2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Preview Part 1

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is going to be a very attractive race from a betting perspective and it will be very interesting to see how the Europeans-getting-first-time-Lasix angle affects the overall portrait of the race here. Previously, the addition of the blood-thinning therapeutic (which is unique to American racing) had usually proven to be a potent addition to the Europeans pre-race regiment.

This year we have a few really interesting American-based turf juveniles and not the least of them is Balance The Books, a colt owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence. He's by Lemon Drop Kid out of a Seeking The Gold mare and is conditioned by red hot trainer Chad Brown. He's had Julien Leparoux for both of his last two rides and has looked really good in both efforts – coming late and getting his head down at just the right time.

This is not something you usually see American turf horses doing so well at such a young age and he endured a tough trip in that victory he had in the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. He also looks like he will be able to handle the slight cut-back in distance but it's important that he not get hung back too much too early.

He'll be going off at a relatively competitive price and you can expect him to retain Leparoux for the trip here.

Artigiano will be shipping over from Newmarket for this one and he's just missed in both of his last efforts for the Godolphin yard. Frankie Dettori has been aboard him for every trip and they've only taken a lower level stakes win at Leicester back in May. He may not be as threatening as he would have been switching on to Lasix first time (see: Vale of York) and he will require a really good steer from the Italian as he breaks from the 1 stall.

Dundonnell is Juddmonte's only entry in the entire two day event is set to race in this one and he comes in off a second place finish at Doncaster in the One Call Insurance Champagn Stakes. He won by nearly a length at York in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes and took a Lingfield seller by 12 lengths. He'll be getting attention based on his connections but he'll need to show some real solid finishing in this one if he wants to make it happen.