2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at a Glance

Racing
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Santa Anita The Wine Steward Prince of Monaco Wine Me Up Timberlake Locked Cuban Thunder General Partner Fierceness Muth Noted
Locked, one of the leading contenders for the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, trains at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 30. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The Eclipse Award for the nation’s top 2-year-old male will be on the line Friday during Future Stars Friday at the Breeders’ Cup. With the gorgeous San Gabriel mountains serving as a backdrop, a field of 11 will contest the Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Santa Anita Park, with contenders coming from around the country, led by trainer Bob Baffert’s home team of Prince of Monaco, Wine Me Up and Muth and Eastern shippers Locked and Timberlake.

fanduel breeders' cup juvenile presented by thoroughbred aftercare alliance

Racetrack: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.

Date: Nov. 3

Purse: $2 million

Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Race: 8

Post Time: 7 p.m. ET

Notable winners: Forte (2022), Essential Quality (2020), Nyquist (2015), Uncle Mo (2010), Street Sense (2006), Favorite Trick (1997), Timber Country (1994), Arazi (1991), Chief’s Crown (1984).

First held: 1984

1. The Wine Steward (8-1, SCRATCHED)

2. Prince of Monaco (4-1): Undefeated Bob Baffert runner tries two turns for the first time but has the pedigree to handle it. Definitely one of the main contenders.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

3. Wine Me Up (15-1): Set the pace in the American Pharoah Stakes and settled for second behind stablemate Muth. Has worked brilliantly since then and has the kind of speed that makes him a threat to pull off an upset.

JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert                  

4. Timberlake (4-1): Was an impressive winner of the Champagne Stakes after finishing second in the Hopeful Stakes. Has the kind of breeding that says he’ll like the added distance and figures to be a main player in a very competitive race.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux;  TRAINER: Brad Cox

5. Ecoro Neo (30-1, SCRATCHED)

6. Locked (7-2): Since he stretched out to longer distances, he was an easy maiden winner and pulled away to take the Breeders’ Futurity. Should love the distance and looks like the one to beat.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

7. Cuban Thunder (30-1): European has not raced on dirt and his turf pedigree makes you wonder why he’s here.

JOCKEY: Tiago Pereira; TRAINER: Adrian Murray

Muth (Eclipse Sportswire)

8. General Partner (8-1): Was a distant second to Timberlake in the Champagne and will be part of a lively early pace. An outside post doesn’t help his cause.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Chad Brown

9. Fierceness (6-1): Is he the 2-year-old who won his debut in the mud at Saratoga by double-digits? Or is he the juvenile who lost by over 20 lengths in the slop in the Champagne? Would want longer odds than his morning-line price to find out.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

10. Muth (4-1): Might be the best of the three Baffert runners. Won the American Pharoah Stakes convincingly over this track and has trained sensationally since then. Much to like, except the post.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

11. Noted (20-1): He’s versatile enough to win on dirt and turf. He captured the Sapling Stakes on dirt at Monmouth Park but landed a difficult post in a highly competitive race.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

THE PICK: Locked

LIVE LONGSHOT: The Wine Steward (scratched)

SUPERFECTA: 6-10-4-2

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