Breeders’ Cup 2019 Betting Odds, Field Overview & Winner Picks

Pros: He’s versatile and consistent. A jockey switch and a shake up in his running style put almost put Vino Rosso in the Jockey Club Gold Cup winner’s circle, if not for that pesky DQ.

Cons: The Jockey Club Gold Cup was the only time he’s been in the money in four starts at 1 ¼-miles. If he plans on using his flashy new running style, he won’t get an easy lead.

Use on top and underneath.

Pros: Local horse has finished in the exacta in all seven starts at Santa Anita and is the most consistent of the older dirt males.

Cons: He’s three for seven at Santa Anita and totally bombed in last year’s Classic at Churchill.

The Play: Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Classic multiple times, but his winners have been 3-year-olds.

Use underneath.

Pros: Mongolian Groom has been in the money in two of three starts at 1 ¼ miles. He showed up in a big way to beat McKinzie in the Awesome Again in his last start.

Cons: Mongolian Groom is an inconsistent sort; you never know when he’ll feel like running. He’s just two for seven at Santa Anita.

The Play: He might be overlooked but is capable of hitting the board.

Use underneath.

Pros: Yoshida got back into the swing of things in his last two starts. “Money” Mike Smith is aboard. He owns the record for most Classics won by a jockey.

Cons: Yoshida was really good through May of 2018, but since then has been hit or miss, mostly miss.

The Play: Closers don’t usually win Classics at Santa Anita.

Use underneath, lower exotics.

Pros: She is a perfect three-for-three at 1 ¼ miles but hasn’t faced horses males of this caliber.

Cons: Can’t blame her for trying boys since the handicap division has been so blurry, but don’t like how often she falls just short against fillies.

Use underneath, lower exotics.

Pros: Powered home by five lengths in the Pacific Classic (G1).

Cons: He’s winless in two starts at Santa Anita, and he was a very distant third in the Awesome Again.

Pass.

Pros: Everybody loves a rags to riches story, and this 3-year-old rose from the claiming ranks to Grade 1 winner.

Cons: Math Winner will have to improve quite a bit to cash in here. He’s never tried 1 ¼ miles, or this level of competition.

The Play: Could be getting good at the right time but his one-run closing style won’t work well over a speed-favoring track.

Lower exotics bomb, if you’re feeling adventurous.

Pros: He’s shown flashes of talent throughout his career.

Cons: More of a Grade 2 or Grade 3 type.

The Play: Toss.

Pros: The old warrior is making his third start off a layoff with improving speed figures.

Cons: He was dull in both visits to California this year, making it hard to think this will be his day.

The Play: Pass.

Pros: Peaked in the Preakness after having to check in the Kentucky Derby. He ran a game third recently in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Cons: His recent results look like a long campaign is catching up to him.

The Play: Toss

Pros: Undefeated this year and on track to earn year-end Championship honors. She doesn’t beat them by much, but she doesn’t have to.

Cons: She’s raced seven times this year at the top level. How much is left in the tank? Her speed figures have tailed off a bit.

The Play: The one to beat.

Use on top and underneath.

Pros: Hasn’t won a G1 stakes but looked good beating Secret Spice and Ollie’s Candy in the Zenyatta. Could upset the apple cart.

Cons: She’s taken turns winning stakes with the other local older mares. She hasn’t faced the likes of Midnight Bisou.

The Play: A sneaky upset play for the win.

Use on top and underneath.

Pros: She was fourth in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff after running closer to the pace than usual. Her form has improved this year and she’s won her last two starts.

Cons: She won her two previous starts before the Distaff last year too and was bested by Wow Cat and Midnight Bisou. She broke from post 10, right next door to this year’s post.

Use underneath.

Pros: This 3-year-old filly fought hard against her elders in the Spinster (G1) down on the rail but got a little tired. Previously, she bested Street Band in the Alabama.

Cons: The 3-year-old fillies who have won the Distaff have all been superstars; Beholder, Royal Delta, Untapable. Dunbar Road is the best of the 3-year-old fillies in here, and she’s not in their league.

Use underneath.

Pros: 3-year-old filly is coming in fresh with only 3 races this year, and she looked strong winning the Cotillion.

Cons: made a powerful move to win the Cotillion (G1) in her last start. She has a win/lose cycle going on, but even when she loses, it isn’t by much.

Use underneath.

Pros: Free-running KY Oaks heroine was taken out of her natural pacesetting running style in the Cotillion. She had a terrible trip, & no place to go for much of the race. Top California jock Flavian Pratt will ride, which is a plus.

Cons: Pacesetters don’t fare well in the Distaff.

The Play: She’ll have to contend with other speed types but loves 1 1/8 miles. She could mess up someone’s Superfecta.

Use in lower exotics.

Pros: This is a game filly on any surface. She lingered at the back of the pack in the Zenyatta & moved up the rail around the 1/2-mile pole to sit third. She lost focus in midstretch but picked up running again yards from the wire. Works are great coming into the Distaff.

Cons: but she loses focus for a few seconds in the stretch. This will cost her with this bunch.

Use in lower exotics if making multiple bets.

Pros: 5-year-old mare plays at the top level but hasn’t won this year. Reliable sort can always be counted on to run a good race.

Cons: She finished second in last year’s Distaff but her form was much better.

The Play: Pass.

The Play: She had a brief refreshing and should move forward off the layoff. She couldn’t be working any better. Local fillies have hit the Show spot the last four times the Distaff was held in SoCal. Use underneath.

Pros: Speedy 4YO filly has risen in the ranks. She displaced her palate in the Zenyatta & had trouble breathing. Has a bridle change for Distaff to correct the issue.

Cons: She finished 2nd in three straight at 1 1/16 miles, losing ground each time. Added distance won’t help.

The Play: Pass.

Pros: The 5-year-old mare has back class, but her form not as good as last year.

Cons: Hasn’t hit the board in her last two starts.

The Play: Pass

Pros: Quick filly will keep Serengeti Empress honest on the lead.

Cons: 4-year-old local filly is taking a huge class jump. She’s never raced beyond a mile on dirt.

The Play: Pass.