Betting Picks

A six furlong drag race on the dirt, the Breeders' Cup Sprint always produces a close finish and the 2017 version on Saturday at Del Mar is likely to be no exception. The race has drawn a well-matched field of 10 colts and geldings, and they'll be running for a purse of $1.5 million.

Despite the presence of a heavy favorite in the field for the 2017 Filly & Mare Sprint, after her the field is wide open in a very tough handicapping race. Open to female runners age three and older, they'll be racing seven furlongs on the dirt for $1 million.

The most unique of the Breeders' Cup races, the Turf Sprint has been run at different distances over its nine-year history depending on the track. For 2017 at Del Mar, the Turf Sprint will be run over a very short 5 furlongs. Limited to 12 horses, it carries a purse of $1 million.

Typically one of the smallest fields in the Breeders' Cup, the Distaff also tends to produce more favorites winning than other BC races. The Distaff is for fillies and mares age three and older, racing 1 1/8 miles on the Del Mar dirt course for a purse of $2 million.

The second race on Day 1 of the Breeders' Cup, the Dirt Mile is for horses aged three and older, and offers a purse of $1 million. Only two post time favorites have won the Dirt Mile in the past 10 years, and in that span the race has produced four winners in double-digit odds.

Week 10 of the 2017-18 English Premier League season is upon us and it is fair to say there some bets available that you would consider to be almost dead certains plus the eagerly anticipated clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

From a handicapping perspective, there are college football weekends to get excited about and there are ones that you absolutely can't wait to bet. For me, week 9 fits the mold of the latter so much so that time seems to be standing still waiting for Saturday to approach.

It's impossible to feel good coming off a 1-2 Week 7, but I will be looking to rebound strong in Week 8 with a trio of games that should get me back to winning form.

There's just one week to go before the gates fly open and the horses are off and running in the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships. The 13-race event kicks off on Friday, November 3 and continues through Saturday, November 4, culminating in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.