Breeders’ Cup 2020: Highlights & Scores!

By Mike Shutty
Updated: November 10, 2020

Jessica Morgan/Eclipse Sportswire

The 37^th running of the Breeders’ Cup is now in the history books. It was held during the COVID pandemic which means that onsite attendance was limited to the connections of the horses.

The track was lightning fast and the turf ranged from good to firm. Both catered to speed types (especially the turf course) which was not the case when the Breeders’ Cup was contested here in 2015 for the first time and not a typical profile for Breeders’ Cup races, historically.

On the turf course it was a good mix of both US and European-based winners. Trainer Brad Cox enjoyed a strong showing over the two-day event and the Ortiz brothers won more than their fair share of races.

Here are some of the highlights of the two-day event:

CLASSIC

It was the Bob Baffert Exacta with Authentic redeeming that loss to Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness Stakes, going wire to wire with stablemate, Improbable, rumbling home for the bottom of the Exacta. This was Baffert’s 4^th Classic win and he has accomplished all 4 victories with 3 year-olds. This was a very straightforward outcome with logicals completing the Exacta.

TURF

As the Super Screener accurately predicted, Europeans would dominate once again this year in the Turf and our Top Win Pick, Tarawana, got the job done defeating the leading male turf runner, Magical. Both of these horses were Super Screener “A” picks.

Do note that the Germany-based filly, Donjah, and the Super Screener Top Long Shot pick in the race, took a bad step mid-race and slammed into the rail, nearly losing her rider, and was out of the race thereafter. That overhead blimp shot really told the story.

DISTAFF

Monomoy Girl retires a champion, easily taking the Distaff while pressing throughout. It capped off a big couple of days for trainer Brad Cox. Watch for him to continue to be a force to reckon with in future Breeders’ Cup renewals.

MILE

No one had it and how could you? Order of Australia gets in off the Also Eligibles list and — without having ever even placed in a Group 1, 2 or 3 race — steals this one at monster odds of 73-1. One of, if not the highest payoff in Breeder’s Cup history. Even the jockey seemed shocked when being interviewed after race. The Trifecta spots were swept by Aiden O’Brien including the Super Screener Top Long Shot pick, Lope Y Fernandez who finished 3^rd at odds of 18-1.

SPRINT

The fourth time was the charm as Whitmore got to the Winner’s Circle at big odds of 19-1. He won it closing in what turned out to be a pace collapse race, as all three Trifecta participants were closers. Give extra credit to Empire of Gold, who was part of that brutal pace, but hung on gamely for 4^th getting the bob over fifth place finisher and Super Screener Top Long Shot pick, Manny Wah (64-1).

FILLY & MARE TURF

A Super Screener Top Value pick and “A” horse, Auydara, earning a perfect Super Screener score of 100 nailed the win at juicy odds of 17-1.

She got the perfect stalking trip and defeated a top field of North American-based fillies and mares. The $2 Exacta, with Rushing Falls finishing 2^nd produced a $200 payoff.

DIRT MILE

Not even close. Pirate’s Punch was a massive disappointment and Art Collector didn’t show up. Knicks Go was far from vulnerable as he ran back to that monster prep race, winning wire to wire, and laying out huge fractions in the process. No excuses. Would not have had Jesus’ Team in 2^nd either.

TURF SPRINT

It took over a decade but a European shipper finally won this race in Glass Slippers, the top sprinter that finished close to Europe’s best sprinters in prior races. We loved her “under” and even used her on top in some Super Screener wagers. She took full advantage of the lightening fast fractions and won closing from far back.

FILLY & MARE SPRINT

There was no doubt about it, the Super Screener Top Win pick, Gamine, just toyed with this field despite pressing white hot fractions set by Serengeti Empress but the drew away with ease.

Sconsin, the Super Screener Top Long Shot pic,k going off at 28-1 finished 4^th keying the payoff on a Super Screener suggested Superfecta ticket.

JUVENILE

The Super Screener finished a strong Friday showing with tabbing the winner Essential Quality as the Top Win pick. This one looks like the real deal and will only get better with more ground. He is clearly the head of the class right now but there are a lot of other 2 year-olds that haven’t even made their first start that will be coming from the top barns in the weeks to come.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

This was the first indication that the Keeneland turf course could be favoring those that are near the front as Aunt Pearl had no problem putting this one away as the favorite and then it was the Europeans completing the rest of the Exacta.

JUVENILE FILLIES

This was one of the highlights on the day as the Super Screener nailed the Exacta cold as Vequist, the Top Win and Top Value pick sealed the deal at odds of 6-1. The Screener’s second choice, Dayattheoffice finished a non-threatening 2^nd but at generous odds of 4-1.

JUVENILE TURF

This race was the highlight of the weekend as the Super Screener’s top two choices in the race completed the Exacta including Top Long Shot pick, Fire At Will, who won by 3 open lengths at incredible odds of 30-1.

Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about the top two finishers prior to the race:

The suggested Super Screener wager of $6 Exacta returned a bountiful $1,651.

JUVENILE TURF SPRINT

The Super Screener kicked off with picking the winner of the Juvenile Turf Sprint in Golden Pal out of the Wesley Ward barn. What an impressive wire-to-wire dominating victory. Our fourth pick, Cowan, moved up to be the third pick after the scratch of Amanzi Yimpilo. Here’s what the Super Screener saw in this pair: