Santa Anita juveniles to watch at the Breeders’ Cup

Santa Anita played host to a slew of major races on Saturday that will have major implications on the upcoming Breeders' Cup races at the track in early November. While California Chrome, Stellar Wind and even Beholder in defeat cemented their status at the top of their respective divisions, I will put some focus on a few who didn't win but could be well poised for a big run next time.

Seven races were run on the main oval on Saturday and while the word “bias” may get overused in our sport, it didn't hurt a bit to be on the lead in the early going Saturday. Of the seven who led at the first and second calls on this day, two were victorious, four came in second and the other front-runner held on for third. Let's see who was making up ground on an oval that seemed difficult to do so upon.

Klimt, a fine winner of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his previous test, got off slow in his two-turn debut but I liked the way he finished behind a loose-on-the-lead winner, while well clear of third under the wire in the FrontRunner S. (G1). The son of Quality Road came home in a solid :31 2/5 for his final five-sixteenths and this appears to be an ideal prep run in advance of the Juvenile (G1) and the opportunity to secure championship honors in his division.

In the Chandlier S. (G1) for two-year-old fillies, both Champagne Room and Zapperkat had early trouble and may not have run as well as capable. In a race where the top-two finishers occupied the top two slots throughout, Zapperkat made a nice late run after bobbling at the break and the daughter of Ghostzapper has every run to improve in the Juvenile Fillies (G1) which will be just her third lifetime try, and second going two turns. At a big price, the Richard Baltas trainee might be worth the gamble next time out.

I have always liked Champgne Room and the Peter Eurton pupil has yet to run a bad one from four career performances. The $310,000 daughter of Broken Vow was good enough to win the Sorrento S. (G2) as a maiden in a second career run and is another who should improve going two turns for the second time. The bay filly has trained above average since June, and I love the foundation she has under her with four career tries.

With the Breeders’ Cup being held at “The Great Race Place,” the local contingent has an edge with familiarity of surface and climate, and I think the above trio could do great things during racing's biggest weekend.