2009 Breeders’ Cup Betting Preview - Todd Pletcher's Horses

Todd Pletcher usually saddles a lot of horses to contest the Breeders’ Cup. This year will be no different, but saddling horses and winning races are two different things.

While Pletcher usually has a slew of horses ready to run for him in the Breeders’ Cup, he rarely takes home a Breeders’ Cup trophy. Will 2009 be different? Let’s see.

Todd Pletcher Horses

Nite Light - - Marathon - - I actually love Nite Light in this race. Forget class, he doesn’t have as much as his European counterparts, but what he does have is the ability to get the lead and hang on in a field where speed will be crucial. If Nite Light is allowed to lope along on the front end, then he will be tough to pass in this race. That’s what my money will be saying. Bet Odds: 7 to 2

Dad’s Crazy - - Juvenile Fillies Turf - - The odds on Dad’s Crazy will be close to 50 to 1. Don’t let that fool you if you’re considering wager on her. She actually has a decent shot in this because Pletcher can get two year olds ready in a hurry. She’s also out of Langhfur which means that she’s bred to love the turf. Finally, she has two turn experience which is something that a lot of contenders in her don’t have. She could surprise at big odds. Bet Odds: 20 to 1

Rose Catherine - - Juvenile Fillies Turf - - Maiden victory to Breeders’ Cup Champion? It’s possible and this Pletcher filly could do it. Her maiden victory was stellar. She won a sprint at Belmont Park going 6 furlongs and should absolutely love the stretch-out as she’s from Speightstown. The odds on her should be nice as well. So, she might be worth a shot. Bet Odds: 9 to 1

Game Face - - Fillies and Mares Sprint/Turf Sprint - - Game Face is a cut below the sprinters in the Fillies and Mare division and the turf sprinters. She’s not as big of a long shot as Join In The Dance, but Pletcher shouldn’t bother running her in either race. She’ll just lose again and eat up traveling money. She’s just not a good enough horse to run in either race and Pletcher should know that. Bet Odds: 25 to 1

Devil May Care - - Juvenile Fillies - - Unless she dislikes the Pro-Ride surface, Devil May Care should be the Juvenile Fillies winner. She doesn’t have the experience that some of her peers have, but that doesn’t bother me. She has huge upside and her last victory was close to startling. She’s going to get my money and I’m already thinking of using her as the key horse in my Pick 4 and Pick 3 tickets. Bet Odds: 2 to 1

Eskendereya - - Juvenile Turf/Juvenile - - Like Devil May Care, Eskendereya took a huge step forward in his last race. Pletcher really, really likes this guy and he’s getting a lot of press from the talking heads on the horse racing networks about how great he’s doing. The fact is that it doesn’t matter where he runs, he should be tough. Another fact, however, is that he will be going off at short odds which will make him an underlay on race day. Bet Odds: 7 to 2

Interactif - - Juvenile Turf - - The likely favorite in the Juvenile Turf was sensational in his last race when he went extremely wide around the final turn before winning going away. He faces a much tougher field in this, however, with Aidan O’Brien’s Viscount Nelson showing up. He could be that good, or he could have looked good because he faced a bad field in his last. Either way, he warrants a wager at the right odds, no wager at low odds. Bet Odds: 4 to 1