Breeders' Cup 2011 - Juvenile Sprint

8.10 Churchill Downs

Sentient Jet Breeders´ Cup Juvenile Sprint (Conditions) (2yo) (Dirt) (2yo)

Winner: £173,077 Runners: 12 Distance: 6f

Advice: 1 pt each/way Vexor (7/1 general)

Seeker: Trounced a maiden special field by 6 1/2 lengths at Saratoga (slop), having previously been beaten pretty convcingly by reopposing Vexor on debut, and again when third in the Nashua Stakes.

Sum Of The Parts: Another ready maiden winner (Churchill Downs, by 2 & ¾ lengths) but disappointed badly as an odds against favourite in the Bashford Manor Stakes; Unplaced in the Sapling Stakes latest and passed over.

Blacky The Bull: Best efforts are 4th, behind Castaway, at Del Mar, and then finishing in the same position when 4th in the 7 furlong C. B. Afflerbaugh Stakes at Fairplex; This a significant step up.

Shumoos: Looked like a superstar when spread-eagling maiden opposition before solid efforts in Group Company next twice; Sierenia Stakes win no more than she deserves but poor effort last time out and pace a possible issue if she wants the lead; Dirt an unkown but presumably able to handle it.

           Secret Circle: Comes here as a heavy favourite following two romps, first in his maiden special allowance and then in the Jack Goodman Stakes when heavily favoured; Obvious chance for those willing to take the short prices given trainer’s form/record although this technically a step up on form for this.

Holdin Bullets: Became just one of several juvenile debut winners for his trainer Wesley Ward when running out a game winner of Keenland maiden, having gone to a clear lead before the turn; Trainer has a decent record with juveniles so would be folly to dismiss his chances.

Jake Mo: Ran out a clear cut winner of the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes but found the step up in class to the Kip Deville Stakes a bit too much, which doesn’t augur well for his prospects here.

Vexor: Reportedly hated the sloppy track in the Hopeful Stakes, having beaten Seeker by 1& ¼ lengths when winning maiden; Rallied right back to land the Nashua Stakes, beating Hopeful second Trinnibeg by a quarter of a length; That form entitles him to a big say in this and sure to go well.

VERDICT: Given the fact that he comes from Bob Baffert’s stable and the visual impression that both his wins have left, it’s not hard to see why Secret Circle is an overwhelming favourite but a best price of only 11/10 merely opens the race up for some value each/way plays, none more so than VEXOR, who has strong claims based on his Nashua Stakes win, which came over Hopeful Stakes second Trinniberg, with Graded Stakes winner Seeker in third.