2019 Breeders’ Cup Friday Picks & Exotics: Handicapping All 5 Races

The 2019 Breeders' Cup, a 14-race showcase spanning two days at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Ca., begins Friday, with five stakes races. Opening things will be the Juvenile Turf Sprint for 2-year-olds, with a 4:12 p.m. EST scheduled post time.

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Racing continues with Saturday’s nine-race card, highlighted by the $6 million Classic that will feature the best 3-year-old horses and older. The Classic is slated to go off at an estimated post time of 8:44 p.m. to close the festivities.

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Coverage will be featured both days on NBCSN, with the Classic being aired Saturday at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.

Here are my Friday plays at the Breeders’ Cup:

Race No. 5: Juvenile Turf Sprint

4:12 p.m. ET, NBCSN

Trainer Wesley Ward brings unbeaten No. 9 Four Wheel Drive (3-1) and I like him to take the opener. I am playing Four Wheel Drive across the board on win, place and show wagering, then boxing him in exactas with European invaders No. 2 Band Practice (12-1), No. 6 Alligator Alley (12-1) and No. 10 A’Ali (6-1).

The Picks: 9-10-6-2

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Race No. 6: Juvenile Turf

4:52 p.m. ET, NBCSN

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story had listed No. 5 Vitalogy as a pick for Race 6. Vitalogy has since been scratched and the story reflects the change.

This is one of the deepest, strongest fields on the card and I am looking to beat the favorite No. 12 Arizona, who checks in at 5-2 odds.

That said, I am going with No. 2 Structor (5-1), who will be ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz. I am playing Structor across the board, then boxing him with Arizona, No. 1 Our Country (15-1), No. 4 Decorated Invader (4-1) and No. 14 Hit the Road (10-1) in my trifecta wager.

The Picks: 2-12-4-1

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Race No. 7: Juvenile Fillies

5:32 p.m. ET, NBCSN

I am going with No. 4 British Idiom (7-2), with a slight edge over No. 7 Wicked Whisper (7-2) in this very wide-open race. Use both contenders in your exotics with favorite No. 1 Donna Veloce (3-1) No. 6 Bast (7-2) and No. 9 Comical (8-1).

The Picks: 4-7-1-9

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Race No. 8: Juvenile Fillies Turf

6:12 p.m. ET, NBCSN

Another open affair, featuring plenty of value, and I am going with No. 7 Crystalle (8-1) in the slight upset. There is no one better on the turf than jockey Joel Rosario and I love his chances in this spot. I am playing Crystalle in boxed exactas and trifectas with No. 5 Daahyeh (5-1), No. 9 Albigna (9-2), No. 11 Sharing (12-1) and No. 13 Selflessly (8-1).

The Picks: 7-9-13-5

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Race No. 9: Juvenile

7:03 p.m. ET, NBCSN

I was all over Maxfield when the draw was announced for the Juvenile, which features the early contenders for next year’s Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races. However, Maxfield was scratched by his connections and that has led me to No. 1 Dennis’ Moment (8-5).

I am singling him on top and using No. 3 Shoplifted (20-1), No. 4 Storm the Court (20-1), No. 5 Scabbard (8-1) and No. 6 Eight Rings (2-1) underneath in my exotics.

The Picks: 1-6-5-4

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