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2023 Breeders' Cup Classic Tips, Odds and News
| Date | Saturday November 4, 2023 |
| Track | Santa Anita |
| Distance | 2000m |
| Class | Group 1 |
| Race Type | Set weights |
| Prize money | $6 million |
| Age | 3YO+ |
Breeders' Cup Classic Odds
Breeders' Cup Classic Preview
Heading the betting for this year's Classic is Arcangelo, who has quickly risen to the top of the dirt ranks this season. Jena Antonucci's star upset Forte to win the Belmont Stakes in June, before following up with victory over Disarm in the Travers Stakes.
Geaux Rocket Ride and Arabian Knight will renew their rivalry at the Breeders' Cup. Geaux Rocket Ride got the better of Bob Baffert's and Kentucky Derby winner Mage to win the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Arabian Knight then turned the tables on Richard Mandella's star by claiming a narrow victory in the Pacific Classic last time out.
White Abarrio is the highest-placed older horse in the market, having thrashed the likes of Zandon and Cody's Wish on his most recent start in the Whitney Stakes. Japan's Dubai World Cup winner, Ushba Tesoro also features prominently in the market.
Both Disarm and Forte could take on Arcangelo again on day two of the Breeders' Cup. Other likely runners include Two Phils, Bright Future, Country Grammar and Derma Sotogake.
Breeders' Cup Classic Tips
When our guide to the Breeders' Cup Classic goes live, you'll find it on this page.
Breeders' Cup Classic Day Card
| Time (UK) | Title |
|---|---|
| 4:50pm | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1)(Dirt) 7f |
| 5:29pm | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1)(Turf) 5½f |
| 6:10pm | Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1)(Dirt) 1m |
| 6:50pm | Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1)(Turf) 1m1½f |
| 7:30pm | Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade 1) (Dirt) 6f |
| 8:10pm | Breeders' Cup Mile presented by Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (Grade 1)(Turf) 1m |
| 8:55pm | Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (Grade 1)(Dirt) 1m1f |
| 9:40pm | Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade 1)(Turf) 1m4f |
| 10:40pm | Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade 1)(Dirt) 1m2f |
Breeders' Cup Classic history
The Breeders' Cup Classic was first run in 1984 and is now considered the fourth leg of US racing's Grand Slam.
The Grand Slam also features the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, which run under the Triple Crown banner.
American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Grand Slam and the phrase has been coined by journalists since.
The first winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic was 30/1 long shot Wild Again, which produced one of the most thrilling finishes in the history for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic resulted in 133/1-chance Arcangues being too good for its rivals. No winner has come close to paying those odds since the big upset.
The French-based horse wasn't given a chance by local bookmakers and it helped pave the way for more international success in the future.
Cigar won in the 1990's. It was a cult hero which rattled off eight consecutive Group 1 victories, culminating in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Cigar ran the quickest time of that period and it came on a rain-affected track, which makes the win even more impressive.
One of the more popular recent winners at Zenyatta, which came into the race with a perfect 13-from-13 record.
The 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic featured a high-quality field with names such as Gio Ponti, Rip Van Winkle, Twice Over and Summer Bird. Zenyatta proved too strong and used her typical come-from-behind style that excited the big crowd on track.
Tiznow is the only horse to have won the race twice when winning in 2000 and 2001.
The biggest margin of victory is shared by American Pharoah and Volponi when both runners scored by 6.5 lengths.
Bob Baffert has dominated the race in recent times, winning in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Breeders' Cup Classic betting guide
The Breeders' Cup Classic is the biggest race of the Breeders' Cup festival.
Held at a different course every year in November, the $6 million race is run on dirt and features some of the world's best middle-distance horses in the world.
The premier race in the US, the Breeders' Cup Classic has been taken out by the likes of Arrogate, Zenyatta and Unbridled, which were all champions in their own right.
Betting on the Breeders' Cup Classic spans all around the world with big betting pools on offer.
The Breeders' Cup Classic produces high-quality winners and punters often get good odds for the champion runners.
2017 winner Gun Runner paid $6.80 to win when beating Collected and West Coast. The best-backed runner in the field was Arrogate, which produced a disappointing effort after winning in 2016 and would never hit top form again.
Arrogate paid $5.40 to win in 2016 and that was another great result for punters.
The field included California Chrome but there was a lack of international interest in 2016.
American Pharoah was far too good for them in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic with the Bob Baffert-trained colt winning by 6.5 lengths.
It was the final start for the Kentucky Derby-winning colt and it was the first time any horse had won the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic in history.
There has been the odd upset in recent history with Bayern winning at odds of $14.20 at Santa Anita in 2014.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Bayern was a three-year-old winner and defeated a field that included California Chrome.
Breeders' Cup Classic qualifying races
There are seven automatic qualifying positions up for grabs for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
These are run from February through to October and cover the likes of Japan and the US.
- February Stakes (Tokyo)
- Stephen Foster Handicap (Churchill Downs)
- Haskell Invitational (Monmouth Park)
- Whitney Handicap (Saratago Race Course)
- Pacific Classic (Del Mar)
- Awesome Again Stakes (Santa Anita)
- Jockey Club Gold Cup (Belmont Park)
Past Breeders' Cup Classic winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Flightline |
| 2021 | Knicks Go |
| 2020 | Authentic |
| 2019 | Vino Rosso |
| 2018 | Accelerate |
| 2017 | Gun Runner |
| 2016 | Arrogate |
| 2015 | American Pharoah |
| 2014 | Bayern |
| 2013 | Mucho Mucho Man |
| 2012 | Fort Larned |
| 2011 | Drosselmeyer |
| 2010 | Blame |
| 2009 | Zenyatta |
| 2008 | Raven's Pass |
| 2007 | Curlin |
| 2006 | Invasor |
| 2005 | Saint Liam |
| 2004 | Ghostzapper |
| 2003 | Pleasantly Perfect |
| 2002 | Volponi |
| 2001 | Tiznow |
| 2000 | Tiznow |
| 1999 | Cat Thief |
| 1998 | Awesome Again |
| 1997 | Skip Away |
| 1996 | Alphabet Soup |
| 1995 | Cigar |
| 1994 | Concern |
| 1993 | Arcangues |
| 1992 | A.P. Indy |
| 1991 | Black Tie Affair |
| 1990 | Unbridled |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence |
| 1988 | Alysheba |
| 1987 | Ferdinand |
| 1986 | Skywalker |
| 1985 | Proud Truth |
| 1984 | Wild Again |
