The racing week comes to a close on Sunday afternoon with plenty of action for horseplayers after a Saturday full of international allure. Both Keeneland and Santa Anita have cards worth attacking with today’s Breeders’ Cup Bankroll Builder feature race being the Anoakia out west. I am sure most of you have registered already for this no-brainer month long promotion, but if not make sure to do so on the promotional landing page. From there, it is as simple as betting $25 on the feature race and getting $5 in credits in time for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on October 31. Here are a couple horses I like at both venues today, including my top choice in today’s Breeders’ Cup Bankroll Builder.

Keeneland Race 4:
I am not in love with the chances of those 2YOs given significant chances on the morning line in this MSW at two turns over the Keeneland main (race has been moved off the grass), so I will take a big swing with second-time starter #5 Exosome. Trainer Kelsey Danner debuted this Candy Ride colt at Ellis Park over the tricky one-mile configuration at the Pea Patch. Not only is that a difficult task first out, but he encountered a solid group led by dominant winner Blackout Time. Obviously, it would have been nice to see more running from Exosome, but he also was against the flow in a race I am sure he needed. Now, he stretches out to a true two-turn race and moves further inside. I expect that to benefit him and make the $200,000 Keeneland September 2024 purchase attractive at his likely massive price.

Play: #5 Exosome (20-1 ML)


Keeneland Race 7:
I thought Only in America had a chance to be one of Todd Pletcher’s Derby prospects this winter after a runner-up effort at Gulfstream Park going long in his first start to Burnham Square, but it did not pan out. The Constitution colt failed to break through in his two starts as a 3YO, so his Hall of Fame conditioner gave him close to five months off before bringing him back in a race out of the Wilson chute at Saratoga on September 1. He ran well in his return pulling away late to win at a juicy 9-1-offering. The Robert and Lawana Low runner appears to have matured quite a bit with his time away from racing. I like his chances to make it two wins in a row off the break with Johnny V taking the call this afternoon.

Play: #4 Only in America (7-2 ML)


Santa Anita Race 2: Anoakia

The aforementioned featured event this afternoon in our ongoing Breeders’ Cup Bankroll Builder promotion appears to be a two-filly race between 4-5-ML favorite #4 Himika and 6-5-second choice #1 Revera. Himika has the stronger resume having won the Sorrento (G3) in August, but has been outrun in two starts since then against better. I am worried we have already seen the best of this Curlin filly, so I will put my $25 on Revera. The Lexitonian filly ran second on debut to Oak Leaf (G2) winner Explora and then bounced back less than a month later with a dominant win as the even-money public choice in a ten-horse field. She has to overcome potential traffic issues from the rail, but otherwise should be sitting on a big one in her first start versus winners.

Play: #1 Revera (6-5 ML)


Santa Anita Race 9:

The week at the Great Race Place concludes with this Cal-bred MSW event for 2YOs at one-mile over the lawn where I landed on second-time starter #3 Unrivaled Time. The Not This Time colt lacked early speed in his debut effort at Del Mar in late August for trainer Leonard Powell. He failed to hit the board that day, but put in a strong late run that included a big gallop out under jockey Diego Herrera. There is little doubt he will be better served showing more speed in the Sunday finale than he did first out, but if he does he should handle this field.

Play: #3 Unrivaled Time (9-2 ML)

Best of luck on Sunday Funday!