“Future Stars Friday” at the Breeders’ Cup World Championship can be a springboard to stardom for horse racing’s next generation, and no race on the card captures the public’s fancy like the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

The 1 1/16-mile race Oct. 30 at Keeneland drew a talented field of eight competing to stake a claim for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male and earn valuable points toward qualifying for the 2027 Kentucky Derby.

1. Damavand (20-1 morning-line odds): Impressive recent maiden winner at this track and distance for five-time Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Half-brother (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to 2025 Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty could surprise at a big price.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

2. Gaudreau (8-1): Regressed slightly when stretching out to a mile for the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, where he ran second by 6 ½ lengths to U. S. S. Valor. With that rival skipping this race, the speedy Gaudreau looks a lot more enticing coming out of what has historically been a productive Breeders’ Cup prep race. Trainer Chad Brown’s lone Juvenile win came with Champagne runner-up Good Magic in 2017.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Chad Brown

3. Salahudin (6-1): Stablemate Hughes was made the overwhelming favorite on the morning line, but this Uncle Mo colt is unbeaten in three starts with improving speed figures and a graded stakes win at a mile. Don’t overlook the other runner trained by six-time Juvenile winner Bob Baffert. Salahudin is a legit win candidate. 

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

4. Earth Song (20-1): Followed a dominant debut win sprinting at Monmouth Park with a distant fourth in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. Every horse in that race was “distant” behind U. S. S. Valor that day, but Earth Song was fading in the stretch.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Jorge Delgado

5. Hughes (1-1): Four wins by a combined margin of 24 ½ lengths, including dominant Grade 1 victories in the Del Mar Futurity and 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse. Much to like … other than the short odds. The question is: does he tower over this group? I’m skeptical at that price.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

American History (Eclipse Sportswire)

6. American History (9-2): Closed from off the pace to win the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at this track and distance for a trainer who has won this race five times. Should be flying late under a Hall of Fame jockey.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

7. Coach Pope (4-1): Wore down pacesetter Q B Rocket in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland but could not hold off fast-finishing American History in his first try at 1 1/16 miles. Pedigree indicates he should excel around two turns and he could show more stamina late with valuable two-turn experience. Another real win threat.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

8. He Is No Lie (15-1): Beaten by 13 ½ lengths by Hughes in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes but improved in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes when second by a half-length to Salahudin. If you like the Iroquois winner in this spot, He Is No Lie is worth consideration at a big price for exacta and trifecta tickets.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

THE PICK: American History

LIVE LONGSHOT: Damavand

SUPERFECTA: 6-7-3-2