2024 Breeders’ Cup fields locked in with odds. A foreign invader is the Classic favorite.
If you’re a sports gambler looking for value, there are few places better to find some than the Breeders’ Cup.
The 41st annual world championships of thoroughbred racing take place Friday and Saturday at Del Mar Racetrack in California with 169 horses lined up across two days and 14 events vying for $34 million in purses.
But the owners, trainers and jockeys aren’t the only ones with a chance to walk away with newfound money.
You can’t go to the track on a typical race day any other time of the year and find the type of odds-to-talent ratios you’ll find at the Breeders’ Cup. A multiple Grade 1 winner might be the even-money favorite in a typical stakes race. At the Breeders’ Cup, the fields are so stacked with proven champions that same horse might go off as a 10-1 shot.
Four of this weekend’s 14 races boast full fields of 14 horses. Post positions were drawn and odds assigned for every event Monday night at Del Mar and, as usual, international and North American talent abounds.
The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the main attraction of this weekend’s championships set for a 5:41 p.m. EDT Saturday post time on NBC, is headlined by 5-2 morning-line favorite City of Troy. The Aidan O’Brien trainee is a 3-year-old son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify who will be making his first career start in the United States after winning six of seven career races in England and Ireland.
Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher and riding a two-race winning streak since finishing 15th as the post-time favorite in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, is the 3-1 second choice in a field of 14.
Thorpedo Anna, winner of this year’s 150th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs for Lexington-based trainer Kenny McPeek, is the 4-5 favorite in the $2 million Distaff, which is also set for Saturday. Raging Sea is the 7-2 second choice in a field of 10 fillies and mares.
The $5 million Turf, the second-richest race on the Breeders’ Cup card, is topped by 5-2 shot Rebel’s Romance, who won this race in 2022 at Keeneland. The 6-year-old gelding from Ireland has won 14 of 21 career starts
Friday’s focus centers on the $2 million Juvenile for 2-year-olds, which offers a glimpse at next year’s top Kentucky Derby contenders. East Avenue, trained by Brendan Walsh and winner of this month’s Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, is the undefeated 5-2 favorite. Chancer McPatrick, trained by Chad Brown, is the 3-1 second choice and perfect through three starts. Jonathan’s Way, unbeaten in two starts, is the 9-2 third choice.
Gaming, trained by Bob Baffert, is 20-1 on the morning line for the Juvenile. Baffert is aiming to bring a horse to the Kentucky Derby for the first time since 2021 when his Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first but was later disqualified for failing a drug test — a penalty that earned the Hall of Fame trainer a three-year suspension from Churchill Downs. Baffert will also saddle Citizen Bull (10-1) and Getaway Car (20-1) in the Juvenile.
This weekend’s Breeders’ Cup will be televised or streamed nationally by NBC, USA, Peacock and FanDuel TV.
Friday’s top choices on the morning line
Juvenile Turf Sprint: Ecoro Sieg (7-2), Big Mojo (4-1), Aesterius (9-2)
Juvenile Fillies: Scottish Lassie (5-2), Immersive (3-1), Non Compliant (9-2)
Juvenile Fillies Turf: Lake Victoria (8-5), Thought Process (5-2), Heavens Gate (12-1), Scythian (12-1)
Juvenile: East Avenue (5-2), Chancer McPatrick (3-1), Jonathan’s Way (9-2)
Juvenile Turf: New Century (5-2), Al Qudra (4-1), Henri Matisse (6-1)
Saturday’s top choices on the morning line
Filly and Mare Sprint: Ways and Means (5-2), Society (3-1), Vahva (4-1)
Turf Sprint: Cogburn (7-5), Bradsell (7-2), Motorious (8-1)
Distaff: Thorpedo Anna (4-5), Raging Sea (7-2), Awesome Result (4-1)
Turf: Rebel’s Romance (5-2), Jayarebe (4-1), Emily Upjohn (5-1)
Classic: City of Troy (5-2), Fierceness (3-1), Forever Young (6-1)
Filly and Mare Turf: War Like Goddess (5-2), Cinderella’s Dream (4-1), Content (6-1)
Sprint: Federal Judge (3-1), Mullikin (7-2), Straight No Chaser (5-1)
Mile: Notable Speech (7-2), Porta Fortuna (4-1), Johannes (9-2)
Dirt Mile: Domestic Product (7-2), Skippylongstocking (4-1), Saudi Crown (5-1)
2024 Breeders’ Cup
What: World championships of thoroughbred horse racing, including 14 races over two days.
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California
Breeders’ Cup Classic field with odds
Horses entered Monday for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Saturday:
1. Forever Young (6-1)
2. Highland Falls (20-1)
3. City of Troy (5-2)
4. Mixto (30-1)
5. Senior Buscador (30-1)
6. Derma Sotogake (20-1)
7. Ushba Tesoro (12-1)
8. Pyrenees (30-1)
9. Fierceness (3-1)
10. Tapit Trice (30-1)
11. Sierra Leone (12-1)
12. Arthur’s Ride (15-1)
13. Newgate (20-1)
14. Next (8-1)
Breeders’ Cup schedule
All times Eastern
Friday, Nov. 1
Juvenile Turf Sprint: 5:45 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Juvenile Fillies: 6:25 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Juvenile Fillies Turf: 7:05 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Juvenile: 7:45 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Juvenile Turf: 8:25 p.m. (FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Saturday, Nov. 2
Filly and Mare Sprint: 3 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Turf Sprint: 3:41 p.m. (NBC, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Distaff: 4:21 p.m. (NBC, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Turf: 5:01 p.m. (NBC, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Classic: 5:41 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)
Filly and Mare Turf: 6:25 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Sprint: 7:05 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Mile: 7:45 p.m. (USA, FanDuel TV, Peacock)
Dirt Mile: 8:25 p.m. (FanDuel TV, Peacock)
This story was originally published October 28, 2024 at 9:44 PM.