While Lady Eli (#8, 5-2) is everyone’s sentimental pick, Seventh Heaven, (#3, 3-1) appears to be the horse to bet in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She loves a firm turf and has thrived on left-handed courses. She defeated the mighty Found with ease two starts back and only a horrendous trip in her last start could stop the roll she was on. She had the 13 post last time out and was immediately taken sharply back to last to try to save ground. She was blocked every step of the way and never had a chance to run. Ryan Moore is one of the best jockeys in the world and I expect a clean trip for her today with him aboard for a second time.
Lady Eli tries to win her second Breeders’ Cup and may be better than ever after her remarkable recovery. It is hard to find a fault with Lady Eli and she should certainly be right there. Seventh Heaven has simply been facing better horses.
One of the horses Seventh Heaven has been facing is Queen’s Trust (#11, 6-1) . Any horse trained by Sir Michael Stoute is always dangerous on the national stage and while she appears to be a notch below Seventh Heaven, she should get first jump on her European rival on a turf course that has been favoring front-runners.
The strategy here is to key on Seventh Heaven on the win end with Lady Eli no worse than third in trifecta plays. Queen’s Trust, Sea Calisi (#1, 8-1), Sentiero Italia (#7, 12-1), Kitcat (#10, 20-1) and Nuovo Record (#13, 12-1) are the other horses to consider for exotic purposes.
Wagering Strategy
$1 Trifecta (3 / 8 / 1,7,10,11,13)
$1 Trifecta (3 / 1,7,10,11,13 / 8)
$.50 Trifecta Box (3, 8, 11)
$1 Exacta Box (3, 8, 11)
Total: $19
-Padraic Manocchio
PManocchio4