The Post will profile each of the nine Breeders’ Cup races to be run Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Countdown to the Cup spotlights potential nice-price winners as handicapped by reporter Ed Fountaine and columnist Ray Kerrison. Good luck.
3-year-olds and up. Grade 1. Purse: $1,500,000. Distance: 6 furlongs. Post time: 2:37 p.m. Bets: WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3
ANALYSIS: Several horses that would be serious contenders in the Sprint – The Factor, Trappe Shot and Caleb’s Posse – will instead run in the Dirt Mile. There is not a ton of early speed. Big Drama won this race last year gate-to-wire, but he’s only run twice this year and missed his prep in the Vosburgh after spiking a fever. Euroears lost all chance in the Vosburgh after a bad break; he has high speed and has worked very fast since. Jackson Bend, a stretch-runner, would prefer seven furlongs, but he is 6-for-7 sprinting.
LIVE LONG SHOTS: Amazombie, who comes from off the pace, has been racing well in California. Force Freeze’s last two starts were solid. Aikenite might want more distance, but he’s got back class. Hamazing Destiny is a horse-for-the-course.
THE BET: Jackson Bend, who chose this over the Dirt Mile, should have a fast pace to set up his late run. Euroears will be tough on the front end gunning from post 1. Big Drama is in the mix.