Bayern bests Toast of New York and California Chrome in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic, giving trainer Bob Baffert his first of three Classic wins. (Photo credit: Breeders’ Cup Ltd.).
The John Sadler trained Accelerate remains the early betting favorite for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.
The five-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky has won three in a row, taking the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita in his last outing. His current price in early Classic betting at USRacing is 11-5.
Accelerate is looking to get his trainer Sadler off the duck. The Southern California trainer is 0 for 41 in his career in Breeders’ Cup races. Sadler has started two runners in the Classic, Candy Boy in 2014 and Hard Aces in 2015, both checking in sixth.
Sadler runners have run well, 10 landing in the money including runner up finishes with Stellar Wind in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and Switch, who ran second in the 2010 and 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
Baffert Has Strong Duo
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Classic in three of the last four years sends out two top contenders in West Coast and McKinzie, the second and third choices in Classic betting at USRacing.
West Coast was last year’s Classic third place finisher behind Gun Runner and Collected. The colt ran second to Accelerate in the Awesome Again in his last start, which was his first since running second in the Dubai World Cup (G1) back in March. The colt is the 7-2 second choice in early Classic wagering at USRacing.
2018 Awesome Again Replay
McKinzie is a three-year-old who will facing his elders for the fit time in the Classic. Baffert’s three Classic winners—Bayern (2014), American Phoarah (2015) and Arrogate (2016) were three-year-olds.
The colt missed the Triple Crown races this year and returned off a six-month layoff to win the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 22. The colt is the 6-1 third choice in the early wagering.
Thomas Trainee a Grade 1 Winner on Turf and Dirt
Catholic Boy is another talented three-year-old that will be taking on older for the first time in the Classic. The Jonathan Thomas trainee is the co-fourth choice at 7-1.
The son of More Than Ready is a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt. He won the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) on grass at 1 ¼ miles, then won the Travers (G1) at Saratoga in his last start at the same distance on dirt.
The classic will have an international flair, led by Thunder Snow who ran ell in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last out where he rallied to mis by just a neck.
Owned by Godolphin Racing, the colt won the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March and then was a disappointing eighth in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at Yok in August.
The Bill Mott trained Yoshida is listed at 10-1 in early Classic betting at USRacing. This colt is also a Grade 1 winner on both turf and dirt. He won the Old Forrester Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs in May and in his first career start on dirt won the Woodward (G1) in his last start.
Mott won the 2011 Classic with Drosselmeyer, who returned $31.60 and that race was held at Churchill Downs.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Early Betting Odds via USRacing:
Accelerate 11/5
West Coast 7/2
Mckinzie 6/1
Catholic Boy 7/1
Thunder Snow 7/1
Yoshida 10/1
Pavel 10/1
Gunnevera 11/1
Mendelssohn 12/1
Mind Your Biscuits 15/1
Roaring Lion 22/1
Hoppertunity 24/1
Collected 25/1
Axelroad 25/1
Gronkowski 30/1
Bravazo 30/1
Seeking The Soul 30/1
Discreet Lover 30/1
Honorable Duty 35/1
Toast Of New York 35/1
Prime Attraction 50/1
Lone Sailor 50/1
Instilled Regard 50/1
Catalina Cruiser 60/1
The Lieutenant 65/1
Trigger Warning 65/1
Leofric 65/1
Isotherm 75/1
Hence 75/1
City Of Light 75/1
You’re To Blame 75/1
