The annual horse race has a pristine field and is packed with the top winners who compete for the largest prize of the year.
This weekend, the Breeders” Cup Series will be taking place at Keeneland racetrack, located in Lexington, Kentucky, a two-day race that features several races that determine the winner in 14 categories. The final race of the series is the Breeders Cup Classic, which is the major prize for those aged 3 and older on the mile-and-a-quarter dirt track.
One of the most lucrative races around the globe with a prize of $6 million, the Breeders' Classic is now part of the list of races that are now considered by horse racing as the final part in the Grand Slam – something accomplished by American Pharoah at the same track in the year 2015. The Classic is typically a difficult race to predict, because the race is almost always top-quality, but this year there is an interesting favorite in the field.
Here's the eight-horse race according to gate position for today's championship:
Taiba, 8-1. The horse of trainer Bob Baffert. Taiba has enjoyed an impressive calendar with three wins including those at the Santa Anita and Pennsylvania Derbies with a second place finish, but an unsatisfactory 12th place at the Kentucky Derby.
Life's Good, 6-1. The 4-year-old has had an excellent year with four wins, beginning with the January Pegasus World Cup held in Florida and continuing through winning the Woodward Stakes last month in the slope of The Aqueduct. The only issue was a fourth-place finish at the Dubai World Cup in March.
Happy Saver, 30-1, Taking the form as a longshot today, the horse owned by Todd Pletcher has a long history of earning money; however, he is just a hair short of winning. After a string of victories, the last two seasons have not been easy and the most recent win coming during the Summer of 2021, after which he had three second-place finishes. He also missed one race in 2022.
Flightline, 5-0 – This year's top favorite is a fast horse that has a short track record, since some injuries caused delays. When he's shown up, he blows doors off the track. The record of 5-0 is quite remarkable, given the distances he travels to finish. A broken foot was the reason for the owners keeping Flightline from racing in the Triple Crown races, but in September, a win of 20 lengths in the TVG Pacific Classic solidified the amazing winner.
Hot Rod Charlie, 15-1. Another four-year-old who has always been a danger but has also had inconsistent results, including close races, he has two wins from five races this year. His last win was a month ago at the Lukas Classic held at Churchill Downs.
Epicenter, 5-1. Most likely the second most anticipated winner of this group, with a stunning 2022 calendar of seven races that includes four wins and three show results with three show finishes, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Olympiad, 10-1/9. Sporting six wins despite an extensive calendar of races, his main reason why he's not getting more attention is due to the low number of Grade-1 races. However, Olympiad's success in two Breeders' Cup qualifying races make Olympiad a potential threat to a racer.
Rich Strike, 20-1. The historic upset winner of the Kentucky Derby remains a longshot in the race, despite having impressive performances. Sixth place in The Belmont and a 4th at The Travers Stakes, and a second place in The Lucas Classic.
