Knicks Go, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is the early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). (Photo credit: Jessica Morgan/Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM).
The prep races are in the books and the Brad Cox trained Knicks Go has emerged as the early betting favorite for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
The five-year-old is currently listed as the 5-2 early favorite in Breeders’ Cup Classic wagering at BUSR. The Cox trainee has won four of his six starts this year and comes into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic riding a three race winning streak. His final prep was a gate to wire score in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs on Oct. 2.
“We’re excited to get this race under our belt,” Cox said. “He’s a fast horse and he’s dangerous when he gets to show that speed around two turns. Joel gave him an easy trip on the front end. He seemed like he was able to take a breather and open back up around the turn. On to the Breeders’ Cup.”
As a four-year-old last year he won all three of his starts including winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in a gate to wire score. He ran second in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at odds of 40-1.
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Knicks Go Wins Lukas Classic
Cox will also saddle the likely second choice in Essential Quality, who is currently at 4-1 in early Breeders’ Cup Wagering at BUSR. The three-year-old has not started since taking the Travers (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 28. He has won five of his six starts this year including the Belmont Stakes (G1). His lone loss came in a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Baffert Hopes to Start Medina Spirit
The Bob Baffert trained Medina Sprit is the current third choice at BUSR at 7-1. The colt passed his first test taking on older last out wiring the field in the Awesome Again (G1). The colt crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby but is expected to be disqualified for failing a post-race drug test.
Baffert is prohibited from running horses at Churchill Downs and had to go to court to get an injunction to continue to saddle horses in New York. The Breeders’ Cup has not announced if it will allow Baffert to run horses in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Max Player came up short in all three Triple Crown races last year and in this year’s Saudi Cup (G1), then was sixth in the Pimlico Special (G3). His trainer Steve Asmussen has put the colt closer to the lead in his last two outings and it has produced the two best starts of his career.
He sat just off the pace in the Suburban (G2) in July and battled on gamely to win by a neck over Mystic Guide. He then did the same in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), drawing clear late to win by four lengths over runner up Happy Saver.
The colt is currently listed at 8-1 at BUSR in early Breeders’ Cup Classic wagering.
Hot Rod Charlie wired the field in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last out at Parx Racing is currently listed at 10-1 at BUSR in Classic betting. The colt was a nose in front in the Haskell invitational (G1) two back but was disqualified for interference in deep stretch and placed seventh.
Life Is Good is also listed at 10-1 but is pointing toward the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Betting Odds via BUSR
| Knicks Go | 5/2 |
| Essential Quality | 4/1 |
| Medina Spirit | 7/1 |
| Max Player | 8/1 |
| Life Is Good | 10/1 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | 10/1 |
| Happy Saver | OUT |
| Rombauer | OUT |
| Silver State | 18/1 |
| Tripoli | 20/1 |
| Rock Your World | 20/1 |
| Maxfield | OUT |
| Tacitus | 25/1 |
| Idol | 25/1 |
| Fulsome | 25/1 |
| Chuwa Wizard | 25/1 |
| Forza Di Oro | 33/1 |
| Dr Post | OUT |
| Moretti | 40/1 |
| Lone Rock | 40/1 |
| Express Train | 66/1 |
| Jesus´ Team | 80/1 |
| Dream Shake | 100/1 |
