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Future Stars Friday - Star Performance!

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2220: Probably one for tomorrow, but will be interesting to see if anyone prices up Game Winner for the Triple Crown in 2019.

2212: Another rough race but it's worked out sweetly, with Complexity playing the role of rabbit and Game Winner ultimately powering his way through the field to lay down his challenge up the home straight.

He didn't break well and he was a little further back than ideal but once Complexity gave way on the turn and outsider Knicks Go was looking the only possible threat, it wasn't in much doubt.

It's a good night for punters on the whole with the two big guns delivering and Line Of Duty also scoring for favourite-backers.

Gary and Mary West, owners of Game Winner, have West Coast for Baffert in the Breeders' Cup Classic tomorrow and hopefully he can do the business in the pink and black silks as well.

RESULT – BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE

1st GAME WINNER (5/4 favourite)

2nd Knicks Go

3rd Mr. Money

2158: Moving on and we essentially know how this Breeders' Cup Juvenile is going to shape up.

Complexity is the pace to the race and he's got so much tactical speed.

Game Winner is no slouch but he definitely takes a bit of stoking up in his races (wore blinkers first time out but left off for last two wins) and he's more of a grinder.

Complexity is stretching out from a one-turn mile and I suspect this is as far as he wants, whereas the favourite - trained by Triple Crown king Bob Baffert - is going to want even further at three.

I'm with the jolly old favourite again, but I'm backing Game Winner to beat Complexity's stablemate Standard Deviation, who will be staying on when others are retreating.

2145: As touched upon earlier, Appleby's Breeders' Cup record is pretty staggering and now stands at 3-5 lifetime.

Outstrip 2013, Wuheida 2017 and now Line Of Duty 2018. And Wild Illusion is yet to come in the Filly & Mare Turf tomorrow night.

The trainer said: "I knew when he got him rolling down the straight there that he always hits the line strong, I knew he'd find plenty and that's what he did. It's a fantastic result for the team, to have another winner here is fantastic."

2140: It was grim for Anthony Van Dyck as Ryan Moore booted him out and tried to get a prominent pitch, only to be denied access.

Buick picked up a decent position on the eventual winner but it was all happening a bit quick for him until he switched out wide to fly down the centre of the track. He wandered again late but he was always picking up the front-running Somelineithotbrown.

2135: "I've never been so intense on a racecourse," William Buick tells Nick Luck as the Stewards' announce that Line Of Duty has kept the race.

What a dramatic race but Buick is dead right in that the best horse on the night went past the post first and it sounds like the local stewards have taken into account the fact we're dealing with juveniles on a loose turf track.

Either way, Irad Ortiz wasn't pleased with the apparent interference he encountered at the top of the stretch.

Line Of Duty and eventual runner-up Uncle Benny came together again just before the line but Line Of Duty was going by him there and it made no different.

RESULT – BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF

*** STEWARDS: NO CHANGE TO RESULT ***

1st LINE OF DUTY (3/1)

2nd Uncle Benny

3rd Somelikeithotbrown

2118: Current isn't as wide as Anthony Van Dyck, but he looks wide enough in stall 12.

He's also rocking a real nice mane...

2114: Forty Under is the pick of the American hopes here and, guess what, he likes to race prominently... Let's hope we don't allow him his own way in front.

Back to the Brits and Arthur Kitt is a quite incredible story. He was close to death at birth, his dam passing away when he was born.

That dam was Ceiling Kitty, who signed off for her career by running at the 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. He, too brings Too Darn Hot to the table and the Royal Ascot winner could easily outrun his current odds of 25/1.

You can ride with Arthur Kitt here.

2108: This is a remarkably good idea, but can't help but feel it falls down a little on execution...

2106: If Europe don't take this, we're in serious trouble let's be honest as it's a proper Brown-Baffert smash up in the Juvenile.

Are we really going to be left relying on Toast Of New York in the Marathon?

Hopefully not if William Buick can pick up a good early position on Godolphin's Line Of Duty.

2102: Anthony Van Dyck is the star turn in the next up - the Juvenile Turf. His Dewhurst form represents some of the best around in the Britain, winner Too Darn Hot already a short price for the 2000 Guineas.

If he brings that level then he should be hard to beat but the hurdles in his way are quite obvious. Firstly, it's not quick ground, and we don't really know how he's going to handle conditions. On top of that, he's drawn 14 of 14. It could be that works in his favour if he can stay out of trouble and come late and wide, but how much ground is he going to have to make up on the leaders?

Line Of Duty is one I'm really keen on her for reasons given below. There don't appear to be any negatives and while he's been quite well found now, I wouldn't put anyone off him around 100/30.

He's actually 11/4 joint-favourite now with Sky Bet, who are paying FOUR places (1/5 odds).

