Breeders Cup Betting Picks: Quality Road Odds

There are a total of 13 horses in Saturday’s Breeders Cup betting field and one that is going under the radar is Quality Road. Just six months ago it was Quality Road who was getting all of the attention but now the horse is almost forgotten in 2009 Breeders Cup picks. He is listed at +1200 for trainer Todd Pletcher and will be ridden by veteran Jockey John Velazquez. The Breeders Cup Classic is one of eight races on the card for Saturday with a post time of 6:45pm EST and can be seen on ESPN starting at 3:00pm EST.

In his last start, Quality Road was second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The question for Quality Road in Breeders Cup picks will be how he takes to the synthetic surface at Santa Anita. The questions for Quality Road have always been about his health. He was a superstar horse heading into the Kentucky Derby before having problems with his feet. “He is a fit horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. Pletcher said that Quality Road should be everyone's 2009 Breeders Cup betting pick because he will easily handle the distance without any difficulty. “I think he handles the 1 1/4 miles, no problem,” Pletcher said. “He is a very, very good horse and we’ll just see how it works out. I don’t think anyone would be shocked if he won this race.” Quality Road was impressive in the Amsterdam, but didn’t run well in the Travers and then was beaten by Summer Bird in the Jockey Gold Cup.

Can Quality Road beat Summer Bird in this race? Quality Road is +1200 in odds while Summer Bird is the third choice at +500. The 2009 Breeders Cup Classic is the final race on Saturday with a post time of 6:45 pm EST on ESPN. There are 13 horses entered in the race with Zenyatta the EV money morning line favorite in 2009 Breeders Cup picks. Rip Van Winkle is the second choice at +225 followed by the previously mentioned Summer Bird at +500, Richard's Kid +700 and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird +1000. Quality Road is +1200 alond with Twice Over followed by Gio Ponti +1400, Einstein +1500 and Colonel John +1600. Girolamo and Regal Ransom are at +2200 while Awesome Gem is the longshot at +3000.

Bower's Breeders Cup Predictions: Any horse that Pletcher enters into a race, you have to take note of. Although Quality Road has been fighting of many physical ailments, I agree with Pletcher that nobody would be surprised if he won. That being said, my Breeders Cup betting picks are to pair Quality Road in a few exacta and trifectas not only with your longshots like Mine That Bird and Twice Over but also have a few tickets pairing Quality Road with the favorites Zenyatta, Rip Van Winkle and Summer Bird.