Winner Take All: Reylu Gutierrez vs. Kenny Mayne

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Jockey Reylu Gutierrez and Kenny Mayne of ESPN are competing in a winner-take-all challenge for charity, picking winners for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Each racing season ends with just one finish line: the Breeders' Cup World Championships. It’s the two-day, year-end culmination that every horse, jockey, trainer, and owner across the globe has in their sights. Where the world’s greatest come together to crown champions, and spectators celebrate as history unfolds before their eyes.

weekend TV schedule

Friday, Nov. 6: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on FS2; 2-6 p.m. on NBCSN; post time varies on TVG

Saturday, Nov. 7: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET on FS2; 12-2:30 p.m. on NBCSN; 2:30-6 p.m. on NBC; post time varies on TVG

Sunday, Nov. 8: 12-6 p.m. on FS2; post time varies on TVG

The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, hosted at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. and televised nationally by NBC Sports Group offers 14 races over two days, with $31 million in purses and awards at stake. The “Future Stars Friday” card on Nov. 6 card features five World Championships races, while Breeders’ Cup Saturday on Nov. 7 culminates with nine featured races, topped off by the coveted Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

America’s Best Racing has challenged jockey Reylu Gutierrez and ESPN’s Kenny Mayne in a winner take all Breeders’ Cup betting challenge. Both will be playing for the right to earn a $500 donation to their charity of choice. 

The rules are really simple.  Whoever can pick the most winners among the 14 Breeders’ Cup races wins and their charity will receive a donation from America’s Best Racing. 

Feel free to play along at home and see how you stack up against Reylu and Kenny.  How many winner’s will they select?  How many winners can you select out of the 14 races?

Be sure to watch NBC Sports on Friday (2-6 p.m. ET NBCSN) and Saturday (12-2:30 p.m. ET NBCSN/ 2:30-6 p.m. ET NBC) to catch all of the action live.


Tale of the Tape and Race Selections

Reylu Gutierrez - Jockey

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Height: 5’ 1” 

Weight:  113 lbs. 

College: SUNY Cortland

Did you know? Reylu played lacrosse at Victor Central High School. In 2018, his first full year as a rider, he was named an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice.

Who I am playing for: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - https://www.stjude.org

This charity is important to me, because it gives me perspective, strength, and it humbles me. These kids fight against cancer, and they have smiles on their faces and look forward to each and every day to live the fullest. Sometimes we get so disappointed in our results, or materialistic desires, and we don’t value the happiness of life like we really should. The children of St. Jude show us all what real courage is! 

Reylu’s Friday Selections

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: #9 After Five - So easy to pick #14 Golden Pal — Wesley Ward- Irad Ortiz Jr. — but I like this horse due to the hot pace I expect from this race and Jose Ortiz being able to relax this horse to sit mid-pack and fire at the end.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America: #11 Gretzky the Great - Tough race to pick. I really like #1 Sealiway extending to a mile, love that Mickael Barzalona is riding. He’s an exceptional turf rider as he has shown in the past with Talismanic. I expect this horse to get the trip … but I’m going with Gretzky the Great. The horse has improved each start, he’s shown he’s capable in Canada , and he gets Kentucky’s top rider in Tyler Gaffalione.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: #7 Princess Noor - Are we really going to bet against Chief Baffert?

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: #4 Plum Ali - Another tough race to pick … Wesley Ward has legendary Lanfranco Dettori on #10 Campanelle, who is superb — love the confidence and stretch out going from three-quarters of a mile to a mile. But its prime time, and there is no better rider in the prime time then horse racing’s Tom Brady, Mr. Joel Rosario. I’m going with Plum Ali. She’s won at a mile and beyond. Christophe Clement and his son Miguel get them ready for turf routes better than most, I love Plum Ali for the money.

TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: #7 Jackie’s Warrior - I get it I’m a genius for going with a 7-5 morning-line shot … but again, the best prime-time rider in Joel Rosario and trainer Steve Asmussen, who only knows how to win. This colt is 4-for-4 and has made some of his victories effortless. I just don’t see him losing. Five-eighths of a mile – win; three-quarters of a mile – win; seven-eighths of a mile – win; one mile – win. Expect the trend to continue.

