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2022 Breeders' Cup Classic Tips - Pinnacle Sport's guide to the main event at Keeneland

conrad-castleton
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Last updated: 03 Nov 2022
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Conrad Castleton 03 Nov 2022
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  • Pinnacle Sport's guide to the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic
  • This huge Grade One closes the Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland on Saturday 4th November
  • Flightline is the odds-on favourite
  • Read Pinnacle's free guide and verdict here
breeders cup classic keeneland
The Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland. (Getty)

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the feature race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This year’s two-day meeting takes place at Keeneland in Kentucky. 

The one-mile-and-a-quarter Grade 1 race, which takes place on a dirt surface, carries a purse of $6,000,000 and it is open to three-year-olds and above. It attracts some of the best middle-distance dirt horses from around the world. 

This year's Breeders’ Cup Classic – due to be raced at 9.40 pm GMT on Saturday – has got a field of nine contenders.

Flightline To Remain Unbeaten?


Flightline2022 Breeders' Cup Classic FavouriteGET 2/5 HERE
18+ only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org

With five wins from five starts, Flightline has made an impressive start to his career. He goes into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic on the back of three consecutive Grade 1 victories, including wins in the Pacific Classic Stakes and Metropolitan Handicap.

John Sadler’s runner has not only been winning at the highest level, but he has been blowing his opposition away. Last time out at Del Mar, he prevailed by over 19 lengths, with Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammar chasing him home in second place.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic will be the four-year-old’s toughest assignment to date, but he is fancied to land the top prize and enhance his reputation further. Victory at Keeneland could then persuade his connections to take on some major international assignments in 2023, including the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup.

Is Life Still Good?


Life Is Good2022 Breeders' Cup ClassicGET 7/1 HERE
18+ only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org

2021 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Life Is Good will be bidding for his second straight success at the Breeders’ Cup meeting when he takes part in the feature race. Todd Pletcher’s star will be stepping up in distance for the Classic.

Since winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by just under six lengths at Del Mar last November, the son of Into Mischief has won four of his five races. He showed his class at the start of the year, beating Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup (1 mile 1 furlong) at Gulfstream Park. Another highlight in 2022 was his Whitney Stakes victory at Saratoga.

The four-year-old’s only defeat came in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan. Under the hands of Irad Ortiz Jr., he hit the front of the field two furlongs from home where he looked to be cruising to victory. Unfortunately for his connections, he weakened inside the closing 100 yards, eventually finishing fourth.

This will be the horse’s second attempt at 1 mile 2 furlongs, and he does need to prove his stamina for the trip.

Baffert Or Cox For The Upset?


Taiba2022 Breeders' Cup ClassicGET 12/1 HERE
18+ only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org

Trainers Bob Baffert and Brad Cox have won the last two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with Authentic and Knicks Go respectively. This year. they have entered horses that are the outsiders in the race.

Baffert’s hopes of a record-extending fifth victory in this contest lie with Taiba. The three-year-old colt has been victorious in two Grade One races in his debut season on the track. He won the Santa Anita Derby back in April, while more recently, he booked his ticket for the Classic with a comfortable win in the Pennsylvania Derby. 

Cox will be hoping Cyberknife can step up on what he has produced to date when he takes on the strong field in the final race of the Breeders’ Cup meeting. His highlights this season include wins in the Haskell Stakes and Arkansas Derby. Last time out, at Parx, he had to settle for third place behind Taiba.

With 10 starts to his name, Cox’s runner is not short of experience. He could finish strongly in the race to finish in one of the placings, making him a good place bet proposition in this strong Grade 1 field.

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