Breeders' Cup Spotlight: Juvenile Turf

BREEDERS’ CUP SPOTLIGHT: JUVENILE TURF

Date: Friday, Oct. 30 at Keeneland. Race 6. Post time: 3:30 ET.

Purse: $1 million.

Division: 2-year-old colts and geldings

Distance: 1 mile

TV: NBC Sports Network

Radio/livestreaming: Horse Racing Radio Network, including 93.9-FM and 680-AM in Louisville and horseracingradio.net.

The favorite:Cymric (7-2 morning line), a stablemate to Turf favorite Golden Horn trained by the legendary John Gosden, comes in off a good-finishing second in the prestigious Group 1 Grand Criterium at Longchamp on Arc day. He's won on both good and soft surfaces but will have to overcome drawing post 13.

Contenders: Mark Casse, who had a great Keeneland meet, trains 2-for-2 Airoforce (4-1), winner of the Grade III Bourbon on yielding ground at Keeneland. He's won on firm turf too. Hit It a Bomb (4-1) comes from the powerful Aiden O'Brien barn. He has good early speed and has won on good ground and synthetic.

Worth knowing:  If the weather remains as predicted, the sand-based turf course is likely to be rated good, per track superintendent Javier Barajas. Gosden and O'Brien both have won this race twice in its eight-year history. O'Brien also trains Shogun (12-1). Ryan Moore, rider of Hit It a Bomb, has also won it twice. Frankie Dettori has won it three times but doesn't have a mount. Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Camelot Kitten (12-1) missed the break and was a closing second in the Bourbon for top turf trainer Chad Brown. Brown also trains Ray's the Bar (20-1). Casse's other horse, Conquest Daddyo (12-1), has the highest last-race BRISnet figure and highest overall Beyer Speed Figure. Dressed in Hermes (20-1) and Highland Sky (30-1) come in off of sharp workouts. The latter one had a tough trip last out and is shipped in by conservative trainer Barclay Tagg.

- Dick Downey