Juvenile two year old action - gearing up for the Breeder's Cup in less than a month

It's all about the two year old runners this weekend as we march toward the Breeder's Cup which is less than one month away. Last weekend, the west coast juveniles cemented their spots with victories at Santa Anita, who plays host to the championship days once again. In both races, it was the favorites prevailing with the Bob Baffert runner; American Pharoah going wire to wire in the mile and a sixteenth, FrontRunner Stakes and Angela Renee (trained by Todd Pletcher) in the Chandelier Stakes for the girls as the second choice stalking the pace. Today and tomorrow both at Belmont and Keeneland, these young lightly raced runners will try to punch their ticket to California.

The Fall Keeneland meet opened yesterday with a new main track surface. After trying polytrack the past few years, the Kentucky boutique meet returned to a "real" dirt surface in preparation of hosting next year's Breeder's Cup Championships. The mile and a sixteenth Claiborne Breeder's Futurity (8th) assembles a evenly matched field of 12 runners. Lots of speed is signed on here and in the past Keeneland always tended to favor front end horses. Last time out in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, Bold Conquest (#6) made the lead in mid stretch just to be beaten at the wire going this distance. It was his first time going two turns and he'll be my top pick here today. Selections for the Keeneland (8th)

6-5-10-1.

Belmont Park hosts four two year old races the next two days. Today, are the major preps for the Juvenile Breeder's Cup races with the Frizette Stakes for the girls and Champagne Stakes for the boys both races at a one turn mile. The ladies are first up in the Frizette (6th) with a field of seven nice looking runners. My top pick here, Cavorting (#1) was flattered with Angela Renee's victory last weekend. She looked good winning the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga sprinting and should have no problem stretching out to the mile distance. Picks for the Belmont (6th) 1-4-6-5.

In the colts division, the Champagne Stakes (8th) Churchill Downs recent maiden breaker; Holy Boss (#5) was impressive in his debut winning by 10 lengths. With Competitive Edge on the sidelines until next year, this runner is nicely spotted here and my top selection at a decent price. Selections for the Belmont (8th) 5-3-1-6.

Tomorrow, the more sprinter oriented runners will be on showcase in the Futurity Stakes for the colts and Matron Stakes for the gals going six furlongs. The Futurity (4th) has only five colts entered and Cinco Charlie (#1) looks tough to go past here with the experience of five career starts under his belt including three victories. PARX undefeated shipper; Hebbronville (#5) is my second choice in this short field. The Matron Stakes (10th) is a little more wide open with eight entered. Empressive Humor (#7) was no factor in the Adirondack Stakes with a rough trip. I'm taking a price with her and hoping she'll improve off that effort. Picks for the Matron Stakes (10th) 7-4-3-2.

Also on Sunday at Keeneland on the turf, nine two year old colts are entered on the grass in the Bourbon Stakes (8th) going also a mile and a sixteenth. Conquest Tsunami (#7) is a Woodbine shipper who is undefeated in four lifetime starts and is a major speedster. He's the one to catch and top pick here. Selections for the grassy Bourbon Stakes (Keeneland 8th) 7-8-9-3.