Brad Free Filly and Mare Sprint GOODNIGHT OLIVE has plenty going for her in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Her numbers are high, and she has tactical speed to create her own trip. She won five straight races by open lengths over the past year, including a perfect-trip Grade 1 last out. From post 8, she figures for a similar trip here. FRANK’S ROCKETTE earned triple-digit Beyers in her last three starts and has tactical speed to be within range of the leaders. CE CE won this race last year over four rivals; this field is much deeper. She has had an outstanding season at age 6. Her top recent figures and workouts suggest she is as good as ever. Against this lineup, she probably needs to be better. Her off-the-pace style suits the pace scenario. Slammed is compromised by pace and post – stuck on the rail with tons of speed to her outside. But she is sharp and quick. Echo Zulu and Edgeway add heat. :: Bet the Breeders' Cup with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs. Join DRF Bets. Turf Sprint HIGHFIELD PRINCESS dazzled in Group 1 sprints in her last three starts in Europe. She produced speed from the gate, set/pressed, and powered away late. Those were straightaways, but she has run well around a turn. If she copes with a quicker U.S. pace, she can “upset” as second betting choice. The main knock regarding GOLDEN PAL is low odds. But he is unbeaten in U.S. turf sprints, including the 2021 BC Turf Sprint at Del Mar; he is 4 for 4 at Keeneland. The likely pacesetter could be long gone. He was 5-2 winning this race last year; his price this year may be lower. Longshot late-runner CAZADERO has improved on grass. He enters off a highly rated Grade 2 win at Woodbine. It will be up to jockey Flavien Prat to work out a trip. Artemus Citylimits merits an upset chance. The front-runner was gradually closing on Golden Pal last out. Bran developed into a top U.S. turf sprinter; he won this last two graded turf sprints and defeated Artemus Citylimits last out. Dirt Mile LAUREL RIVER trained super following a breakout Grade 2 sprint at Del Mar. He dusted Grade 1 winner American Theorem and three next-out stakes winners. Laurel River previously won two allowance routes. He has speed and can rally from behind. The lightly raced 4-year-old is primed for another top effort for Bob Baffert, who is due this race. Laurel River is his 11th Dirt Mile starter and would be the first to hit the board. CODY’S WISH scored a 112 Beyer summer sprint victory over BC Sprint favorite Jackie’s Warrior. The challenge for Cody’s Wish is reproducing one-turn form around two turns. His closing style suits the pace scenario. It’s just a matter of whether his rally is dulled by a second turn. CYBERKNIFE meets older for the first time, but may be facing easier after chasing Taiba and Epicenter. Cyberknife will rally from behind an expected strong pace. Gunite adds speed, wheeling back two weeks after a sprint romp versus 3-year-olds. Senor Buscador might be a one-turn closer, though he won routing at age 2. Filly and Mare Turf Front-runner IN ITALIAN can steal the Filly and Mare Turf at “only” 1 3/16 miles at Keeneland. She wired Grade 1s in her last two, including at 1 1/8 miles two back. This distance is a reach, but the speedster should be loose. Come and catch her. European Group 1 winner NASHWA is the class of the field. She won successive Group 1s in summer and finished second last out in a Group 1 at Longchamp. A mile and three-sixteenths could be shorter than preferred, but 2015 and 2020 Filly and Mare Turf winners at Keeneland were cutting back from 1 1/4 miles. The “short” distance is only a minor concern. ABOVE THE CURVE is an improving 3-year-old filly who finished only a nose behind Nashwa last out. Each race by Above the Curve is better than the race before. Family Way might not be good enough, but her recent runner-up was creditable. She rallied from behind a slow pace. Expect her to be more forwardly placed, with a chance to hit the board at a price. Sprint JACKIE’S WARRIOR is the country’s consistently fastest male sprinter; KIMARI is the fastest female. In an intriguing showdown, Jackie’s Warrior holds the tactical edge. This year’s BC Sprint is not exactly loaded with heat. Jackie’s Warrior can either make the lead or press comfortable fractions. He will be in front of Kimari turning for home. Kimari paired career-top figures (105 and 106) in her last two starts over fillies and mares. She skipped the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs for this $2 million race at six furlongs. She is the one to fear rallying from behind. SUPER OCHO was best finishing third last out in a modest Grade 2 at Santa Anita. He was shuffled early, lost position, re-rallied, and could have won with a better trip. The speedster will be forwardly placed in a race that could unfold at a tepid clip. Flash of Mischief earned a giant figure (104 Beyer) last out. Maybe it was a one-off, but his high odds might be worth taking a shot. Mile DOMESTIC SPENDING is worth a gamble in the BC Mile, his first start in more than a year. A multiple Grade 1 winner and among the top U.S. turf horses in 2021, he has worked super and runs well fresh. Outside post is no concern; he will tuck in and blast home for the upset. European KINROSS stretches out from four successive sprint wins, including back-to-back Group 1s. His sprint campaign is similar to 2021 BC