Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: 2020 Brisnet Speed Rating Report

The $2 million Juvenile (G1) is the highlight of five Breeders’ Cup races on the Future Stars Friday program. Fifteen 2-year-olds, including an also-eligible, have been pre-entered.

The last five Juvenile winners have been named champion 2-year-old male, and the 1 1/16-mile race serves as a qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, awarding the winner 20 points towards a berth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby on May 1.

Post positions will be drawn Monday, and let’s spotlight the last three Brisnet Speed ratings:

Jackie’s Warrior is the only runner to earn a triple-digit Speed rating, generating a 101 figure for his smashing 5 1/2-length romp in the Oct. 10 Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park. The unbeaten three-time stakes hero will be a worthy favorite based upon numbers.

Reinvestment Risk, a non-threatening second to Jackie’s Warrior in his last two starts, owns the next-best Speed rating (94).

Other notables include Essential Quality, who received a 93 for winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland; and King Fury, who may wheel back on a 13-day rest after earning a 94 for taking the Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs.

Seven youngsters – Calibrate, Camp Hope, Hot Rod Charlie, Keepmeinmind, Likeable, Rombauer, and Smiley Sobotka – have failed to reach a 90 Speed rating in previous starts.

Classic winners

Here are the previous three Speed ratings for the last 10 Juvenile winners:

Only three of the last 10 Juvenile winners had earned a triple-digit Speed figure, none in the last four runnings.

Storm the Court, who posted a 45-1 wire-to-wire upset last year, and last-out maiden winner New Year’s Day (2013) are the only Juvenile winners without at least a 90 Speed rating to their credit.

Speed ratings remain a valuable handicapping tool for the Juvenile, but it’s important to keep them in perspective for young, developing horses.