Would California Chrome be more likely to win the Triple Crown with more time between races. Maybe, said our trainers -- and maybe not. Photo by Laurie Assoe.

Can this guy — California Chrome — get back on the winning track in the Breeders’ Cup Classic? Photo by Laurie Assoe.

 

We asked our experts to handicap the Breeders’ Cup races. Here’s what they came up with:

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Consensus Picks

Juvenile Fillies

  1. Cristina’s Journey – Any Given Saturday filly owns front-running scores sprinting and routing for Dale Romans.
  2. Conquest Eclipse — Twice Grade 1-placed, this late-running Malibu Moon filly will need to find a way to pass ’em all.
  3. Angela Renee — Pletcher trainee’s only stinker came on Saratoga slop, a defeat she cancelled with a solid G1 score over the strip.

Filly and Mare Turf

  1. Secret Gesture — British invader brings more near-miss credentials than wins but also enticing 6-1 morning line.
  2. Fiesolana — Irish G1 winner has done best running in the sprinter-miler divisions.
  3. Emollient — Versatile sort didn’t miss by much in this event a year ago and enters off G1 triumph.

Filly and Mare Sprint

  1. Sweet Reason — With a career-best Beyer at today’s 7 furlong distance, this middle-distance sort was more than flattered by Untapable’s Distaff win after that rival beat her by just a length in the Cotillion.
  2. Judy the Beauty — Near-miss second a year ago to star Groupie Doll, daughter of Ghostzapper has done everything right this year — except for that puzzling fourth in the Humana Distaff at Churchill.
  3. Artemis Agrotera — Sophomore has dazzled with three wins, two in graded company, over her elders this season.

Turf Sprint

  1. Home Run Kitten — Sophomore Kitten’s Joy colt owns all-important two wins — in two tries — over the quirky downhill turf, including G3 score, all at appetizing 12-1 a.m. price.
  2. Reneesgotzip — Two bites at this apple have gotten her a second and a third; three’s a charm?
  3. Ambitious Brew — Lightly raced four-year-old loves the trip, has never finished worse than second in eight tries — but must beat Home Run Kitten, who bested him last out.

Juvenile

  1. Carpe Diem — Seven-figure Giant’s Causeway colt will look to run his record to three wins in three tries after G1 win at Keeneland.
  2.  Texas Red — If Beyers are to be believed, this guy sure jumped up when third in the G1 FrontRunner over the strip, earning a 93; winner that day, American Pharoah, is scratched.
  3. Upstart –A lot to like for NY-bred Flatter colt — but not that 13-post.

Turf

  1. Telescope — Irish-bred multiple G2 winner not at all undermined by two recent G1 placings and owns two wins at the trip.
  2. Main Sequence — Motion trainee three-for-three in US G1 events — but could not win a G3 abroad.
  3. Brown Panther — Five wins at the trip and a six-length score in the G1 Irish St. Leger say this guy fits, but was a late scratch from Canadian International after bolting and tossing his rider.

Sprint

  1. Rich Tapestry — Irish-bred, Hong Kong-based runner overcame Goldencents to win G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, and that one came back to win Dirt Mile on Friday card.  Four wins and a second at the trip.
  2. Secret Circle — Defending champ has just two starts since — a second and a third, the latter behind Rich Tapestry — and the question here is whether he’s still capable of best effort.
  3. Indianapolis — Sophomore has done nothing wrong in his three starts — all wins, but none against graded rivals.  Is that sufficient foundation?

Mile

  1. Toronado — Multiple G1 winner in Britain is evidently not your father’s Oldsmobile, earns the top spot from all four ‘cappers.
  2. Anodin — Irish-bred G3 winner is three times G1-placed, once behind Toronado..
  3. Seek Again — Mott trainee may not be at quite the level of the very best here but has shown enough to warrant a look.

Classic

  1. Shared Belief — Sophomore was not flattered by no-account effort of Fed Biz in the Dirt Mile after that runner extended him in Awesome Again.  But until somebody beats him, he’s hard to overlook.
  2. Tonalist — Belmont winner found winning touch again in accident-marred Jockey Club Gold Cup — but his three best efforts all came at Belmont.
  3. Zivo — Still-improving NY-bred owns a win and a second at this trip but will have to overcome Tonalist, who’s younger and bested him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.