Horsebetting.com experts give their three best bets for day two of the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Churchill Downs on Saturday, 3 November. French raider Polydream is a class act who looked an unlucky loser last time out, so rates the NAP on the nine-race card in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Wild Illusion is right at the top of her game at present and is our next best bet in Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf over 1m 3f. Catholic Boy, meanwhile, posted a career best effort last time out and looks cracking each-way value in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic that brings proceedings to a close. For full details on these horses, read our in-depth 2018 Breeders’ Cup day two betting tips preview.Polydream the punt in Breeders’ Cup MileFreddy Head has won the Breeders’ Cup Mile twice as a jockey and a record three times as a trainer thanks to his wonder mare Goldikova (2008, 2009 and 2010). He saddles Polydream in this year’s renewal of the Grade 1 contest at Churchill Downs on Saturday (19:36) and the filly is strongly fancied to add to that tally.
This three-year-old has won four of her seven starts and was a very smart juvenile. She won her first two outings in impressive fashion before finishing a fine second to Wild Illusion in a Group 1 over 1m at Chantilly when finishing very strongly.
Those efforts suggested Polydream was a potentially a top notch prospect, and she got off the mark at the second time of asking this season when only having to be ridden out to readily beat Inns Of Court by 1 3/4 lengths in a Group 3 at Longchamp.
Polydream was then given a break, but looked better than ever when following-up in the 20-runner Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over an extended 6f at Deauville in August. After racing in midfield, she was switched to make a move two from home and then ran on strongly to get up close home and beat James Garfield by half-a-length.
The way in which she travelled and quickened was impressive and the front two pulled 2 1/2 lengths clear of The Tin Man, who has since landed a Group 1 at Haydock. It was a most taking display and Polydream was sent off the heavily backed 11/8 favorite on the back of it to follow-up in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret over 7f at Longchamp on Arc day.
Although she could finish only a 3 1/2 lengths seventh of 15 to One Master, that does not tell the whole story. Polydream cruised along throughout, but found herself trapped in a pocket on the rail a furlong from home. A gap constantly failed to appear and her rider had to sit and suffer. In the end, she kept on nicely when switched out 50 yards from home to finish full of running.
The daughter of Oasis Dream never got any chance to show what she is capable of, so this looks a good opening for her to gain some valuable compensation. She looks the class act in the line up and we therefore had no hesitation in making Polydream the standout bet on the card among our 2018 Breeders’ Cup day two betting tips.Wild about the chances of IllusionWild Illusion looks to hold outstanding claims of providing trainer Charlie Appleby and leading owners Godolphin with back-to-back successes in the 1m 3f Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (18:04). They landed the spoils 12 months ago with Wuheida, and in Wild Illusion have a three-year-old who has top class form in the book after winning four of her eight starts.
After finishing a fine fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the daughter of Dubawi found only Forever Together 4 1/2 lengths too good in The Oaks at Epsom. She then posted another solid effort in defeat when a four-length runner-up to Magic Wand in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Wild illusion then gained a deserved big race success when landing the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood by a cosy two lengths from Urban Fox, before gaining revenge on Magic Wand when proving a length too strong for Aidan O’Brien’s charge in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc day.
She only had to be driven out in the latter and there were no excuses for the runner-up, so there is no reason why the form should not be confirmed. Wild Illusion has also bagged a great draw in stall three and another plus is that all types of going come alike to her.
Appleby is also operating at a healthy strike rate of 20 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing, so there is nothing not to like about the chances of Wild Illusion in this. Hence she features among the 2018 Breeders’ Cup day two betting tips as our next best bet.Classic case to be made for Catholic Boy The richest race on the card is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (21:44) and the thriving Catholic Boy looks cracking each-way value in the 1m 2f contest that brings the curtain down on proceedings. This Jonathan Thomas trained three-year-old has a tremendous strike rate, having won six of his nine starts and comes into this on the back of a hat-trick of successes.
In the first two of those at Belmont Park, the son of More Than Ready showed terrific battling qualities to beat Analyze by a neck in a Grade 3 before again proving a head too strong for that same rival in a Grade 1.
Catholic Boy took a big step up and produced the performance of his life in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes over 1m 2f on the dirt at Saratoga when slamming Mendelssohn by four lengths. After tracking the leader, he came clear with the runner-up two from home before only having to be ridden out inside last to win readily.
It was an awesome performance and there is no reason why he should not confirm the form with the re-opposing runner-up – especially as he raced on the unfavoured rail. The Travers was won by Arrogate in 2016 before landing this and, like that colt, Catholic Boy put in a monster effort in it.
He has also been thrilling regular rider Javier Castellano in recent work outs and appeals as the type who may have even more to offer. His proven form on the dirt is also a big plus and he is drawn to get a great early position in stall three.
It will be disappointing if he doesn’t at least hit the frame and, on his Travers romp, he has every chance of winning. So, at the odds on offer at the time of writing, Catholic Boy had to be the each-way punt in our Breeders’ Cup day two betting tips.Your Next Bet
