Sports

Countdown to the Breeders’ Cup: Dirt Mile

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 million. Distance: Mile. Post time: 4:01 p.m. Bets: WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3

ANALYSIS: With Jackson Bend opting for the Sprint, where he’ll be very dangerous, and with the speedy Rule not entered, this is one of the shortest Breeders’ Cup fields; but it is also one of the toughest – especially if top contenders like Caleb’s Posse, Shackleford, The Factor and Trappe Shot all rebound off sub-par efforts in their final preps.

LIVE LONG SHOTS: Jersey Town, off his 34-1 upset in last year’s NYRA Mile, can’t be dismissed.

THE BET: The Factor is the fastest horse in the race, and perhaps the most talented. He figures to kill off the other speed horses and should be in front when they hit the stretch. But the late-blooming Wilburn has won three straight from off the pace.