Free Horse Racing Picks: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2022 Preview, Odds, Trends & Pick
- Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is staged over a mile on the dirt at Keeneland
- Last year’s race was won by Life Is Good for Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr
One of the races that I am most looking forward to at the Breeders’ Cup this year is the Dirt Mile. While it may only offer a purse of $1 million, we have seen some sensational performances in this race over recent years, and that promises to be no different with the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2022.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2022 Schedule
- When: Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 12:10 p.m ET
- Where: Keeneland, Lexington
- Grade: Grade 1
- Distance: 1 Mile
- Qualification: 3-Y-O+
- How To Watch: NBC Sports
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2022 Vegas Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jack Christopher | +250 |
| Cyberknife | +300 |
| Cody’s Wish | +333 |
| Laurel River | +400 |
| Gunite | +700 |
| Senor Buscador | +800 |
| Slow Down Andy | +1600 |
| Pipeline | +1600 |
| Law Professor | +2000 |
| Informative | +2500 |
| Simplification | +2500 |
| Three Technique | +5000 |
ALSO SEE: Horse Racing: Road To The Kentucky Derby 2023 Races, Dates, Leaderboard & Winners
Recent Winners & Records
We have seen some breathtaking displays in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in recent years, including Life Is Good’s dominant success in the race 12 months ago. That was Todd Pletcher’s second win in the race, which tied the record for most training victories alongside Jerry Hollendorfer. Meanwhile, four jockeys are tied on two wins apiece: Irad Ortiz, Javier Castellano, Rafael Bejarano, and Joel Rosario.
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Life Is Good | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr |
| 2020 | Knicks Go | Brad Cox | Joel Rosario |
| 2019 | Spun To Run | Juan Carlos Guerrero | Irad Ortiz Jr |
| 2018 | City of Light | Michael McCarthy | Javier Castellano |
| 2017 | Battle of Midway | Jerry Hollendorfer | Flavien Prat |
| 2016 | Tamarkuz | Kiaran McLaughlin | Mike Smith |
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Trends
The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile will be a popular betting race at the event this year. You can find the latest trends to help assess the leading challengers for the edition in 2022 below.
- Four of the previous eight editions have been won by the favorite, including each of the last two.
- All previous winners over the past ten years have recorded between two and six wins on the dirt.
- None of the previous ten winners have previously won over a distance longer than a mile and a furlong.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2022 Leading Contenders
Jack Christopher
- Odds: +250
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Best Equibase Figure: 112
This year could have played out slightly differently for Jack Christopher, as a victory in the G1 Haskell would have meant a start in the Classic. However, I’m pretty happy he ended up in this race, as the mile suits him much better than the Classic distance.
I believe he is one of the most exciting horses in training in the U.S., and he is one of the stars that I am most looking forward to seeing at Keeneland. He was able to bounce back from defeat in the Haskell with a stunning success in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial over seven furlongs, recording a rating of 112. This race looks like a much more solid chance than the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Cyberknife
- Odds: +300
- Trainer: Brad Cox
- Best Equibase Figure: 104
Cyberknife is another horse that I have liked throughout the season, and the Breeders’ Cup will be his last stop before being sent to stud. The three-year-old was an excellent winner of the G1 Haskell at Monmouth in July, reaching a career-high rating of 104.
Since then, he finished second to Epicenter in the G1 Travers and third, behind Taiba, in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby. Brad Cox last won this race in 2020, but this could be Cyberknife’s first start over a mile. The three-year-old still holds an entry for the Classic, and I believe that would make more sense than a run in the Dirt Mile.
Cody’s Wish
- Odds: +333
- Trainer: William Mott
- Best Equibase Speed Figure: 114
I think Cody’s Wish is slightly more interesting in the Dirt Mile than Cyberknife. The Godolphin runner was in excellent form on his step up into Grade 1 company at Saratoga in late August, as he landed the G1 Forego by a length from Jack’s Warrior.
The four-year-old has already won over a mile this season, with the latest of those victories coming in the Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs in early July, beating Three Technique by a neck. However, this is a big step up in opposition over this distance, as he has only previously won in Grade 3 company over a mile.
One To Watch
Senor Buscador could be one to keep an eye on in the Dirt Mile. The four-year-old was a very impressive winner of the G3 Ack Ack Stakes over a mile at Churchill Downs at the start of October for trainer Todd Fincher.
That run scored a career-best figure of 107, and was an excellent return to action after finishing third in the G2 Pat O’Brien. He is a very lightly-raced contender, and his experience over this distance could yet be a crucial factor when it comes to the places.
Free Horse Racing Picks: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2022 Pick and Prediction
My mind has been made up for this race for a very long time. Jack Christopher is one of the most exciting horses in training, and the fact that he isn’t odds-on at this point makes him very easy to support. The three-year-old excels over this distance, and I’ll be hoping for a brilliant performance to set him up for a tilt in the Classic in 12 months’ time.
Free Horse Racing Picks:
- Win: Jack Christopher (+250)
- 2nd Choice: Senor Buscador (+800)
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