10/25 (BC): BC Classic (Final)
 

9th (3:45) Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)

1 1/4 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $5,000,000


1 Go Between (Gomez G K/Mott William I) 126 L 8-1
2 Casino Drive (Espinoza V/Fujisawa Kazuo) 121 10-1
3 Tiago (Smith M E/Shirreffs John) 126 L 15-1
4 Duke of Marmalade (IRE) (Murtagh J P /O'Brien Aidan P) 126 10-1
5 Henrythenavigator (Velazquez J R /O'Brien Aidan P) 121 L 10-1
6 Smooth Air (Cruz M R/Stutts Bennie F Jr) 121 L 50-1
7 Student Council (Bridgmohan S X/Asmussen Steven M) 126 L 20-1
8 Raven's Pass (Dettori L/Gosden John H M) 121 L 6-1
9 Curlin (Albarado R J/Asmussen Steven M) 126 L 7-5
10 Fairbanks (Migliore R/Pletcher Todd A 126 L 10-1
11 Colonel John (Prado E S/Harty Eoin) 121 L 20-1
12 Champs Elysees (GB) (Garcia Alan/Frankel Robert) 126 Blk-On L 15-1

Exacta / Trifecta Superfecta / Daily Double Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) / Super Hi 5

Classic now an appealing spot for Awesome Gem
 

John Velasquez booked on the Coolmore horse that Murtagh doesnt want apparantly..

I keep thinking that this is Colonel John's/Tiago's territory. Then I am reminded of that forceful win by Invasor over what appeared to be an unbeatable 3 yr old named Bernadini. And then I am reminded of that 59 Curlin just worked over the track in his usual effortless fashion. I think Curlin is rounding out at just the right time after a couple of dull (for him) races that he seems to have around that time of year. I think we are dreaming if we think anyone, even Casino Drive, can take him down. And I know that I don't want anyone to. He has gotten my respect this year. He deserves to go out the way he came in.

People said that no one could take Bernardini down, and look what happened.

People said that Big Brown was a lock in the Belmont and look what happened.

I am tired of people thinking horses are an automatic lock! It wouldn't surprise me if any of those horses won the Classic, except for Smooth Air...that's the only one that would surprise me.

Do we know yet who will ride Casino Drive? Kent D, now that BB is out?

Great !

Are Duke of Marmalade and HenrytheNavigator commited to running in the Classic as well?

Ravens Pass is a nice horse.

The field is at the top of the thread.

Anyone care to take a shot at the morning line? I'm wondering what kind of price I'll see on Colonel John and Student Council.:zz:

http://www.easyodds.com/compareodds/...33972-9-1.html

Student Council = ~20:1
Col. John = ~10:1

Watchmaker's Graded Entries..

Curlin 8-5
Go Between 12-1
Duke of Marmalade 6-1
Raven’s Pass 10-1
Henrythenavigator off 8-1
Casino Drive 15-1
Well Armed 12-1
Tiago 15-1
Colonel John 15-1
Student Council 30-1
Champs Elysees 20-1
Mast Track 30-1
Pyro 20-1
Smooth Air 30-1

Also Eligible (in order of preference)
Fairbanks (Marathon) 30-1
Awesome Gem 30-1

You know, for all the complaints about horses careers continuing, 3 of the top 5 finishers from last year's Classic are in this race, (Curlin, Awesome Gem, Tiago), as well as I think 3 other former BC participants in Pyro, Student Council and Go Between...

just wondering what criteria they use to decide a horse like casino drive is in, while awesome gem and fairbanks are ae's?

Don't think he's run before, but point well taken.

and i just saw that bids for the 20% interest in curlin are due by 11/5. keeneland is handling the sale of midnights cry's share. i'd think that the odds of him running again pst-bc are now between slim and none.

Interesting!

I'm pretty sure Student Council hasn't run in the BC either.

Casino Drive should be 50-1. 3 races lifetime with at least 6 millionaires in the field. COME ON!!!

Synthetic Stinks, but this is one heck of a great betting race.

Has the three European invaders raced on dirt or poly over there.....they should be in 30-1 to 50-1 range if not also.

Whats with Champs Elysees taking a shot in the Classic and not being cross-entered into a more logical spot?

well armed, according to harty, is aiming for the dirt mile rather than the classic-but it's not 'set in stone'...mast track is now headed for the classic with the defection of big brown.

Speaking of the Euros... Anyone notice on RAVEN'S PASS...? Sibling?

Half to that game 3X stakes winner... GIGAWATT!

Go figure. I always liked Gigawatt.

not sure why running on dirt would be a requirement, since they won't be running on dirt next wknd. however, they are all turfers-and it's pretty much a given that a turfer for the most part can handle an AWT, unlike many traditional dirt horses.
also, they're all multiple group one winners, unlike one time gr 2 winner casino drive. he's not in their league as far as accomplishments go. he's presumed talented, while they're proven.

I actually think Champs Elysees has a better shot to win the Classic. . .

not surprising that a lot of turfers will be attempting the main track-more money for one; the belief that AWT translates to turfers better than those who are traditional dirt horses is another. if that holds true and turfers rule on the main, it will make next year that much more interesting--and you'll probably hear howls of protest from our dirt connections here as well.

Is that due to the competition or the questions surrounding the surface? Or both?

When you say this, are you saying a realistic shot to win the classic, or just a better shot to win the classic over the turf ? ? I give him no shot at all in the classic.

good luck with that one.

I think his best race in America was his Santa Anita Handicap. . . He closed nicely behind Heatseeker and Go Between. If he were to improve a little bit off of that he'd be a legit contender in the Classic, while nothing he's ever done on turf makes me think he has any semblance of a shot in that race.

I agree about his best race this year being the SA Handicap. However, he will not be on any horizontal tickets of mine, and will probably include only as a bottom rung exotic filler. I guess when you look at it, he has just a good a shot to hit the board in the Classic, then he does in any other race. And with the purse of the Classic being the highest, it seems logical from that standpoint.

I'm not saying he's my pick to win the race. . . but I may use him. I would never touch him in the Turf, though.

I loved their mum, Ascutney. She was a 2x SW at 2 on the turf (Miesque S-G3) and a full sister to 5x SW Words of War, dam of E Dubai and G1 winner No Matter What.

my pick to win this race is Go Between, i want that to be clear, i will use tiago, casino drive, and go between in all pick 3 and 4's, but if i make a win bet, it will be on Go Between