Breeders’ Cup 2026: Under the radar internationals on Friday

The European raiding party will be out in force at Keeneland on Friday, not only with big favorites but also with promising juveniles that bettors will overlook. 

Here’s a trio of Breeders’ Cup contenders at odds that don’t reflect the strength of their form.

Race 6: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), 2:55 p.m. ET

#6 Velozee (20-1) was a fine third in the Phoenix (G1) to Sun Goddess, the favorite in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and Folsom Blues, among the leading players in the Juvenile Turf (G1). That in itself makes her appealing at a price, but it’s not her only talking point.

From the yard of high-percentage trainer Paddy Twomey, Velozee won her first two starts before competing in Group company throughout the summer. Her last three efforts have been her best, and she bookended her Phoenix effort with a close third to Juvenile Turf Sprint rival #1 Moonrise (12-1) in the Princess Margaret (G3) at Ascot and a third versus smart colts in the Round Tower (G3) back at the Curragh. The Round Tower runner-up, Great Barrier Reef, was set to lead Aidan O’Brien’s quartet in the Juvenile Turf.

Given how she’s traveled in her six-furlong races, Velozee should appreciate the slight cutback to 5 1/2 furlongs here. 

Race 8: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), 4:15 p.m. ET

#11 Scommessa Sicura (30-1) is bred to excel with distance and maturity, as a Cracksman half-sister to Stanhope Gardens, who was sadly unable to fulfill his abundant promise. So it’s very encouraging that she has achieved as much as she has at two. 

The Andrew Balding trainee was twice runner-up to Godolphin’s unbeaten rising star Musical Times, including in the May Hill (G2), and she was a better-than-appears fifth to the same rival in the Fillies’ Mile (G1) in juvenile course-record time at Newmarket. Scommessa Sicura has also mixed it up with colts, missing narrowly to Godolphin’s Quest for Stars in the Stonehenge S. at Salisbury.

Although Scommessa Sicura doesn’t have the formidable resume of favorite Sun Goddess, or the brilliance of Amusingly, her tactical style could land her in the exotics.

Race 10: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), 5:35 p.m. ET

#2 Avec Toi (10-1), who was unbeaten until his sixth-place effort in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), looms as a serious rebound candidate for Christopher Head. But the Lagardere fourth, #3 Florida Bay (20-1), also has potential to fare better at twice the price.

One of the outsiders from the Ballydoyle brigade, Florida Bay has been an admirably consistent pace factor who could enjoy U.S. conditions. He upset one of the top contenders, #10 Folsom Blues (7-2), when he got loose on the lead in the Tyros (G3) going left-handed at Leopardstown, and he almost upset favored stablemate Giant Sequoia in the Futurity (G2) at the Curragh. 

While Florida Bay faced a tougher race shape in his past two, he still kept on well for third behind Folsom Blues in the Vincent O’Brien National (G1), and he just lost third late to stablemate #11 Man’s Best Friend (15-1) in the Lagardere. Florida Bay reunites with jockey Wayne Lordan, a vital part of the Ballydoyle team who engineered his Tyros victory.