For the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, the final race of Breeders’ Cup Friday, two veteran guests are being joined by two newcomers making their official debuts. My excitement is palpable as this formidable quartet tackles one of the toughest races on the card.
In nearly two years, Grace Getman and Esme Bleecker-Adams have grown into vaguely unfamiliar horse racing analysts before readers’ eyes. Meanwhile, Corbin Gregg and Kreena Vora are brand new contributors, unsure of their place on this website but eager to learn the ways of the sport.
For official Paddy’s Picks analysis of this race, click here.
To return to the Breeders’ Cup Friday Master List, click here.
Race 10
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) for Two-Year-Olds, 1 Mile on the Turf
1- Modern Games
Esme: Sounds sleek, and I do like games so thumbs up.
Grace: Is this a Tinder reference?
Corbin: As long as these games aren’t of the squid variety, I think this horse will do just fine.
Kreena: What’s so modern about this one? Or has he just never played the game before? But he has won three out of five starts, and Charles Appleby wins with five of 10 starters debuting in North America.
2- Albahr (GB)
Esme: Looks like the owner did a keyboard smash. Is that mean?
Grace: “Al Bahr” sounds like the name of some old-timey baseball announcer, so at least there’s some sort of a tie to a sport?
Corbin: Well, this one’s from Great Britain. So I think being from Britain, he really wants to show off in front of the Americans and will thus be for successful.
Kreena: Ooh, he’s won four out of five times. It’s a strange name though, but Charles Appleby and Frankie Dettori have won three out of three races together.
3- Dakota Gold
Esme: I think of California when I think of gold but maybe that name was already taken.
Grace: Ah Dakota Gold, a classic potato brand. As the stoutest and steadiest of tubers, I support any sort of potato-associated success
Corbin: I think people might be underestimating Dakota Gold because they associate him with flyover states. But I think he has a real shot.
Kreena: The name seems a little too northwestern for me. He’s run less than the other two I’ve seen so far, so I don’t know.
4- Tiz the Bomb
Esme: Seems cocky but kinda cute.
Grace: Tiz this, Tiz that, does anyone ever both to ask “Tiz, how are you doing?”
Corbin: Sounds pretty explosive, but probably going to sputter out at the beginning of the race.
Kreena: Whoever named this seems a little iffy. But the stats look decent-ish, as he’s won three out of four times. But the trainer’s stats are not great, less than 20%.
5- Slipstream
Esme: Can’t say it five times fast (I tried and now I sound like a crazy person saying this to myself), but it’s a cool name.
Grace: Agree with Esme that it’s a cool name, but I wonder if the hose owes “Slipknot” any royalties.
Corbin: The thing about a slipstream is that it’s always the one coming from behind and taking advantage of the slipstream. So I don’t think this one has a shot.
Kreena: Slipstream sounds like a horse that’s going to slip during the race. He’s won half the time and the trainer’s stats are in the 20% range. Meh.
6- Mackinnon
Esme: Reminds me of Kate McKinnon, who would definitely find a way to beat a bunch of horses in a race.
Grace: I like Esme’s impression that Kate McKinnon would actually join the horses in racing and so I support this candidate as well.
Corbin: Is this Saturday Night Live? I think this horse has been rather busy with pursuits in comedy, and will not be suited to this race.
Kreena: Three out of five, and the jockey trainer is 12% while the trainer only wins with 15% of last time winners. This one is boring. Mackinnon is a boring name and the stats are whatever.
7- Great Max
Esme: I like it, especially Max as a name but also short for Maximum.
Grace: If they really supported this horse, they would name them “Greatest Max.” Don’t worry, Great Max, at least I’m in your corner.
Corbin: I’m just thinking back to watching television with my sisters, and in Max and Ruby, the little brother Max was always a real pain. So I don’t think there’s much discipline and don’t think he’ll run well.
Kreena: There’s a great in the name, which means he must be great. But he’s not, because he’s only won one start in five tries.
8- Glounthaune (Ire)
Esme: Another indecipherable one, but I feel like it’s coming to kill me in the middle of the night.
Grace: Scotland called and wants the name of its castle back. Macbeth vibes much?
Corbin: Every time I look at this list and it says the horse is from Ireland, it says “ire.” And that’s how I feel about this horse.
Kreena: Yeah, I don’t know how to pronounce this one. It could either be foreign or it could be something a scientist came up with. The trainer’s stats are weird on this one, and I wish there was more information.
9- Stolen Base
Esme: The athletic crossover event we’ve all been waiting for.
Grace: Better than a stolen election, I suppose.
Corbin: Given that this happens rarely in baseball, I don’t think he’s going to win here.
Kreena: I guess we’re crossing over into baseball now? He’s won one out of four starts and the jockey and trainer win 16% of the time. I wouldn’t put my money on this one.
10- Portfolio Company
Esme: Sounds like an autogenerated combination of words, although it has a certain ring to it.
Grace: As an Economics minor, I hope you know how much I resent finance terms spreading even to my primary niche amateur horserace analysis blog. Is there no escape?
Corbin: I think that portfolios have largely been replaced by digital forms of collecting your documents. So I think this one is lost to the times.
Kreena: Is a horse really a company? I don’t think so. The stats are meh again on this one. Why are there so many Europeans?
11- Grafton Street
Esme: I’m sure it’s a reference to something that I don’t know of, but I hope it’s got a heartwarming backstory.
Grace: Classy and classic. The Princess Diana of horses. This horse would get invited to the Met Gala before me.
Corbin: This is a street in Europe that the Beatles didn’t sing about. So I don’t care about it that much.
Kreena: It seems like a pretty pleasant street to visit, and I hope the horse has gotten to walk on it. The stats are boring again though, so I don’t care.
12- Credibility
Esme: A lot to live up to in a name but it’s a solid one.
Grace: I think this horse would have a better chance of being president than winning the race.
Corbin: I’m kind of put off by things that label themselves as trustworthy. I think you kind of have to demonstrate that. Given the stats, I don’t think there’s much to trust here.
Kreena: That’s a good name, seems like someone you can rely on. The stats would suggest otherwise.
13- Coinage
Esme: I mean, who doesn’t love money?
Grace: Example two, re: my issues with economics-related horse names.
Corbin: Much like physical portfolios, I think that coins are also on their way out. So I think this may be one of his last races.
Kreena: This is a weird name. Was it named by a Gabelli boy? Two wins in five starts is alright. Like a Gabelli boy: not great, but passable.
14- Dubawi Legend (Ire)
Esme: I did look this up, which is the only way I know that Dubawi was another horse. So that’s a nice tribute. I hope the OG is proud.
Grace: Is this a Chrissy Teigen tweet I missed out on?
Corbin: I’m brought back to the ire thing. However, the stats are a little bit more confusing transferring from the Timeform rating. But I don’t think this horse will do very well.
Kreena: Hmm, that’s an interesting name. There are jockey or trainer stats at all. I don’t know what else to say about that.
Esme’s Pick: 1- Modern Games
I might have to go with Modern Games I think. It has class to it, as long as they don’t play games on the track,
Grace’s Pick: 8- Glounthaune
What can I say, Macbeth was my favorite Shakespeare play in high school. May he have better luck with his own jockeying for the throne.
Corbin’s Pick: 3- Dakota Gold
I think everyone’s underestimating the midwest and flyover states to do something meaningful.
Kreena’s Pick: 2- Albahr (GB)
He’s won four out of five and has really good trainer stats.