Four Horses Stand Apart at Breeders Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup, a two-day thoroughbred racing extravaganza, is now in its 31st running. It will be held at Santa Anita Park in California for a record third straight season. The event's marquee race is Saturday night's Breeders' Cup Classic, a 1 1/4 mile race open to three-year-olds and up.
The 14-horse Classic field showcases the best contenders of the season. Four Horse of the Year candidates are running, including 8/5 betting favourite Shared Belief, California Chrome, Tonalist and Bayer. Shared Belief was the Eclipse Award champion two-year-old male last year and a winner of seven straight races to begin his career. He missed the 2014 Triple Crown races with foot problems. Mike Smith will ride the gelding, starting from Post 6. No three-year-old has won the Classic since Raven's Pass in 2008.
California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness earlier this year before placing fourth in the Belmont Stakes. The colt starts from Post 13 and is a 13/2 third-favourite. Tonalist (Post 11) won the Belmont Stakes and recently also won the Grade 1 Jockey Gold Cup. Bayern’s ninth place finish in the Preakness Stakes disappointed many, but he has three wins this year. He starts from Post 7 in the 14-horse field. Get the best odds at Bodog SPortsBook
