Betting: 2021 Breeders' Cup Betting Odds
Minty Bets is joined by Nick Luck, of NBC Sports, to break down his top bets for the 2021 Breeders' Cup from the Del Mar Racetrack in California.
Video Transcript
MINTY BETS: The Breeders Cup takes place November 5th and 6th at the Del Mar Racetrack, where the surf meets the turf. To help me out with some picks is reporter and handicapper for NBC Sports, Nick Luck.
Nick, let's get right into it. Who are your top picks to win the Breeders Cup?
NICK LUCK: Minty, the biggest race of all takes place Saturday evening here in classic hour, 5:00 to 6:00 Pacific Time here on NBC.
And Essential Quality is the horse that I like to win this race. He will be favored. He's a horse who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby this year. But subsequent to that, he has won the Belmont Stakes, beating one of Saturday's rivals, Hot Rod Charlie. And I think he will come out on top again in the Breeders Cup Classic.
So he would be my top pick for the meet. There's a very, very talented young horse, two-year-old filly in the Juvenile fillies on Friday. That will be on NBCSN. She's called Echo Xulu. I would confidently expect her to win.
She'll be short odds. But those would be my two best plays of the weekend.
MINTY BETS: All right, Nick, give us some long shot picks.
NICK LUCK: Well, in the Breeders Cup Mile, which is a really deep and contentious race this year, there isn't a horse that I think is a standout amongst the field. And I think local knowledge will be a big plus around this tight turf track at Del Mar.
And there's a horse called Hit the Road. He's actually trained by-- I think he's based in California, Dan, but I think that horse will go well at a big price.
MINTY BETS: All right, and give us your top European picks.
NICK LUCK: Really interesting international challenge, this year's Breeders Cup, Minty. A couple of horses I'm very interested in trained in Great Britain. One of those is Modern Games in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf of Colts. That takes place on Friday.
And another horse I'm very interested in, and this one could be a slightly bigger prize, is a filly called Teona. Now, she's double engaged at the moment. She could either run in the turf, $6 million turf against the boys, or she could run against her own gender in the filly and mare turf.
Whichever race she goes in, Teona, I think she'll be a huge player. And she might be a bit overpriced as well. So Modern Game and Teona.
And don't forget the Japanese challenge this year. It's seven strong at the Breeders Cup, the most runners they've ever had at this fixture, adding some really interesting international flavor to this event. And they have a horse called Loves Only You in the filly and mare turf race. And I think she's right behind me on the track right now, just as I said that, Loves Only You galloping right behind me. I think she's got a great chance.
MINTY BETS: Very nice. Now Nick, tell people where they can find you and what you've been working on lately.
NICK LUCK: An awful lot is the answer, Minty. And there is comprehensive coverage of all 14 Breeders Cup races from here at Del Mar on NBC and NBC Sports Network this week.
So listen up, Thursday, betting the Breeders Cup-- this is your crucial guide to handicapping this meet. [INAUDIBLE] will be hosting. That is at 12:00 Pacific until 1:00, so 3:00 to 4:00 Eastern Thursday on NBC Sports Network, NBCSN.
And then on Friday we begin the live action with Future Stars Friday. That is two-year-olds all the way through the day. It is 2:00 until 6:00 Pacific, so 5:00 until 9:00 Eastern on NBC Sports Network.
And then on Saturday, the big show itself. That is 11:30 until 5:00 Pacific. And then the classic hour, this is the crucial one to tune in for, the richest race in North America, 5:00 until 6:00 Pacific hosted by Maria Taylor. That is 8:00 Eastern.
