Breeders' Cup Tips: 14/1 fancy among Mark Milligan's two to back on the opening night

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Keeneland, Friday 19:35 - Back Foxiest E/W @ 14/115.00

3 (3)

Foxiest (Usa)

• J: Junior Alvarado
• T: Brad H. Cox, USA
• F:

It's probably fair to say that if Emphatic repeats the performance she put up when winning the Alcibiades over this C&D last time she'll take the world of beating.

Her final time was a good one, but she did get away with setting pretty modest fractions before she and the runner-up cleared right away late on and it's unlikely she'll get things all her own way this time.

I'm going to pass on her at a relatively short price and take a swing with one at a much bigger price who is certainly bred for the job.

Brad Cox's Foxiest hasn't run a fast time in either of her races to date, but she's the type who looks sure to go on improving. Her pedigree certainly screams that she could be top-class, by Gun Runner out of Covfefe, who herself was a Breeders' Cup winner for the Cox barn.

Foxiest looks to be taking more after her sire than her dam when it comes to distance, as she improved markedly for her debut run (which came over 6f), easily breaking her maiden stepped up to 7.5f on her second start.

As I say, the time was nothing flash, but she could progress markedly now she steps up further in trip. I can't let one with her pedigree go unbacked at 14/115.00.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Gustapof @ 15/2
Ugo Bingo @ 6/1
Distillate @ 7/2
Brilliant Star @ 9/4
Midnight Media @ 13/8
Rock Montreal @ 11/8
Crooked Path @ 5/4

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Friday Keeneland, 21:35 - Back How's Al Today E/W @ 7/18.00

5 (5)

How's Al Today (Usa)

• J: Brian J. Hernandez, Jnr
• T: Riley Mott, USA
• F:

European raiders have dominated the Juvenile Turf since its inception, with the locals getting very little look in, particularly where Aidan O'Brien is concerned, as he's taken the race eight times in total, including the last four renewals.

The master of Ballydoyle boasts another strong hand as he looks to make it five on the bounce, but his apparent chief hope Great Barrier Reef has had a shocker with the draw, being posted deepest of all in 14.

Now, that isn't insurmountable, as Ryan Moore has proven several times in the past in this race, but it certainly makes the task that much harder.

I'm not convinced that the European contingent is the strongest that's ever been assembled this year, and it would be no surprise were they to be outpointed by the highly promising Riley Mott-trained How's Al Today.

This son of Munnings broke his maiden on dirt before running third in Grade 2 company on his following start, but it's since he's been switched to turf that he's looked a completely different beast.

The selection has won both his grass starts at Kentucky Downs, and the turn of foot he showed last time was very much a 'wow' moment as he bolted up in listed company (watch the video if you haven't seen it).

He's not style over substance either, as the pair he battered in that latest run have both come out and won since, including the third Agate, who took a Grade 2 contest and also runs here.

As I said at the top, the Americans have largely struggled against their European counterparts in this race, but I suspect they've rarely had one as talented as How's Al Today and I'm excited to see how he goes.

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