BC Juvenile J

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) is a very competitive race and a case can be
made for several runners. The Todd Pletcher-trained duo of CIRCULAR QUAY
(Thunder Gulch) and SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg) are nearly impossible to separate,
and both are primary contenders. We’re going to use them with along with STREET
SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]), PEGASUS WIND (Fusaichi Pegasus), PRINCIPLE SECRET (Sea
of Secrets), STORMELLO (Stormy Atlantic), GREAT HUNTER (Aptitude), KING OF THE
ROXY (Littleexpectations), and maybe some others in the exotics.

Hopeful S. (G1) winner Circular Quay rates the edge over his stablemate
because of his two-for-two record at Churchill Downs. The pint-size chestnut had to
wait patiently to make his move near the half-mile pole, advanced quickly from
between horses midway on the second turn, rallied to challenge for the lead
turning for home, then finished well for runner-up honors in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1)
at Keeneland. Circular Quay has an effective come-from-behind running style and should be a formidable foe under Garrett Gomez, who
has been riding extremely well of late.

Scat Daddy won the Sanford S. (G2) with a late burst of speed, then finished
a troubled second to the one above in the Hopeful. In his last start, the dark
bay was a very impressive winner over the highly regarded Nobiz Like Shobiz
(Albert the Great) in the Champagne S. (G1). That day, he was
taken in hand and covered up before working his way to the outside and advancing
quickly around the turn. He turned for home ready to strike and closed
determinedly on the outside, completing his final quarter-mile in significantly
less than :24 3/5. The track clearly was dry and loose for the Champagne, making
his performance even better time-wise. Scat Daddy is physically more imposing
than his stablemate and is a top threat under first-call rider John Velazquez.

Street Sense is our sleeper at 20-1 on the morning line. The Carl Nafzger
trainee had a brutal outside trip in the Breeders’ Futurity. That day, the dark bay got
hung four wide around the first turn, stalked from the outside down the
backstretch, advanced four wide around the second turn to take the lead turning
for home, then held on determinedly, finishing third by 1 3/4 lengths. He has
been training forwardly of late and is nicely drawn on the rail for
a ground-saving trip.

Pegasus Wind is a scary front-runner trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who will be
shooting for his sixth victory in the Juvenile. The bay colt set the early pace
while battling a strong headwind, spurted clear around the turn, then held on
determinedly for third, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths, in the Champagne. He adds
first-time Lasix and could be very difficult to catch at attractive odds.

Principle Secret set a fast pace while appearing somewhat hesitant, surged
clear at the top of the stretch, then was caught late by Stormello in the
Norfolk Breeders’ Cup S. (G2). The nearly black colt appears to have more to
give and gets a key rider change to Victor Espinoza. He is a major player and
must be respected. Stormello appeared to be a one-dimensional early speed type,
but he stalked the pace from the outside before running down Principle Secret
the 1 1/16-mile Norfolk. That day, the chestnut settled nicely on the outside
down the backstretch, then rallied through the stretch, winning by a neck. He
has some upset potential at square odds.

Great Hunter, who appeared to be a perennial runner-up in Southern
California, won the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity in his last start. That day,
he settled into a clear fourth down the backstretch, advanced from the inside
around the second turn, angled out bumping with Circular Quay while looking for
racing room near the quarter-pole, then proved best by 1 3/4 lengths. He merits
respect, but may have been aided by the inherent bias of Polytrack. King of the
Roxy was a good second to Chace City (Carson City) in the Saratoga Special
Breeders’ Cup S.
(G2) and then got the job done in the Futurity S. (G2). The dark bay,
who is also trained by Pletcher, is flying under the radar but could surprise at
large odds under Edgar Prado.

The Nick Zito-trained C P WEST (Came Home) finished second to King of the
Roxy in the Futurity and will be making just his third career start here. This
probably is too much too soon for all of it. GOT THE LAST LAUGH (Distorted Humor) finished a
dull fifth in the Champagne after a game dead-heat victory in the
Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G3). He will need a form reversal to factor.
Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) winner U D GHETTO (Honour and Glory) has good
early speed but is poorly drawn on the outside. He figures as an early-pace
player only. The Bob Baffert-trained MALT MAGIC (Cherokee Run) broke his maiden
impressively at Del Mar before finishing a troubled sixth in the Norfolk. He has
trained well since but would be a surprise.

Grey Breeders’ Cup S. (Can-G3) winner SKIP CODE (Skip Away) has some class
issues and will break from the far outside post position. TEUFLESBERG
(Johannesburg) likely will force the early issue before diminishing.