The 40th running of the world-class horse racing festival, Breeders’ Cup, is drawing close. It will be a two-day (November 3 & 4) culmination of high-stakes racing at the renowned Santa Anita Park.
Among the several races to look forward to is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic for three-year-olds and above, run on dirt at a distance of 1 ¼ miles. The Classic is deemed to be one of the leading thoroughbred horse races in the U.S.
Although there’s no official list of contenders, various names are coming into sight. So, if you want to bet on the Breeders’ Cup Classic, below are the five horses to watch out for.
Bright Future
The 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future bagged a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Classic on November 4. Champion stablemate Forte will likely confront him. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the newly minted G1 winner will get into shape for the Classic, and he reckons the colt belongs in the top older horses.
Pletcher also said that the horse has always been competitive and determined to fight to the wire. Bright Future’s fearless nose win over Proxy in the 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup reached a sky-high 103 Beyer Speed Figure. This figure confirms how strong the colt’s performance was.
Overall, Bright Future is undoubtedly a solid contender for the Classic and has etched his name in the annals of racing history. Ensure to check out the breeders cup 2023 live odds for Bright Future to stay updated.
Forte
Despite a month’s absence in the racing world, Forte is one of the possible contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The colt’s last race was a disappointing 4th place win in the 2023 Travers Stakes (G1).
Forte faced off all three triple crown race winners: Mage, National Treasure, and Arcangelo. He had to fight with might and mind to make it to the finish line. The race was indeed a sight to see.
Although Forte did not win, he ranks at the top of the Breeders’ Cup Classic rankings. The rankings are dictated by each voter (Breeders’ Cup World Championships officials, media members, and horseplayers) ranking their top ten horses.
It will be updated or refreshed each week until October 10. Forte consistently ranks high in the poll, meaning many people know what he’s capable of and trust that the colt will do well in the Classic.
Next
Next is a talented five-year-old racehorse who recently won the 2023 Greenwood Cup (G3) on a dreary, sloppy day at Parx Racing – Philadelphia Park. According to the gelding’s recent Beyer Speed Figure, he’s fast enough to face off the top horses in training for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The horse got a 104 Beyer Figure in the Greenwood Cup. Additionally, Next has twice run a Beyer Figure of 105 in the Birdstone and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The horse’s connections stay dedicated and committed to training the horse to run successfully in a mile-and-a-quarter race.
Everyone is looking forward to seeing Next’s performance in the Classic. Can the horse live up to the expectations? Could he beat the top horses in the lineup? Only time will tell.
Ushba Tesoro
The oldest horse in this list is the six-year-old Ushba Tesoro. He’s in the March 2023 Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan. The horse’s connections and trainer have already revealed that the November 4 Breeders’ Cup Classic is the aim for the 2023 season.
After some time away from the racing world, he’s ready and primed to resume training in Japan. Ushba Tesoro started jogging in late April. Since then, he’s been ridden by his trainer or jockey every morning to condition the horse for the upcoming races.
The colt was moved to Noburu Takagi’s stable in late August and trained for the Nippon TV Hai set on September 27. The race is 1,800 meters long and will test Ushba Tesoro’s stamina and strength. It will be the best Breeders’ Cup Classic preparation for him.
Additionally, the colt is expected to face Mind Your Biscuits and Derma Sotogake in the Nippon TV Hai. Let’s wait and see how Ushba Tesoro will shake up the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 4.
Proxy
After a solid second-place finish in the 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Proxy aims to race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer Michael Stidham conveyed his pride for the horse despite the defeat.
Proxy was able to initiate and establish a strong stretch drive between him and Bright Future but failed to finish it strongly. Nevertheless, the colt was able to garner a 103 Beyer Speed Figure from his courageous effort.
Additionally, looking at his extensive experience in the racing world, Proxy has what it takes to fight it off against the top horses in the league. He’s a force to be reckoned with and a horse to watch for your betting options.
Conclusion
The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic is just days away. All the horses mentioned in this post are highly talented and accomplished, making it difficult to predict who will be the winner. So, do more research and stay updated to make informed decisions.
