A total of 171 horses were entered in the 29th Breeders’ Cup World Championships, with Game On Dude and Royal Delta the morning line favorite for the two marquee events.
The Bob Baffert trained Game On Dude was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
The five-year-old son of Awesome Again has won four of six starts since finishing in the runner up spot in last year’s Classic at Churchill Downs, beaten by longshot Drosselmeyer by 1 ½ lengths.
The gelding won the Awesome Again (G1) last out with his new jockey Rafael Bejarano, who replaced Chantal Sutherland, and is now perfect in five trips over the Santa Anita main track.
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Flat Out and Whitney Handicap (G1) winner Fort Larned, who was third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in his last outing, are the co-second choices in the Classic at 5-1.
The Bill Mott trained Ron the Greek is listed at 6-1 on the morning line. The five-year-old was a disappointing sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but does have a win over the main track, taking the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) back in March.
There are several very accomplished runners that are going to be big prices including Travers (G1) winner Alpha (20-1), Pennsylvania Derby (G2) winner Handsome Mike (30-1), and multiple Grade 1 winner Richard’s Kid (12-1).
Defending champion Royal Delta is the 9-5 morning line favorite for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on Friday.
She will face seven foes including the undefeated duo of Awesome Feather (3-1) and My Miss Aurelia (4-1).
Chad Brown will saddle Awesome Feather, who is perfect in ten career starts. She won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in 2010, but has made just four starts since then, last out a win in the Nasty Storm at Belmont Park on Sept. 20, which was her first start off an eight month layoff.
My Miss Aurelia won the 2011 edition of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and will be making her third start in 2012.
She returned off a nine month layoff to win the Mandy’s Gold at Saratoga, and then won the Cotillion (G1) at Parx Racing on Sept. 22.
The Steve Asmussen trainee beat Questing (4-1) by a head in the Cotillion. Questing came into that race having won the Coaching Club of America Oaks (G1) and the Alabama (G1).
Todd Pletcher will send out Love and Pride (8-1), who may end up going off at a generous price despite having won the Personal Ensign (G1) and Zenyatta (G1) in her last two starts.
Grace Hall (10-1) is coming off a victory in the Indiana Oaks (G2) and is also a Grade 1 winner, taking the Spinaway last year in her second career start.
Completing the field are Ballerina (G3) winner Class Included (30-1), and Zenyatta third place finisher Include Me Out (15-1).
$3 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic Friday Nov. 2 Post time 4:30 PT
1 Grace Hall 10-1
2 My Miss Aurelia 4-1
3 Class Included 30-1
4 Questing 4-1
5 Awesome Feather 3-1
6 Royal Delta 9-5
7 Include Me Out 15-1
8 Love and Pride 8-1
$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Saturday Nov. 3 Post time 5:35 PT
1 Pool Play 30-1
2 Flat Out 5-1
3 Alpha 20-1
4 Fort Larned 5-1
5 Game On Dude 9-5
6 Brilliant Speed 20-1
7 Handsome Mike 30-1
8 Nonios 20-1
9 Richard’s Kid 12-1
10 Ron the Greek 6-1
11 Mucho Macho Man 8-1
12 To Honor and Serve 8-1
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