Mile winner Space Blues. Kinross has won on right- and left-handed courses. In theory, two turns is not an issue. The top-class gelding has been ambitiously campaigned, making his third start in less than five weeks. MODERN GAMES probably would win if he reproduced the Woodbine Mile two back that he crushed by more than five lengths. He disappointed three weeks ago at Ascot, but runs best on firm around turns. Those are the conditions for this race. Annapolis, an improving 3-year-old in career-best form, was strong winning a Grade 1 last out on this course. :: BREEDERS’ CUP 2022: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more for each division Distaff SOCIETY (Best Bet) can win the BC Distaff by leading gate to wire. The 3-year-old front-runner could be loose on the lead. She romped in both recent starts, including the Grade 1 Cotillion over 3-year-old fillies. That race produced recent Distaff winners Monomoy Girl (2018) and Untapable (2014). Society is the controlling speed; this race is hers to win or lose on the front end. NEST emerged as the undisputed leader of the 3-year-old filly division by winning her last three starts by open lengths. She is unique in that she possesses an explosive turn of foot not normally seen on dirt. If she can stay within striking range of the pacesetter, Nest could run right past. BLUE STRIPE looms the upsetter. Her figures are not fast, but she fired in all three starts this year, including a Grade 1 win, and her Keeneland workout reportedly was sensational. She should fire, at a price. Malathaat is 3 for 3 at Keeneland, fresh off a romp in the Grade 1 Spinster. Turf A modest field in the BC Turf field includes a sharp 3-year-old and a top mare – NATIONS PRIDE and WAR LIKE GODDESS. In a mundane contest, Nations Pride gets the nod. All three of his U.S. starts this year have been strong, including a recent runaway over an ordinary field. Big class test here for a colt who has been in age-restricted races, but who is there to really fear? Veteran mare War Like Goddess packs an impressive turn of late speed, which she displayed last out crushing males in a Grade 1. She has maintained top form for two seasons and might have won the BC Filly and Mare Turf last year except for a premature move. California-based GOLD PHOENIX, from a circuit that rarely produces BC Turf contenders, merits a longshot look. He ran his final quarter-mile last time in 22.17 seconds, finishing third in a Grade 2. Reunited with Flavien Prat, Gold Phoenix will rally at a price. Rebel’s Romance is favored based mostly on Group 1 wins in Germany. Is he overrated? Classic - DRF Race of the Day: Get free Formulator PPs for the BC Classic Undefeated FLIGHTLINE should win the BC Classic. The fastest entrant by many lengths, he is proven at 1 1/4 miles. His versatility allows him to set or press the pace from outside his pace rival. Superstar can provide a fitting finale to Breeders’ Cup 2022. TAIBA somehow survived a spring campaign in which he was thrown to the wolves without seasoning. He won the Santa Anita Derby in his second start, then was unplaced in the Kentucky Derby. Surprisingly, the campaign did not ruin Taiba, and the light bulb went back on last out when he crushed a Grade 1 for 3-year-olds. The best is yet to come for the back-in-form colt who can complete the exacta. LIFE IS GOOD is speed. His only previous 1 1/4-mile race was on a deep track in the Middle East. Now he is on fast land and probably the one to catch. Travers winner Epicenter wants every bit of 1 1/4 miles. Out-of-the-clouds closer Happy Saver could hit the board at a price. Mike Beer Filly and Mare Sprint OBLIGATORY’s (Best Bet) big win as a 3-year-old came when rallying into a wicked pace in the Eight Belles over this distance last year. She has clearly improved this year and was unlucky not to make it 3 for 3 in the campaign when finishing gamely into a slow pace at the end of June. She did her best last time while trying to rally from last in the Ballerina, which was not a strongly run race early. She needs some pace but can go with these horses if catching any kind of setup. GOODNIGHT OLIVE sat up close and won the Ballerina easily to make it five in a row, and she earned yet another new top figure for that effort. Progressive filly owns excellent tactical speed, and she may not have reached her ceiling yet. EDGEWAY finished second in this race last year while earning the top figure of her career, and she has continued to hold her form since. She lacks flashy figures but shows up every time and remains underrated. Turf Sprint CASA CREED has avoided this race the last two years to try the Mile, as he may not benefit as much as some others from the shorter distance. Will give it a go this year while looking for a third career Grade 1 win sprinting on turf. He has been at his best as a 6-year-old; just needs a trip. HIGHFIELD PRINCESS has improved sharply this year while starting to concentrate on shorter races and looms a big threat now while looking for a fourth straight win at the top level. Has handled the recent drop back in distance with no issue. GOLDEN PAL wasn’t seen to his best effect two back when trying to rate after a hiccup at the start. Resumed his front-running ways last time to win his prep convincingly, and he loves this turf course. :: Get access to Breeders' Cup Clocker Reports with our special VIP Package and save off the retail