Johnny Love previews Day One of the Breeders Cup

The Breeders Cup begins Friday with four races at Del Mar in California. Here are the selections from Star Tribune handicapper Johnny Love. Look for his Day Two picks, including the Breeders Cup Classic, which has a $6 million purse, on Saturday.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF • 6th Race

Post Time: 4:25 pm • 1 mile (Turf) • 2-year-old, fillies • Purse: $1 million

PP Horse, JockeyOdds

1. Best Performance, Jose Ortiz12-1

2. Happily, Ryan Moore9-2

3. Now You're Talking, Wayne Lordan30-1

5. Ultima D, Tyler Gaffalione12-1

6. Orbolution, John Velazquez20-1

7. Capla Temptress, Joel Rosario6-1

8. Significant Form, Irad Ortiz Jr.8-1

9. Fatale Bere, Kent Desormeaux15-1

11. Rushing Fall, Javier Castellano7-2

12. Dixie Moon, Eurico DaSilva20-1

13. Juliet Capulet, Frankie Dettori12-1

14. Moon Dash, Mike Smith15-1

AE15. Retro, Flavian Prat30-1

Runners coming from off-the-pace have dominated this race since it was initiated in 2008. Two-year-old fillies can be tough to hold back from wanting to take off, so I'm looking at runners, who are sitting behind the wall of speed to get the win. RUSHING FALL is undefeated in both starts, and is talented enough to close from far back, or from the main body of runners. Barnmate SIGNIFICANT FORM, is also undefeated in her two lone starts. Filly has tactical speed to sit right off-the-pace for first attack. CAPLA TEMPTRESS will be the better price of the three choices, and trainer Bill Mott has been pointing to this race since winning her North America debut last September. The Europeans haven't fared well in this race, but HAPPILY is a Grade 1 winner, and who beat the boys last out.

DIRT MILE • 7th Race

Post Time: 5:05 pm • 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up • Purse: $1 million

PP Horse, JockeyOdds

1. Iron Fist, Ricardo Santana Jr.12-1

3. Sharp Azteca, Paco Lopez9-2

4. Gato Del Oro, Jose Ortiz30-1

5. Awesome Slew, John Velazquez12-1

6. Mor Spirit, Mike Smith3-1

7. Cupid, Rafael Bejarano8-1

9. Battle of Midway, Flavien Prat10-1

10. Practical Joke, Joel Rosario6-1

Another race that should expect some snappy fractions with a couple of front runners loaded with early speed. ACCELERATE will be my top choice, pressing the pace to go a little quicker than the pace setters want to. The 4-year-old colt loves the Del Mar track, where he is a career 3-for-4. The group will all be chasing SHARP AZTECA. This colt has five wins at the mile distance and is a triple-digit speed figure professional. Strictly the one to catch to get the win. MOR SPIRIT most likely will be your post time favorite. Ran a career-high 117 speed figure this June in the Met Mile at Belmont Park. Going to try to beat him off the five-month layoff, but will be extremely tough to beat with repeat performance. HOF jockey Gary Stevens, lone ride this weekend is on GIANT EXPECTATIONS, one of my favorite angles. He only has one job to worry about.

JUVENILE TURF • 8th Race

Post Time: 5:50 pm • 1 mile (Turf) 2-year-old colts and geldings • Purse: $1 million

1. Mendelssohn, Ryan Moore8-1

2. Untamed Domain, Jose Ortiz8-1

3. Sands of Mali, Flavien Prat30-1

4. Catholic Boy, Manny Franco12-1

5. Beckford, Joel Rosario8-1

7. James Garfield, Frankiee Dettori6-1

8. Voting Control, Javier Castellano8-1

9. Encumbered, Mario Gutierrez15-1

10. Flameaway, Julien Leparoux20-1

11. Snapper Sinclair, Ricardo Santana Jr.15-1

13. My Boy Jack, Kent Desormeaux8-1

14. Rajasinghe, Steve Donohoe30-1

AE15. Tap Daddy, Florent Geroux20-1

AE16. Pubilius Syrus, Flavien Prat20-1

Most wide-open race of the day, so don't be shy hitting the all button on your exotic tickets. MENDELSSOGN crosses the pond after running second in Grade 1 race to one of the European's best turf runners last out. Lone win was at today's one-mile distance. JAMES GARFIELD is another European, and with a stronger résumé. Been in the money in all six career starts, and big field shouldn't be a problem. Ran third in a 22-horse field in his second start. VOTING CONTROL is my top North American pick, coming out of the Chad Brown barn. Most likely would be 2-for-2 in starts, but got squeezed at the break last out, and still managed to muscle his way for place dollars. FLAMEAWAY has yet to run on the grass, but pedigree screams turf. SNAPPER SINCLAIR is 2-for-2 on the lawn, and now stretches out with fresh legs.

Post Time: 6:35 pm • 1⅛ miles, 3-year-olds and up Fillies & Mares • Purse: $2 million

PP Horse, JockeyOdds

1. Champagne Room, Mario Gutierrez15-1

2. Stellar Wind, Victor Espinoza5-2

3. Mopotism, Frankie Dettori30-1

5. Elate, Jose Ortiz3-1

6. Forever Unbridled, John Velazquez4-1

7. Paradise Woods, Flavien Prat9-2

8. Romantic Vision, Brian Hernandez Jr.15-1

Solid group for the main event today. ELATE keeps improving with each race and is coming off her best career performance, winning by over 8 lengths. Appears to be peaking at the right time, and is training like a monster. Trainer Bill Mott has won this title five times. PARADISE WOODS is all about speed, but will have company on the lead, especially with CHAMPAGNE ROOM, who will gun it out of the gate with the inside draw. Paradise Woods is probable front runner, but will have to work for it to get the job done. STELLAR WIND comes in with three straight victories, but has been on the bench since July. Most likely post-time favorite, but going to take a shot against the 5-year-old mare. Three- year-olds have dominated this race.