2058: Some reaction from East's fine second behind Newspaperofrecord earlier on.

Adam Ryan, assistant to his father Kevin, said of the filly: "She has done us proud, she is a very good filly.

"When you bring them here you never know what they are capable of, but she seemed to handle the conditions well enough and is a filly to look forward to.

"We'll get her home now and I think the logical thing would be to look at the 1000 Guineas."

Sky Bet make her 20/1 for the Classic at Newmarket.

2050: It's a first Breeders' Cup success for trainer John Servis, who has enjoyed plenty of Churchill Downs glory in the past including with Smarty Jones who backed up his Kentucky Derby victory with a record 11 1/2-length win in the 2004 Preakness.

2045: Another amazing performance and another front-running winner, courtesy of Jaywalk.

Joel Rosario sent her straight to the lead but the pair looked there for the taking turning in, having set really solid fractions all the way. Restless Rider looked a massive threat but once she'd done her running to get close to Jaywalk, the leader just kicked again.

'Focus on the hold-up horses...' Pah!

RESULT – BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES’

1st JAYWALK

2nd Restless Rider

3rd Vibrance

2025: If you want another front-runner, look no further than Jaywalk. She won a Grade One at Belmont recently by almost six lengths and the grey can clearly motor. She's drawn seven which doesn't bad if she can break well and she's inside Bellafina who could get a troubled trip from box 10.

2022: No European in the Juvenile Fillies' but Bellafina represents Simon Callaghan so we're behind her.

I'm getting cold feet slightly with her and there's no surprise all the money is for local hope Restless Rider, who has winning course form back in June.

2015: The track may be favouring hold-up horses, but thankfully that hasn't stopped the best horses winning and Newspaperofrecord and Bulletin have both been right on the speed from the off.

2014: It's a massive effort from East in second and a real feather in the cap of trainer Kevin Ryan. Spencer held her up as expected and she must have been giving the winner 20-odd lengths at halfway.

She's stayed on powerfully down the straight and just looks unfortunate to have bumped into a monster, who was eased down close home to win by a comfortable margin.

2007: "What a horse, she's a freaky horse," says Brown. "She moved well in front and then she kicked for home like a closer.

"I've had some great horses but this one ranks right up there at the top, certainly in the two-year-old filly division."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

2005: I started typing 'shades of Lady Eli...' but that just wouldn't do that performance justice.

Newspaperofrecord has absolutely annihilated the field with an amazing front-running display under Irad Ortiz.

She had her ground, she had a soft lead, and she didn't go that quick (48sec and change at the half) - but take nothing away from the new star filly on the US turf scene.

Newspaperofrecord is destined for the top!

RESULT – BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES' TURF

1st NEWSPAPEROFRECORD (5/6 favourite)

2nd East

3rd Stellar Agent

1954: East is drawn widest of all in 14 but anyone can pull off an audacious last-to-first manoeuvre then it's Jamie Spencer.

1942: Holy smokes, first show on the local boards for this favourite is 2/5.

The thing with her is that she's a Lope De Vega and the ground being on the loose side is likely to play to her strengths. You'd normally expect to see Chad with two or three runners here, but Newspaperofrecord is his sole contender.

Despite my reservations a little earlier on and the suggestion that La Pelosa is a live player in today's Talking Points, I'm finding it hard to get away from her.

She's now odds-on with the UK firms too, with fellow US filly Concrete Rose second in the market as the British and Irish continue to drift.

The Mackem Bullet 20/1.

1940: This Newspaperofrecord is being backed to the exception of just about everything else in the upcoming Juvenile Fillies' Turf.

Chad Brown has made a habit of winning this race and his domination in fillies' turf races across the board is quite exceptional. If there's an obvious double on the night then it's Chad's big juvenile filly with Bob Baffert's big Juvenile on the dirt - Game Winner.

Both are short, but both tower above their peers on form in the US.

As for the European challenge in this particular event, East might just be the pick of them given the conditions. She's a big, rangy daughter of Frankel and was dead in impressive in France last time.

Brown's most famous winner of this race is Lady Eli and here's a reminder of how she went about her business in 2014.

1934: The China Horse Club have a meaty share in Bulletin and it's obviously been a year to remember for them, whose Justify won the Triple Crown.

1928: Bad start to proceedings for the Euros as So Perfect does best in third from off the pace.

Up front it's Bulletin who takes the $1million prize and what an incredible training performance from Todd Pletcher. You senses they knew they had a good 'un, running him in a stakes race first time out then coming straight here, and he's lived up to expectations with a dominant display.

Soldier's Call got himself handy enough after fluffing the start but it took plenty out of him and that inside slot down by the fence didn't look the place to be at all in the home straight.

