The Breeders’ Cup Classic winners include many all-time greats including Sunday Silence, A. P. Indy, Cigar, Ghostzapper, Curlin, Zenyatta, and American Pharoah. Who will add his name to this list in 2021? Read on to find out the best horses to bet!
Breeders' Cup Classic Field
This is the official field for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
- Tripoli (John Sadler/Irad Ortiz) - 15/1
- Express Train (John Shirreffs/Victor Espinoza) - 20/1
- Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O’Neill/Flavien Prat) - 4/1
- Essential Quality (Brad Cox/Luis Saez) - 3/1
- Knicks Go (Brad Cox/Joel Rosario) - 5/2
- Art Collector (Bill Mott/Mike Smith) - 8/1
- Stilleto Boy (Ed Moger/Kent Desormeaux) - 30/1
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Medina Spirit (Bob Baffert/John Velazquez) - 4/1
- Max Player (Steve Asmussen/Ricardo Santana) - 8/1
Keep in mind that morning lines are just a racetrack’s best guess about the odds on a horse. Your best bet is to make an account at an online sportsbook. Online, you can lock in the best odds as soon as you bet a horse. When you get odds that are an overlay on a winning candidate, you can place your wager and be sure that those are the odds you will get when you win!
The current Breeders’ Cup Classic odds at the top online sportsbooks are featured below:
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Breeders' Cup Classic Online Betting
The first step toward a profitable Breeders' Cup Classic Day is to set up an account to bet on horse races online. There are so many sportsbooks out there that choosing one can seem tough. However, our expert reviews give you trusted insight into the best online sports betting sites.
Our betting experts make it easy to find the site that best fits your betting style. All sites recommended by our experts have trusted deposit and cash-out features, true Vegas odds on the Breeders’ Cup Classic (and all races, all year long!), and excellent bonuses and incentives like horse racing rebates and deposit bonuses.
Get to know the best online sportsbooks, and make an account at the one that suits your wagering needs.
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Breeders' Cup Classic Handicapping
Now that you know about your best choices for betting horse races online, let’s get to know the horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Breeders' Cup Classic Favorite
#5 Knicks Go will go favored in the Classic. He carries a three-win streak into the race, but each of those times he has jetted to a clear lead. He may not get out to such an easy lead this time, though. #8 Medina Spirit and #3 Hot Rod Charlie likely have the speed to push him; #7 Stilleto Boy may try, though he is probably not fast enough to get too close early.
Knicks Go also has not yet proven that he wants a mile and a quarter. It isn’t impossible given his high cruising speed and his ability to get at least a mile and an eighth. But, with Medina Spirit and Hot Rod Charlie, he will not have an easy lead, which makes his ability to stay so long questionable at a short price.
It is also worth noting that Hot Rod Charlie may come from a bit off the pace. His more recent starts have him right up front, but he has been tactical and even looked like a real off-pace horse early in his career.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders
#6 Art Collector has a lot of speed, which he showed in the Woodward and the Alydar. But, he can win from just off the pace as well, as he showed in the Charles Town Classic and the Blue Grass. With such speed in this race, he will likely stalk. He has to prove himself on this trip but is better and stronger now than when he tried the Preakness last year.
#4 Essential Quality is versatile pace-wise. This is his first attempt versus older horses, and he did meet his only defeat going a mile and a quarter in the Kentucky Derby. But, he did not start well that day and has come back to run well at ten furlongs in the Travers (G1). His win price may be a little too low, but he has a shot and must figure in exotics.
#9 Max Player is the most interesting horse to bet in the Classic. He is improving, and his last two races have been wins at this ten-furlong trip. He does have to prove his class, as he hasn’t yet faced (or beat) the likes of Knicks Go or Art Collector. But, with tactical speed from the outside, he should get a good trip without leaving himself too much to do late.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Longshots
Two locals complete the field. #1 Tripoli is a G1 winner at a mile and a quarter at Del Mar, but the field he beat in the Pacific Classic is nowhere near as good as this one. #2 Express Train is another horse who likes Del Mar a lot but has yet to prove that he wants to go this long.
Free Breeders' Cup Classic Picks
These are your free expert picks for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic:
- $20 to win - #9 Max Player
- $1 exacta box - #4 Essential Quality, #6 Art Collector, #9 Max Player
- $0.50 trifecta box - #3 Hot Rod Charlie, #4 Essential Quality, #6 Art Collector, #9 Max Player
- $0.20 superfecta box - #3 Hot Rod Charlie, #4 Essential Quality, #5 Knicks Go, #6 Art Collector, #9 Max Player
