How to bet the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

A full field of two-year-olds will take a one-mile spin around the Del Mar lawn in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The deep European contingent has to be respected, as the invaders have won seven of the past 10 editions of the race with conditioner Aidan O’Brien being responsible for five of those. But I have been pretty impressed with a domestic runner who I feel will have a big say in the outcome at a fair price.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Wagers

• $20 to win and place on #12 Bottas ($40)
• 50-cent Superfecta: 12,14 with 12,14 with 2,6 with ALL ($22)

The Miguel Clement-trained #12 Bottas (6-1) is a perfect two-for-two coming into this race and has room for improvement. He debuted at Saratoga on Aug. 23 and trailed the field for the first two calls of a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight contest. The $300,000 juvenile purchase was asked for his run approaching the turn for home and responded, reeling in his foes past the midstretch marker and streaking clear to a 2 1/4-length score under the wire. 

In the Pilgrim S. (G2) at Aqueduct in his second lifetime run, the son of fantastic young sire Vekoma kicked into gear late once again and overcame a less-than-ideal trip to register his first black-type victory. I love how the dark bay possesses push-button acceleration, and in an event where the pace will be honest at the very least, I expect the colt to unleash a big closing kick once again. 

#14 Gstaad (9-5) hails from the aforementioned O’Brien shedrow and has had an excellent season leading up to his stateside debut, and will be formidable at Del Mar. The bay son of Starspangledbanner eclipsed the Coventry S. (G2) at Royal Ascot in his second lifetime run and has finished runner-up in a trio of subsequent Group 1 tilts in succession, with a fine try in the Dewhurst S. (G1) at Newmarket last time out. He possesses the early foot to be in range throughout the race despite his wide draw, and I feel that one mile will be well within his scope, as well. Christophe Soumillon retains the mount. 

Joseph O’Brien’s Group 3 hero #6 North Coast (30-1) will also make my tickets at a huge number. The Starman colt finished well behind Gastaad at The Curragh in his latest endeavor, but I’m not sure that he loved the course on that day, and his trio of runs on harder ground have been very good. The February foal will likely not win the event, but he is in with a chance for a minor award to spike the gimmicks with Dylan McMonagle accepting the ride. 

#2 Street Beast (10-1) has put in a trio of excellent runs to commence his career for Ben Colebrook, topped by a runaway romp at Kentucky Downs in his route debut most recently. The bargain $85,000 juvenile purchase comes in fresh with some promising morning moves leading up to his graded bow and will always be in range in this spot with Luan Machado in the controls.