The 35th Breeders Cup takes place Friday and Saturday from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with the pinnacle of the two-day event being the Breeders’ Cup Classic, race No. 11, which will feature the best 14 thoroughbred horses in the world vying for a $6 million purse.
The Breeders Cup, widely regarded as the unofficial end of the horse racing season, consists of 14 championship races worth $30 million, and the Classic is seen by owners and trainers as the Super Bowl of horse racing, which is why just getting a horse in this race is often considered a major accomplishment regardless of the results.
Accelerate, who drew post 14 and is trained by John Sadler, is the favorite at 5-2 Breeders’ Cup Classic odds. Right behind him is the Bob Baffert-trained West Coast, a horse with 5-1 odds that will start from the No. 7 post.
The early retirement of Triple Crown winner Justify leaves a field of contenders that aren’t exactly marquee names, but with 14 horses entered and no clear favorite, the Classic will at least be a very interesting race to bet on.
Accelerate deserves to be considered the favorite as he’s won four of grade 1 races this year and in 21 career races he’s won nine times and finished outside the top three only twice, but he will start from the outside post which could complicate his race.
He’ll have to prove he can win from the last post against a crowded and very competitive field. Furthermore, Accelerate has raced outside of California only once and came in second place by half a neck so many bettors are wondering how well he can run outside of his home base.
McKinzie, also trained by Baffert, is starting in post six between West Coast and long shot Lone Sailor. This oft-injured horse is another strong candidate thanks to his four wins and a second place in five races.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds
Accelerate – 5-2
West Coast – 5-1
McKinzie – 6-1
Mind Your Biscuits – 6-1
Catholic Boy – 8-1
Yoshida – 10-1
Thunder Snow – 12-1
Mendelssohn – 12-1
Roaring Lion – 20-1
Gunnevera – 20-1
Pavel – 20-1
Discreet Lover – 20-1
Axelrod – 30-1
Lone Sailor – 30-1
