Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Oct 29, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Ted Noffey trains for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Ted Noffey trains for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

A superb field of seven two-year-olds will vie in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on Friday. The race will serve as a key qualifier on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby, with the top five finishers receiving qualifying points on a 30-15-9-6-3 basis.

Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey is 3-for-3 in his lifetime for trainer Todd Pletcher. The horse began his career at Saratoga on Aug. 2 and delivered a 1 1/2-length victory in a 6 1/2-furlong dash. In his second run, the gray colt dominated his foes in the Hopeful S. (G1) by a commanding 8 1/2 lengths, and his last race saw him comfortably take the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Race Course.

Ted Noffey has won his three races in similar fashion by staying close to the early lead up to the turn for home, and then kicking clear with good acceleration in the stretch. Bred in Kentucky, the youngster shows a pair of good morning workouts to prepare for his biggest test to date, and I feel that we will all see the best version of the colt on Friday. His regular jockey, John Velazquez, will once again ride the fantastic two-year-old.

Blackout Time ran a clear second behind the favorite at Keeneland in his third career race and might be the best upset chance in the field. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the son of top sire Not This Time, was a very good second at Churchill Downs in his first race and then crushed his competition second time out at Ellis Park. Purchased for $210,000 in 2024 as a yearling, Blackout Time is more of a late runner who will relax early and kick for home in the stretch, and if he improves even a little, then the dark bay colt will be a major threat in the end while in search of his first stakes win.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has a pair of contenders in the two-turn race led by Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Brant. The colt made headlines when bringing a cool $3 million at auction in the spring, and the gray horse has looked very good to this stage of his development. The son of the fantastic Gun Runner is perfect on the surface from two lifetime races here and has the speed to be sent to the front from the start. He can surely win with another step forward and will have fine jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle once again.

TwinSpires' Expert Pick for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Friday, Oct. 31

An exacta with #8 Ted Noffey on top of #2 Blackout Time and #7 Brant in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is the Best Bet of the Week.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Wager

  • $10 exacta 8 with 2,7

Bonus Wager: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

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