

Advertisement

I’m passing on the favorite and don’t trust either Lumiere Rock or McKulick enough to use on top, but their consistent top-three finishes make them good candidates to use underneath in Exactas and Trifectas.

Filly and Mare Sprint

Post time: 3:50 p.m. ET

Purse: $1 million

Distance: 7 furlongs

I don’t bet in big enough amounts to chase a 6-5 morning line favorite, so as much as I like Goodnight Olive, I hope that Society (5-2) can beat her. There’s other speed in the race that might put Society at a disadvantage and set it up perfectly for Goodnight Olive, but if Society can get away and outrun her rivals early, there’s a chance that she can hold her speed.

Matareya (6-1) is proven at the distance and has finished worse than third only once in her career. Clearly Unhinged (12-1) is worth a shot underneath.

Mile

Post time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Purse: $2 million purse

Distance: 1 mile

Not to be confused with the Dirt Mile, this Breeders’ Cup race is run on grass, and British- and Irish-bred horses have dominated the last five editions. But this year’s favorite, Songline (5-2), is from Japan, and he brings impressive form, with seven wins from nine starts at the distance and two recent Group 1 Japanese wins.

The Breeders’ Cup has not been kind to Casa Creed, who, at age 7, is one of the coolest horses in training. He travels like a champ and lost by a head in a turf sprint in Saudi Arabia in February, and he won two graded stakes races at Saratoga this summer, including a repeat in the Grade 1 Fourstardave. Somewhat inexplicably, his worst races have come at the Breeders’ Cup. If past performances indicate future success, he’s got a tough task here, but I won’t be able to resist putting some win money on him and using him in exotics.

Longshots I like: Gina Romantica (12-1) and Du Jour (15-1). The latter is trained by Bob Baffert, who is far better known for his dirt horses, and this is a rare opportunity to get him at a price.

Advertisement

Distaff

Post time: 5:10 p.m. ET

Purse: $2 million

Distance: 1 1/8 miles

Pretty Mischievous (8-1) was my pick, and she scratched on Friday. I don’t love any of the long shots here, so the picks here will be pretty chalky. Leaning towards Idiomatic (5-2), who comes to Santa Anita off two straight Grade 1 wins and a four-race graded stakes winning streak, she’s two-for-two at the distance. You can get a price on the rare Baffert filly Adare Manor (4-1), and Randomized (6-1) will be high on my tickets if she’s anywhere near her morning line. I’d love to see the very accomplished Clairiere finally get a Breeders’ Cup win; she was agonizingly close last year, third less than a neck, but she’ll need a big rebound after a dismal performance in her last race, which was back in August. At 10-1, I’ll use Wet Paint underneath in exotics.

Turf

Post time: 5:50 p.m. ET

Purse: $4 million

Distance: 1 1/2 miles

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the European horses have ruled in this race for the last decade, with British- and Irish-bred runners winning eight of the last 10 renewals. European entries dominate this year’s race, but I’m hoping that a U.S. horse, War Like Goddess (12-1) can spring an upset. The six-year-old mare was purchased for $30,000 and has earned $2.5 million. She’s twice been third in Breeders’ Cup races, once against her own sex and one last year against males, and she’ll take them on again this year. Trainer Bill Mott doesn’t enter horses that he doesn’t think can win. I hope he’s right.

I was pretty interested in Bolshoi Ballet (15-1) until he was scratched on Friday afternoon, so with that Aidan O’Brien trainee out, I’ll move to another one, Auguste Rodin (3-1), at a much less enticing price. Todd Pletcher’s Up to the Mark (5-1) also intrigues, as does, and because I need to add another Euro, I’ll add in the chalk, Mostahdaf (5-2).

Classic

Post time: 6:40 p.m. ET

Advertisement

Purse: $6 million

Distance: 1 3/4 miles

I was all over Arcangelo in the Belmont and the Travers, and I would have been here, too, so with his scratch earlier this week, I returned to the drawing board.

Earlier this year, Richard Dutrow returned to training after a 10-year suspension, and he returned with a bang: after two of trainer Saffie Joseph’s horses died at Churchill Downs in early May, millionaire White Abarrio was transferred by his owners from Joseph’s barn to Dutrow’s. In his first two races for Dutrow, he ran third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, and he romped in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Before Dutrow’s taking over his training, White Abarrio hadn’t won since April of 2022. His 4-1 morning line odds will likely be lower by post time, but you can’t ignore him.

Only two horses bred outside the U.S. have won the Classic, and none since 2006. But I’m giving Japanese invader Ushba Tesoro (4-1) a long look. The Japanese racing and breeding program is ascendant, with two Japanese runners winning races at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup. Ushba Tesoro has won seven of his last eight races, including the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup in March, and he’s three for three at the distance. A threat.

You can’t ignore Bob Baffert in any Classic race, and with Arcangelo out, expect Arabian Knight (3-1) to be the first-time favorite. Bright Future (10-1) could bring trainer Todd Pletcher his second Breeders’ Cup Classic. (If Baffert wins, it’ll be his fifth.)

I don’t trust Zandon to pull off the win, but he could get a piece underneath.

Turf Sprint

Post time: 7:25 p.m. ET

Purse: $1 million

Distance: 5 furlongs

I will be honest and say I have no strong opinions about this race. I’ve been a fan of Caravel (5-1) for years and would love to see her repeat her win in this race last year, and there’s no reason to think that she can’t. Last year, she paid $88 to win; she’ll be nothing near that price this year.

Advertisement

Christophe Clement is one of the country’s premier turf trainers, and while his Big Invasion is stepping way up in class, he could be a juicy longshot. The second of three female horses running in the race, Tony Ann has a win, a second and a third at the distance and two wins at Santa Anita.

Live In The Dream (9-2) comes from Europe and figures to hit the board.

Sprint

Post time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Purse: $2 million

Distance: 6 furlongs

At Saratoga this summer, Elite Power (9-5) put in one of the most impressive efforts I’ve seen on a racetrack. His turn of foot in the stretch, powering (pun intended) to the wire, was breathtaking, and he is one of the elite (pun intended) sprinters of my lifetime. In 12 races, he’s won eight times, with a second and a third; he’s won four of six races at the distance. His short price means I probably won’t bet him to win, but I think he will win his second straight Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Gunite (4-1) did beat Elite Power last out, and while I don’t think that this Steve Asmussen trainee will do it again, he’ll be on my tickets. The long shots aren’t doing it for me, so my exotics will include Dr. Schivel and The Chosen Vron.

(Photo of Arabian Knight: Horsephotos/Getty Images)

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57lGlpcmxpZXxzfJFsZmppX2WBcK7RnpydnaKoeqTBz2aapZmjqLakeZFpaWxlla29pr7TZqeim5uoeqK%2BwJugmqZdoLuqs8etZg%3D%3D