Queen Of Bermuda justified the market support to some extent with a fast-finishing fourth.

Conditions do not look great if truth be told.

RESULT – BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT

1st BULLETIN

2nd Chelsea Cloisters

3rd So Perfect

1914: Elsewhere on the home team, Morning Line favourite Strike Silver won a 'win and you're in' race from the reopposing Chelsea Cloisters at Keeneland but it looks like stall one might not be ideal. Time will tell.

Chelsea Cloisters is one of four for Wes Ward but Moonlight Romance might be the 'sleeper' from his yard. She's proven on ground with give and looks a bit over-priced.

1908: They're in the paddock. Bulletin is the fascinating home hope. It's a big ask and pretty amazing he's even here after just one outing but he was thrown into the deep end first time out and came up smelling of roses with a seven length score.

Todd Pletcher knows a thing or two about training two-year-olds and this horse has to be respected. Soldier's Call's Group One form against older horses does give him a massive class edge for me, though.

1858: Having backed Sound And Silence in the race last year, this is painful viewing...

It wasn't on the main BC schedule last year but I think it's a sensible introduction and will surely attract more and more of the British and Irish sprinters. It looks a good move, politically at least, by the Breeders' Cup to try and lure more across the Pond.

1850: Massive night for Archie Watson who's had an amazing season. His two-year-olds have been doing the business all season and Soldier's Call is a proper flag-bearer.

It would cap the year superbly for the young trainer and no doubt give his credibility across the world a massive boost.

I've been a huge fan of this horse and I hope he can cope with the conditions.

1830: In the absence of Fairyland (oh Fairyland), how about the horse who has followed her home twice this season - in the Sky Bet Lowther and the Cheveley Park Stakes.

Step forward The Mackem Bullet, who has her final run for Brian Ellison tonight in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf.

Our bearded scribe David Ord went up to meet the filly before she jetted out.

She's quite a big price but the move up to a mile is the obvious concern given she's totally unproven at the distance. I wonder if the Juvenile Turf Sprint was even considered, as five and a half on easy ground would strike me as being about right for her. But I'm no trainer.

1820: Forgive me, I missed Line Of Duty of my makeshift list of market movers.

He's strong in the betting hot on the heels in the market for the Juvenile Turf and I've said it a million times this week but Charlie Appleby does not bring also-rans to this meeting.

He won this very race with Outstrip in his first season in charge in 2013 and only returned last year, when he won the Filly & Mare with Wuheida. Masar, the Derby winner no less, was unlucky in running in the Juvenile Turf at Del Mar 12 months ago.

Line Of Duty looks a likely type whichever angle you size him up. Oli Bell has been chatting with William Buick, just a shame he forgot to mention this particular hoss...

1814: Race three goes to a prominent racer and a 28/1 chance at that.

The course may officially be Fast but there's clearly some concern over the wet surface on both courses. There is a fresh-looking strip of grass towards the inside of the turf course but I'd wager that could be the softest of the lot and I'm going to repeat the thought that a late, wide bid could be the most productive.

We get to see three races on the turf tonight, one over five and a half furlongs and two at a mile. A watching brief would be the most sensible advice in truth, but we're not obliged to be sensible on a Friday night, are we?

1800: I've had a scan through the Oddschecker grids and can report that everything looks to have shortened up in the Juvenile but that's due to Code Of Honor being scratched.

More believable movers include Newspaperofrecord who, despite my fears over the wildly impressive prep maybe taking too much out of her, is being crushed for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf, but my antepost pick East is now into 9/1 which is encouraging.

William Haggas' Queen Of Bermuda is shorter than I'd expected around 10/1 for the Juvenile Turf Sprint and the booking of Flavien Prat for her looks a decent move.

Bellafina is now quite weak and back out to 3/1. Her trainer, the British born Simon Callaghan (son of legendary Newmarket trainer Neville), is quickly becoming a top dog on the west coast, but his favourite in this race was well beaten last year and it looks like punters aren't putting much faith in him shipping in here. The filly didn't work brilliantly yesterday, according a couple of the DRF journos.

1745: Did Bedrock really beat Samcro today? Forgive me, I'm just catching up. Presumably he was about 80% fit, but what now for the second coming, who was confirmed to be aiming towards the Unibet Champion Hurdle earlier this week. I can only imagine the NH world is now split again, with half of the belief he should just go for the RSA Chase and be done with hurdling. Interesting to see how it pans out.

If Bedrock can beat Samcro then perhaps there's hope for Roaring Lion in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He looked back to his 'playboy' self when first stepping out at Churchill after clearing quarantine but recent days have shown him to have settled well and seemingly handling the dirt well.

