Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 2013 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California is the place to be if you are a horse racing fan – the second day of Breeders’ Cup action comes our way. One of the eight BC races contested on that day in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – a 1 1/16 mile test for the best two year old colt and geldings in the world. A purse of $2 million will be on the line.

A full field of 14 juveniles will take part in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – race 8 on Santa Anita’s stacked Breeders’ Cup Saturday card. Post time is 2:43 PM PT. Here is a look into the past performances of all 14 entries for this competitive and lucrative Grade 1 stakes.

Havana – Todd Pletcher trained colt has two career starts – a 2 3/4 length MSW score August 23 at Saratoga with a terrific Beyer Speed Figure of 102 and a superb win last time out in the Grade 1 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park October 5. He has been sensational in his young career and is the 5-2 favorite for the Juvenile despite never racing two turns. John Velazquez has the call from post 13 Saturday.

Strong Mandate – D Wayne Lukas trained colt will be making his fifth career start Saturday after a fifth in his debut and a Maiden score at Saratoga August 17. Last time out was an ultra- disappointing seventh in the Grade 1 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes October 5 after he put his name on the radar with an impressive win 9 3/4 length over Casiguapo in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes September 2 at Saratoga. Despite the hiccup last time out Strong mandate is the 6-1 co-second choice on the morning line and departs from the far outside post.

Tap It Rich – Bob Baffert trainee has just one career start and it was a good one – a MSW 4 1/4 length score on this track October 12. Despite the lack of action Tap It Rich comes with some hype. He is the co-second choice at 6-1 odds and will line up in post 6 with Mike Smith aboard.

Bond Holder – Doug O’Neill trainee debuted with a fifth in the minor Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes July 13 and has raced three MSW races after that – all at Del Mar. He was a second August 31 after a third August 11 and another third July 27. Last time out he made a graded stakes debut to remember – a terrific win in the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes on this track September 28. He is an intriguing 8-1 on the morning line and will get Mario Gutierrez to ride him from post 5.

Dance With Fate – Debuted July 14 at Hollywood Park and finished an ugly eighth in a MSW but bounced back with a win in a MSW on this track August 11. Last time out was a good second behind Bond Holder in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes here September 28 after a troubled second behind Tamarando in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity September 4. Dance With Fate is 8-1 on the morning line and will have Rafael Bejarano in the saddle from the 2-hole.

New Year’s Day – Bob Baffert trained colt has two career starts – both MSW races. Last time out was a win that followed a third in his debut – both results at Del Mar. Despite the lack of experience in stakes caliber races, New Year’s Day is 8-1 on the morning line and will depart from post 4 with Martin Garcia aboard.

We Miss Artie – Todd Pletcher hopeful had a three length MSW score August 11 after a second in his debut in a similar race at Belmont Park July 4. Last time out was terrific win in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland October 5 after a disappointing sixth in his stakes debut – in the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga August 29. That win last out was on Polytrack – his turf form is a tad sketchy. We Miss Artie is one of the host of entries being sent off at 8-1 odds and leaves from post 10 with Javier Castellano guiding him.

Mexikoma – has just two career starts but broke maiden last time out September 12 at Delaware Park after a seventh in his debut at Saratoga in July. He is 12-1 on the morning line and will have Alan Garcia in the saddle from post 5

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Cleburne – Dale Romans trainee is coming off a terrific win in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs September 7 in only his second career start. His debut was good too – a MSW score at Ellis Park August 16. He will have Corey Nakatani ion the reins from post 7 Saturday.

Diamond Bachelor – Has been very good so far in his young career for trainer Patrick Biancone – a second place finish last time out in the minor Zuma Beach Stakes here October 6 followed two wins including the minor Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes at Del Mar September 4. He goes off at 12-1 odds from post 12 with Julien Leparoux in the saddle.

Smarty’s Echo – most recently finished second behind We Miss Artie in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland October 5 after two MSW races produced a win two back and a third in his debut August 22. His only start on turf was his worst career result – that third in his debut. He will have E.T. Baird guiding him from the rail Saturday and goes off at 20-1 odds.

Medal Count – Dale Romans trained colt has two career starts – a MSW score in his debut at Ellis Park was followed by a fifth last time out in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland October 6. Robby Albarado gets the mount from post 11 at 20-1 odds Saturday.

Conquest Titan – Mark Casse trained colt is coming off fifth in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland October 5 after a stakes win in just his second career start – the minor Swynford Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths on Woodbine Polytrack August 24 and a fourth in his debut – a MSW at Churchill Downs June 30. He is 30-1 on the morning line and will have Eurico Rosa da Silva aboard from post 8.

Rum Point – Doug O’Neill trained colt made his stakes debut September 4 with a distant ninth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity after a MSW win August 3 and a third in a MSW at Hollywood Park July 14. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland October 5. He is the longest shot in the field at 30-1 odds and leaves from post 9.

Race 8 on Santa Anita Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 2:43 PM.