Heller: Expect 'Chalky' Day 1 at Breeders' Cup

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

Dirt Mile favorite Liam's Map, with jockey Javier Castellano, is shown winning the 62nd running of the Grade I Woodward at Saratoga Race Course on Sept. 5.

While today’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff lacks Beholder, the superstar who will be named Champion Older Filly, it’s a great race to handicap and bet. The real fireworks begin Saturday.

BEST BET: LIAM’S MAP, Dirt Mile

Juvenile Turf

CYMRIC: The 13 post is an obvious concern, but he appears to be the best of the Europeans, having finished second by a neck as the 9-5 favorite in a field of 11 in a Group 1 Stakes in his last start.

HIT IT A BOMB: This European colt adding Lasix has an even worse post, the 14. He is two-for-two overall, including a romp at 2-5 in a stakes on synthetic, but his victory on grass was by a neck in a maiden race.

SHOGUN: European adding Lasix and blinkers was only beaten a length and a half by top one when sixth at 10-1 in that Group 1 stakes.

AIROFORCE: America’s best hope in this race is two-for-two, including a breathtaking victory from the 13 post in a Grade III stakes at Keeneland, giving him a home-court edge.

Saver: Birchwood.

Dirt Mile

LIAM’S MAP: He’s five-for-seven lifetime, including a three-for-three record at one mile. Trainer Todd Pletcher could have put him in the Classic, but found a much softer spot here.

LEA: Like Liam’s Map, he’s three-for-three at this distance. He’s lost five straight, but returns to dirt off an excellent second by a half-length on grass in the Grade I Woodbine Mile.

VALID: He’s won two straight and been in the money in eight of his last nine starts. He is four-for-10 at one mile with one second and three thirds.

TAPITURE: He finished second in this stakes last year to a top-class horse, Goldencents. He’s stepping up in company today off a half-length victory at one mile in the Grade III Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Saver: Wicked Strong.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

HARMONIZE: She made a truly spectacular run to win a Grade III stakes at Keeneland after breaking 12th as the even-money favorite. May have a slight edge in a wide-open race.

ILLUMINATE: After winning her first three starts, including a Group 2 stakes, she was second by a half-length in a Grade I. She’s never raced farther than six furlongs, and this stakes is at one mile.

ALICE SPRINGS: Was defeated by Illuminate in that Grade I stakes, then crushed softer at 2-5. Figures right there.

LAST WALTZ: She’s stuck in the 14 post but adds Javier Castellano. She finished third by a half-length in her last start in a Group 3 stakes with blinkers added at 11-1.

Saver: Tin Type Gal.

Distaff

WEDDING TOAST: Handy victories in a Grade II and two Grade I stakes in her last three starts paint her as the one to beat. She is three-for-three at a mile-and-an-eighth.

SHEER DRAMA: Drawing the 14 post doesn’t help her chances, but she’s won two straight, both Grade I stakes, and has four wins and five seconds in her last nine races.

STELLAR WIND: She won a Grade II and a Grade III stakes in her last two starts in California. That gave her five wins from her last six starts. The lone miss was a troubled fourth in a Grade I stakes.

I’M A CHATTERBOX: Larry Jones’ talented three-year-old filly has five victories, a second and a third in her last seven starts. She faces older fillies and mares for the first time today.

Saver: Curalina.