It's the kick-back that worries connections though, and that was on Oisin Murphy's mind when Oli Bell caught up with him yesterday.

1740: If you've not clicked on my antepost tips in the links above, I'll fill you in briefly. The highlights: Bellafina at 3/1 for the Juvenile Fillies' and East at 14/1 in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf tonight, and West Coast at 8/1 for tomorrow's Classic. Fairyland and Cloth Of Stars didn't make it sadly, though I'm still convinced the former would have been absolutely perfect for this first race. It's not that I'm suggesting Aidan O'Brien has got his running plans wrong - well, yes that's exactly what I'm suggesting.

Cue Sergei Prokofiev beating So Perfect in a one-two for the maestro...

Here's a reminder of Soldier's Call's fine effort in the Abbaye at Longchamp. And don't giggle at the camera angle, that is the official angle. Just incredible. Looks like a Bank Holiday at Cartmel.

1725: Here's a man who likes to visualise a race before it's even run - pace projection and tactics are right up there when it comes to Ben Linfoot working out a Flat race, and it looks significant that he's tipping up I Can Fly under J P Spencer in the Mile tomorrow.

You can mop up all his big-priced Saturday selections by clicking on the image below, with Sky Bet boosting the prices until 1800 GMT.

I believe I Can Fly... You're welcome.

1715: 'What does that even mean?!' I hear you cry.

In short, there are a few shorties tonight, and tomorrow for that matter, who may not be favoured by how things are shaping up on the track.

Soldier's Call is a prime example in the opening Breeders' Cup race of the night, the Listed Juvenile Turf Sprint due off in a couple of hours at 7.21.

In that very same race, Sergei Prokofiev is really strong in the betting and that adds up given he made a sweeping late move from the back when looking a class apart when last seen in the Corwallis Stakes.

Newspaperofrecord, a hot-pot for Chad Brown in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf, made all in the Miss Grillo in her impressive prep so could be another vulnerable one near the top of a betting market.

Brown has Complexity in the Juvenile and he's another who looks all speed, with his stablemate Standard Deviation one potentially to take against him given his hold-up tactics. In the same race, Game Winner could just be way too strong no matter the conditions or the make-up of the race.

Our contact Steve Andersen has suggested that Bob Baffert "expects him to win well..." which is surely enough for most punters. He is a short price, though.

Here's Game Winner smashing up his rivals on the west coast in the American Pharoah Stakes at sunny Santa Anita.

1710: If I had a GENUINE INSIGHT klaxon, I'd be setting it off now.

Right, I'll level with you, I'm not in Louisville, Kentucky, USA; rather Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. But I've kept my ear close to the ground when it comes to US racing for the past couple of years (twice-weekly Podcasts, a trip to last year's Breeders' Cup in Del Mar and plenty of late 'bet and watch' action to be precise) and I've learnt to listen to the right people.

Said people have been telling me for weeks that fall (autumn, sorry) meets at Churchill are all about hold-up horses. You don't want to be on the front end and if it's rained, which it obviously has, you don't want to be drawn low, or down towards the inside rail in the stretch.

Well, the first race at Churchill has delivered the goods in that respect, 7/2 winner Dutch Parrot being anchored out the back before making a sweeping move right around the rest of the field on the turn for home.

1705: The Churchill Downs card has just started - sorry, wasn't in position for the start of the undercard, but I can confirm that the meeting has begun with the main dirt track officially riding Fast.

Remarkable given the rain then had Wednesday night into Thursday morning, while the turf course is reportedly Good.

Our resident fear-monger Richard Mann was as it again in the Podcast earlier in the week, suggesting we could be looking at 'Haydock heavy'. Alas, those fears have been allayed.

Anyway, the Podcast remains well worth a listen and you can do so by clicking on the image below.

Rich, David Ord and myself are joined by genuine American judge Steve Andersen from Daily Racing Form and he's got a big priced fancy for tomorrow's Mile. Check it out.

1700: First blow to the home team.

There's nothing like a bit of controversy to fire up a Europe vs America clash in the sporting world and we've had the bombshell today that Polydream has been scratched from Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile by the local vets, much to the dismay of top-class French trainer Freddy Head, who has labelled the decision "a disgrace".

Get more on that story here but for now the focus is on Future Stars Friday - a mouth-watering amuse-bouche ahead of the Grade One feast tomorrow.

The Euro challenge across the weekend is bigger and arguably better than ever this year so it will be fascinating to see how they shape up in Louisville.

I've not given it much thought what to call a Europe-America sporting smash-up but for the sake of argument I'm going with 'Rider Cup'...

Any better ideas, then get in touch on Twitter at @Matt_Brocklebank or email me at matthew.brocklebank@sportinglife.com and we'll thrash out some ideas together.

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