The 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships is this weekend at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Southern California. It is a 2-day event that is the culmination of the horse racing season. This year’s event features 14 races and 169 horses spread out over Friday and Saturday, November 1-2. The top trainers, jockeys, and of course, horses are all accounted for over the two-day event.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the crown jewel of the weekend of racing. It is one of 9 races on Saturday each of which will be televised by the NBC Sports Family of networks. Coverage begins at 2P ET on USA. NBC then takes the reigns from 3:30-6P ET. Post time for the Classic is 5:41P ET. The day concludes with 2 additional hours on USA from 6-8P ET. The entire day of racing will be streamed live on Peacock.
The race itself features 14 horses competing on 1¼ mile dirt track for a purse of $7 million.
City of Troy (5-2), the son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, is the favorite to cross the finish line first and claim the majority of the 7 million dollars. Fierceness (3-1), Forever Young (6-1), and Next (8-1) are considered the most viable contenders to the son of Justify in the race.
Looking to place a wager of the Breeders’ Cup Classic? Read below for a quick synopsis of each horse in the field including trainer and jockey.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic Tale of the Tape
What: The Breeders’ Cup Classic
Where: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Who: 14 horse ages 3 and up
Purse: $7,000,000
Distance: 1¼ miles
Post Time: 5:41P ET
The field is listed below according to their respective post positions along with pertinent betting info.
1sr
Forever Young (6-1)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagai | Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
3rd, 2024 Kentucky Derby
1st, 2024 Japan Dirt Classic (only race since the Derby)
Has finished 1st in 6 of 7 races in his career
Highlands Falls (20-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox | Jockey: Luis Saez
Son of Curlin
1st, 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup
City of Troy (5-2)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | Jockey: Ryan Moore
The favorite but he has never raced on dirt
Winner of 6 of 7 career races in Europe
Son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify
Trainer O’Brien has yet to win the Classic in 17 tries.
Mixto (30-1)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill | Jockey: Kyle Frey
1st, 2024 Pacific Classic
Senor Buscador (30-1)
Trainer: Todd Fincher | Jockey: Joel Rosario
5th, 2024 California Crown Stakes
1st, 2024 Saudi Cup
3rd, 2024 Dubai World Cup
Has made over $12 million in his career
Derma Sotogake (20-1)
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi | Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
6th, 2024 Dubai World Cup
6th, 2024 Kentucky Derby
1st, 2023 UAE Derby
2nd, 2023 Breeders Cup Classic
Ushba Tesoro (12-1)
Trainer: Noboru Takagi | Jockey: Yuga Kawada
2nd, 2024 Dubai World Cup
5th, 2023 Breeder’s Cup Classic
Pyrenees (30-1)
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux | Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
1st, 2024 Pimlico Special
2nd, 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Fierceness (3-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: John Velazquez
Finished 15th in the 2024 Kentucky Derby despite going off as the favorite
1st, 2024 Travers Stakes
1st, 2024 Jim Dandy
Looking to become the first horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Classic the next year
Tapit Trice (30-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Son of Tapit (same as Arthur’s Ride)
1st, 2024 Woodward Stakes
Sierra Leone (12-1)
Trainer: Chad Brown | Jockey: Flavien Prat
1st, 2024 Blue Grass Stakes
1st, 2024 Risen Star
3rd, 2024 Travers Stakes
Arthur’s Ride (15-1)
Trainer: Bill Mott | Jockey: Junior Alvardo
Son of Tapit (same as Tapit Trice)
5th, 2024 Jockey Club Gold Cup
1st, 2024 Whitney Stakes
Newgate (20-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert | Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Son of Into Mischief
Baffert leads all Trainers with 4 Classic victories.
3rd, 2024 California Crown Stakes
9th, 2024 Dubai World Cup
1st, 2024 Santa Anita Handicap
Next (8-1)
Trainer: William Cowans | Jockey: Luan Machado
1st, 2024 Greenwood Cup
Won his last six races by almost 90 combined lengths but against far weaker fields than in the Classic
Rattle N Roll (30-1)
Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek | Jockey: Brian J. Hernandez, Jr.
3rd, 2024 Lukas Classic Stakes
At 5 years old, one of the older horses in the field
Enjoy the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic on NBC and a couple of sweats along the way.