Reylu’s Saturday Selections

Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: #3 Come Dancing -  Talk about a showdown ... #2 Gamine, #6 Venetian Harbor, and #7 Serengeti Empress ... lots of speed and they’ll be going at each other. I love that Gamine is coming back from 1 1/8 miles, and I do expect her to outlast the other two. BUT, due to the setup of this race, I’m going with Come Dancing. Irad Ortiz Jr. will get the trip and come running.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: #3 Imprimis - Back to back with the three and Irad Ortiz Jr. Imprimis has been trending upward and has come back so well from the layoff. Give credit to Joe Orseno. Expect Ortiz to break well and let Imprimis settle. Don’t expect them to be too far back with lack of blistering pace in this race.

Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile: #1 Art Collector - I think turns it around with a ground-saving trip, coming back to a mile will benefit this horse.

Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf: #6 Rushing Fall - In my opinion, she’s just superior to the rest of the group.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint: #10 Yaupon - The cream always rises to the top. I don’t expect him to lose for the team of Joel Rosario and Steve Asmussen.

FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF: #10 Halladay - Speed kills … and when you get Luis Saez on a speed horse, good luck catching them. Saez comes out aggressive, asserts position, gets the ‘W’.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff: #10 Monomoy Girl - I like that she’s coming off longer rest. Brad Cox has put some good works into her, and I feel she’ll be ready to go. #5 Swiss Skydiver is a multiple Grade 1 winner and would be my horse to beat, but she battled hard to win the Preakness. She made that early move and sustained it — how will she come back is the question?

Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf: #2 Magical - Well, no Bricks and Mortar this year so I’m going with the European connections to win this race. Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore get the job done.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic: #4 Tom’s d’Etat - This is the best horse in the field. He had a terrible start in the Whitney and still made up tons of ground while being wide. As long as he has a good start and can be in contention, I feel he is the horse that wins the Classic.


Kenny Mayne – ESPN SportsCenter anchor

Eclipse Sportswire

Height: 6’ 2”

Weight: 215 lbs.

College: University of Nevada Las Vegas

Did you know? Kenny was an honorable mention Junior College All-American quarterback in 1978 before transferring to UNLV. While at UNLV, Mayne played football for two years and later signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks (1982).  In 2006, he competed on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Kenny Mayne was honored by the Maryland Horse Breeders’ Association in 2006 with the Old Hilltop Award, recognizing his life-long passion for Thoroughbred racing and his excellence in covering the sport. Kenny is a celebrity ambassador for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Who I am playing for: RunFreely - https://www.runfreely.org

We are getting veterans running pain free again. I got a device to help me do the same a couple years ago, so Gretchen and I decided to show our gratitude to the veterans this device was made for. 

Kenny’s Friday Selections

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: #7 Momos - Taking a shot on a colt who looked great on first turf try. Trainer seems to know what he’s doing.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America: #1 Sealiway - Group 1 winner. Euros do well in this race.  

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: #5 Girl Daddy - Big improvement from first to second race. Layoff doesn’t bother me. Dale Romans has her training well.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: #2 Miss Amulet - Just missed as the favorite in a Group 1. #10 Campanelle probably more logical but you can’t even lose if you don’t enter (great Nick Zito quote).

TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: #3 Reinvestment Risk - Will be tough to take down the favorite but hoping someone tries to press him and my colt makes one big run late.

Kenny’s Saturday Selections

Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: #7 Serengeti Empress - Hope to see her sit off the favorite and a figure out a way to get by her. It’s her problem now.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: #6 Glass Slippers - Impressive in Europe. Hope to get first run on Got Stormy from a better position.

Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile: #2 Sharp Samurai - Impressed by that Pacific Classic race. Doesn’t even have to go as far this time. A bit of a reach but not insane.

Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf: #3 Peaceful - I threw out her last race because I felt like it. See if she goes back to otherwise great form.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint: #8 Firenze Fire - Because the horse i wanted scratched. Get well, Vekoma.

FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF: #4 Siskin - Keep in mind, this is a SHOW bet tip … but I’ll take a shot with this one anyway.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff: #5 Swiss Skydiver - I tired of picking 15-1 horses. She’s really good.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf: #3 Tarnawa - Taking a mid-range shot here. This one getting really good right now. Don’t know is she’s quite ready. Don’t know if I’m quite ready either.

Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic: #8 Improbable Bob Baffert, Irad Ortiz Jr., and this horse … very probable.

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