Breeders’ Cup: Timeform’s view on the home team ahead of the 2020 championships at Keeneland

Golden Pal – Juvenile Turf Sprint, 19:30 Friday

Golden Pal met with a surprise defeat on his debut at Gulfstream but that didn't deter Wesley Ward from sending him to Royal Ascot, where he ran a cracker to finish runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes. Golden Pal showed plenty of early speed – as is typical for a Ward runner – but was agonisingly overhauled close home by The Lir Jet, with the pair pulling well clear of the others in a good time.

He has since got off the mark in style at Saratoga in August, winning by three and a half lengths, running to a similar level as at Ascot, and his form sets the standard here. He has the outside draw in stall 14 to overcome but has the pace to negate that disadvantage and looks the one to beat.

Jackie’s Warrior – Juvenile, 20:15 Friday

Jackie's Warrior has looked a star in the making and it would be a surprise were he to lose his unbeaten record in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Jackie's Warrior has won all four starts and really marked himself down as a high-class talent when landing the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes over seven furlongs at Saratoga on his third outing, beating Reinvestment Risk by two lengths but with plenty still in the tank.

He followed up that victory with an even more impressive success in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes over a mile at Belmont, again brushing aside Reinvestment Risk but this time passing the post five and a half lengths to the good, earning the highest Timeform rating in the race (124) since Union Rags scored in 2011. He has an extra half-furlong to deal with here but he relaxes nicely in front so that should not be an issue, and he sets a clear standard on form.

Gamine – Filly & Mare Sprint, 17:02 Saturday

Gamine really served notice of her talent when routing her rivals by nearly 19 lengths in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, contested over a mile at Belmont in June. She earned a lofty Timeform rating of 128 on that occasion and ran to a similar level when dropping back to seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga in August, again making all and never looking in the slightest danger when asked to put her stamp on the race.

Those devastating victories meant that she was an odds-on favourite for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in September, but she failed to meet expectations, finishing only third, seemingly stretched by the nine-furlong trip for all she didn't travel with her usual verve. Gamine has been one of the stars of the season in the States, and a short break allied with a drop in trip can help her bounce back to her best.

Rushing Fall – Filly & Mare Turf, 18:57 Saturday

Rushing Fall, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in 2017, has an exceptional strike rate, meeting with defeat on only three of her 14 starts. She has also achieved a very smart level of form which just about gives her the edge in the weight-adjusted ratings for the Filly And Mare Turf.

Rushing Fall's peak rating, which puts her 1 lb ahead of leading European hope Terebellum, was achieved on her latest start in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes over nine furlongs at Saratoga, where she extended her unbeaten record in 2020. This is a slightly stiffest test of stamina, half a furlong further than she has gone before, but she looks sure to give a good account.

And one to avoid...

Princess Noor – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, 20:50 Friday

The unbeaten Princess Noor looks set to go off a short-price favourite for the Juvenile Fillies, and she certainly has an eye-catching profile, representing Bob Baffert and arriving on the back of three convincing wins. She hasn't had to run very fast, however, so odds of 6/4 look short against similarly promising rivals. Dayoutoftheoffice maintained her unbeaten record with a two-length victory over Vequist in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont last time and that looks like the best piece of form on offer, while Girl Daddy has won both outings in good style and is open to plenty of improvement, so should be considered a big player.

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