BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC
Purse: $6,000,000 Surface: Dirt Distance: 1 ¼ Miles
The Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic is a true test of champions and is a defining event for international racing.In 2015, American Pharoah became the first horse in history to sweep the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic, defining the "Grand Slam" in Thoroughbred racing. This year, there is no Grand Slam on the line, but 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome seeks to cap his undefeated 2016 campaign with a win against the best older dirt horses in training.
Saturday, Nov 5th, 2016 Race: 12 Post Time: 8:35 pm ET
BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC PICKS AND ANALYSIS
Jen’s Picks By Jen Perkins, BetAmerica Marketing Manager1st Choice: #4 California Chrome (1-1) All-time leading money earner in North America. 2014 Horse of the Year. Undefeated in 2016. What else is there to say? Chrome has never looked better, and has barely broken a sweat while he repelled all of his challengers this year. There are 12 other race opportunities to find a price in the Breeders’ Cup; when it is time for the Classic, we may have to just sit back and enjoy the show.
2nd Choice: #3 Keen Ice (20-1) - Keen Ice has an uncanny ability to show up on a big day and spoil a big event for the hyped and deserving horse (ahem, American Pharoah). That’s not a fluke - the son of Curlin was competitive in 8 straight Grade 1 races before shipping off to a disappointing Dubai campaign this spring. But he’s back after a summer off and a prep race at Belmont, and has sneaked into the barn of Todd Pletcher. Beware.
3rd Choice: #10 Arrogate (5-2) - Arrogate posted one of the most talked-about performances of the year in the Travers, defeating every notable 3-year-old by an 13 lengths and posting unheard of speed figures. After that mic drop, he has been in quiet, laying in wait for the Classic. Is Arrogate really that good? Can he repeat against older horses? A bounce feels inevitable, but if he runs his Travers race again then we are in for a very competitive event.
4th Choice -#6 Melatonin (12-1) - Undefeated at Santa Anita and undefeated at this distance, Melatonin has developed into a serious contender in the older horse division this year. He will need the home court advantage in this race but if it doesn’t melt down into a field of also-rans behind California Chrome, then expect a local horse like Melatonin to try to collect a check.
2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic Entries
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds | Record | Earnings |
|---|
1 | Effinex (NY) | F Prat | J A Jerkens | 15-1 | 26-9-3-4 | $3,247,950 |
2 | Frosted (KY) | J Rosario | K P McLaughlin | 5-1 | 18-6-6-2 | $3,912,800 |
3 | Keen Ice (KY) | J Castellano | T A Pletcher | 20-1 | 17-2-1-4 | $1,827,645 |
4 | California Chrome (CA) | V Espinoza | A Sherman | 1-1 | 24-15-3-1 | $13,432,650 |
5 | Win the Space (KY) | G L Stevens | G Papaprodromou | 30-1 | 14-3-1-4 | $292,572 |
6 | Melatonin (KY) | J Talamo | D E Hofmans | 12-1 | 13-5-3-3 | $1,218,552 |
7 | War Story (KY) | S Spieth | M Serey, Jr. | 30-1 | 14-3-3-2 | $399,395 |
8 | Shaman Ghost (ON) | I Ortiz, Jr. | J A Jerkens | 20-1 | 12-6-1-1 | $1,453,414 |
9 | Hoppertunity (KY) | J R Velazquez | B Baffert | 15-1 | 22-6-6-4 | $3,562,675 |
10 | Arrogate (KY) | M E Smith | B Baffert | 5-2 | 5-4-0-1 | $784,600 |
2015 Breeders' Cup Classic:
Who Won in 2015?
American Pharoah, is the first horse ever to capture the unofficial grand slam of horse racing, winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same season.What is the largest winning margin?
American Pharoah set the record for largest margin of victory in 2015, defeating runner-up Effinex by 6 3/4 lengths.Which jockey has the most Classic wins?
Chris McCarron and Jerry Bailey have each won the race a record 5 times: McCarron in 1988, 1989, 1996, 2000 and 2001; Bailey in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2005.How many horses have won the Classic more than once?
Only Tiznow has won the Breeders' Cup Classic more than once, and 2000 and 2001.Previous Breeders’ Cup Classic Winners
| YEAR | HORSE | AGE | JOCKEY | TRAINER | OWNER | WINNING TIME | TRACK |
|---|
2018 | Accelerate | 5 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing LLC | 2:02.93 | Churchill Downs |
2017 | Gun Runner | 4 | Florent Geroux | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm | 2:01.29 | Del Mar |
2016 | Arrogate | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Juddmonte Farms | 2:00.11 | Santa Anita |
2015 | American Pharoah | 3 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 2:00.07 | Keeneland |
2014 | Bayern | 3 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Kaleem Shah, Inc. | 1:59.88 | Santa Anita |
2013 | Mucho Macho Man | 5 | Gary Stevens | Katherine Ritvo | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing | 2:00.72 | Santa Anita |
2012 | Fort Larned | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr | Ian Wilkes | Janis R. Whitham | 2:00.11 | Santa Anita |
2011 | Drosselmeyer | 4 | M. Smith | W. Mott | WinStar Farm LLC | 2:04.27 | Churchill Downs |
2010 | Blame | 4 | G. Gomez | A. Stall | Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider | 2:02.28 | Churchill Downs |
2009 | Zenyatta | 5 | M. Smith | J. Shirreffs | Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss | 2:00.32 | Santa Anita |
Showing 1 to 10 of 35 entries