price. Dirt Mile LAUREL RIVER seems to be just getting going for trainer Bob Baffert after struggling to put races together early on. He has dominated both two-turn miles he has run in to this point and exits the best performance of his career while winning the Pat O’Brien with a big 108 Beyer – albeit off a perfect trip. CODY’S WISH also came through with a career best when cut back to sprint most recently, and he took a pretty big scalp that day while overpowering Jackie’s Warrior from off the pace. He has gotten over the gate issues that plagued him early on and might be the horse to beat in this race. GUNITE will make his two-turn and route debut here but will do so while in the best form of his career. Fits on figures and has tactical speed. Filly and Mare Turf NASHWA didn’t quite see out the longer trip in the Epsom Oaks earlier this year, though she still ran well in that race. She has improved since then while concentrating on shorter distances and took a tough beat last time while forced to try it on the lead over soft ground. ABOVE THE CURVE finished just behind Nashwa in that last one – though trips made a big difference in that race. Still, she brought good form into that Group 1 and acquitted herself quite well. She still has upside for a top barn. MISE EN SCENE stretched out in distance for the first time most recently, where she came up just short after battling back gamely in the late stages. She flashed potential as a juvenile and might be ready to start delivering. Sprint Cutting back to sprint has been key for AMERICAN THEOREM, who brushed five wide on the turn before overpowering the Grade 1 Bing Crosby two starts back. He ran well again last time while not tripping out quite as well as the winner, Laurel River, who looks tough in the Dirt Mile. Will rate and run, but has his work cut out for him versus JACKIE’S WARRIOR. In retrospect, Jackie’s Warrior might not have been fully tight for the Forego following three straight romps where he hardly took a deep breath. Still fought gamely in that race before having to settle for second and is the horse to beat as he looks to avenge a loss in this race last year. ELITE POWER keeps getting better for trainer Bill Mott, and he showed improved tactical speed while winning a weak renewal of the Vosburgh last time. Still has upside but needs to take another step forward here. Mile DREAMLOPER could be her own worst enemy early on while racing headstrong and often falling short in the end. She has appeared to be much handier this year while finally breaking through at the top level, and she ran the best race of her career when dropped back to a mile last time. DOMESTIC SPENDING is the most intriguing horse on the card, as he was the dominant American turf horse last year and now seeks a comeback from an extended layoff. He had a lot working against him already, and drawing the far outside places another hurdle in his path, but like this shorter distance for him. KINROSS streaks into the Mile looking for five in a row. He also is hampered by the draw, and his recent run of form has come going shorter, but doubt the distance of this race gets him beat. Distaff NEST has gone from strength to strength since finishing a fine second in the Belmont versus colts. She exploded at Saratoga while dominating the major Grade 1s for her division, and she never had to get down to serious business in her prep for this. This is tougher, but MALATHAAT and CLAIRIERE have taken turns beating each other and they are no faster than the 3-year-old entering this race. Giving the admirably consistent Malathaat a slight edge over Clairiere, who got good over the summer but totally bombed when last seen. Turf This is not a particularly strong running of the Turf, and I want to stay positive on STONE AGE, who has improved strongly as a 3-year-old for top connections. Thought he had poor trips in both New York starts over the summer and ran an underrated race in a very tough Irish Champion two back while rolling on an enterprising pace. WAR LIKE GODDESS stays with the longer distance of this race versus colts after rolling over males in her prep for this. She earned a new top figure for that effort while tracking along comfortably and might actually be the horse to beat in this race. REBEL’S ROMANCE has avoided the top races in Europe while winning each of his first four starts on turf, all of them over this distance. He is a strong finisher, but this might be tougher than any race he has contested so far, and he is the morning-line favorite. Classic The Classic goes through FLIGHTLINE, who has been thoroughly dominant on the track and fast against the clock in all five starts to date. Handled the Classic distance without any fuss last time while ringing up a 126 Beyer. This pace will be faster, and he is clearly facing the toughest competition of his brief career here, but it is hard to find the flaw in this horse. LIFE IS GOOD hasn’t gotten enough credit for his Whitney win two back, where he went a very fast pace over a tiring track. Has to prove he can get the trip after faltering late in the Dubai World Cup earlier in the year, but he is talented in his own right and is going to be on a send. Among the 3-year-olds, I prefer TAIBA, who still holds a lot of upside for Baffert and exits a career-best most recently. Strong finisher needs one more forward move. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.