Ecoro Sieg, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, 7-2 morning line

This U.S.-bred colt is undefeated in two starts and holds the fastest Netkeiba speed figure on turf of all 2-year-old shippers from Japan. Ecoro Sieg holds a coveted Japan record as well. In his most recent win the open-class Canna stakes, he broke a 23-year-old course record at Nakayama for 2-year-olds and became the fastest 2-year-old at more than 1,200 meters in Japanese history, about six furlongs clocking a final time of 1:07.2. For reference, an open-class race is similar to a listed stake but often attracts highly regarded horses. His Canna stakes effort earned him a 97 Netkeiba speed figure, placing him right in line with the European contingent entered in this race based on personal estimates. One aspect of Ecoro Sieg’s Canna Stakes that makes his effort even more impressive is that he completely missed the break and was last at first jump, then in a timeframe of about 15 strides he already pulled alongside Rapier, who caught a rocket start. If he breaks clean on Friday afternoon, I’ll be anticipating a strong performance.

American Bikini, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, 5-1

As an American Pharoah fan, I am very excited to watch his daughter race on Friday. This big dark bay filly last weighed in at 1,089 pounds and broke her maiden at second asking by seven lengths on Kokura racecourse’s clockwise course, covering five furlongs in 57.2 seconds over the dirt track considered good. She looked spectacular, jockey Masayuki Yoshimura rode with confidence and never asked her beyond pre-race instructions to urge her to finish strong late. Returning two months later in the seven-furlong, listed Yamaboshi Sho, she trounced males by 2 1/2 lengths over the counterclockwise dirt track. In this effort, I noticed she got a bit strong with the jockey early on, but once she was given her head, she relaxed a bit, leveling off in the stretch to win easily. She could be a global star if she moves forward.

Awesome Result, Breeders’ Cup Distaff, 4-1

Earning a trio of 109 Netkeiba speed figures is no easy feat, seeing as no other rival has achieved this. Awesome Result is a deserving top-three wagering choice with Idiomatic out of the race. Undefeated in seven starts on dirt of all kinds, fast to sloppy, she’s a very exciting prospect for another Japanese victory in the Distaff after Marche Lorraine’s victory in 2021. This filly is extremely versatile, scoring wins as a front runner and closing from 10th of 12th runners, that adaptability will be a valuable asset on Saturday. Her runs in stakes company, with Grade 2 and Grade 3 wins, have been against other fillies and mares to date. But her win in the Aldebaran stakes versus open company was earned against males and females. If she runs to her full potential, our Grizzly will have a challenger.

Shahryar, Breeders’ Cup Turf, 10-1

The 2022 Japanese Derby winner ran well in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf to finish a troubled third after encountering traffic. But he continues to show up on the international stage, finishing second in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan in March. He seems to pull out his best performances abroad as of late, but he’s hit the trifecta in 6 of 8 starts at 1 1/2 miles on turf so far in his career. His form this year puts him in contention with the U.S. entrants, but he needs to keep an eye on Rebel’s Romance, who beat him soundly in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.

Forever Young, Breeders’ Cup Classic, 6-1 

Forever Young’s hard-trying third alongside Sierra Leone and Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby has been my iPhone lockscreen background since May 4. This Japanese-bred colt has a winning mindset and tenaciousness that is nearly impossible to train for. He simply wants to win. He bounced back from his rough Kentucky Derby trip to handily win the Japan Dirt Classic (G1) over 10 furlongs to register a Netkeiba speed figure of 114. For reference, Ushba Tesoro ran a 113 in finishing second in the Nippon TV Cup. We can estimate that he was trained to 70 to 80 percent of his peak to perform in the Japan Dirt Classic, also, the dirt course at Oi racecourse is quite deep and sandy versus the well-packed dirt surface at Del Mar. If his performance in the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday in his absolute peak, he’ll be a must use on Saturday.