Karakontie (JPN) is poised to defend his crown in the $1 million Breeders Cup Mile (G1) and try to become the sixth horse to win multiple editions of the prestigious race, joining elite runners Miesque, Lure, Da Hoss, Goldikova and Wise Dan.
A four-year-old son of Bernstein bred and owned by Flaxman Holdings, the same connections that campaigned two-time Mile winner Miesque, the bay colt has been on the board in eight of his eleven starts and is a five-time winner. Last year, he pulled a massive upset at odds of 30-1 to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) as a three-year-old in a thrilling last to first move from off of the pace. It was his second victory of the year.
This year, as a four-year-old, he will be trying to move forward and earn his first win of the season. He has had two races in France and made his first one at Longchamp off of a nine-month layoff where he finished sixth against Group 1 competition. He showed improvement last time out and was third, beaten two-lengths, in the Prix du Moulin (G1). Karakontie (JPN) will begin his stallion career at Gainesway in Kentucky upon his retirement following the Breeders’ Cup.
There is a strong European contingent coming over for the Breeders’ Cup including Esoterique (IRE), the highly-regarded mare who has proven she can be competitive against top class male rivals. She has been on the board in all five starts this year and comes into the Mile (G1) off of back to back Group 1 victories for trainer Andre Fabre. Lea, trained by Bill Mott, tops the list of the locally-based starters. The Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) will be run on Saturday, October 31.
Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Let's have a look at the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf betting picks and predictions.
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