And the Classic goes to … Forever Young.
That’s the majority verdict from the panel of handicappers at usacing.com on the eve of the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Saturday (Nov. 2).
Forever Young Emerges as Top Pick for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic
Forever Young, the Japan-bred whose only loss came in a rowdy three-horse photo at the Kentucky Derby (G1), was the top point-getter by the US Racing Team seven-member panel of handicappers.
Forever Young is the 6-1 third betting choice and is 6-for-6 in Japan. He finished third in the Derby after being shuffled around by a closing Sierra Leone, who wound up second behind Mystik Dan.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic Expert Predictions
“Forever Young missed by only a head to be third in the Derby despite rough treatment from Sierra Leone through the stretch,’’ notes The Professor. “He loves this 1 ¼-mile distance as evidenced by his recent win in the Japan Dirt Classic.”
Adds Racingfor$: “Forever Young’s been super consistent all season, and his stamina on dirt tracks is exactly what you need for a win here.”
Mad Max believes England-based City of Troy will run just fine in his first race on dirt and in America. The 3-year-old has won six of seven races, the same record as Forever Young.
“Based on the DNA, son of the Triple Crown winner Justify, City of Troy should be the obvious choice,’’ Mad Max said.
Fierceness, winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1) after a win followed by a loss in his first six races, is America’s top contender.
“Now that he’s won two in a row, why not three in a row?’’ asks Trackenstein.
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Newgate, trained by four-time Classic winner Bob Baffert, is coming off a narrow loss (in a three-horse photo) to Subsanador and stablemate National Treasure in the California Crown (G1),
Horsecents opts: “He’s trained like a Classic winner should since his last race, and the addition of blinkers only helps him.”
And is Sierra Leone ready to finally complete a winning rally after running second in the Derby, third in the Belmont (G1), second in the Jim Dandy (G2) and third in the Travers?
“If he runs straight and true, he’s a winner,’’ notes Captain Morgan. “It’s a big if, but 12-1 works for me.”
Five points were awarded for first, three for second, and one for third. Forever Young totaled 18 points, with Fierceness getting 13 points, City of Troy, 12, Newgate 10, Sierra Leone 5, and marathon star Next 5.
A full field of 14 is set for the 1 ¼-mile Classic (post time 5:41 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock).
For those who bet horse racing:
The picks by usracing.com handicappers:
Trackenstein: 1 Fierceness 2 Next 3 City of Troy
Captain Morgan: 1 Sierra Leone 2 Newgate 3 Fierceness
The Professor: 1 Forever Young 2 City of Troy 3 Fierceness
Mr. Tout: 1 Forever Young 2 City of Troy 3 Fierceness
HorseCents: 1 Newgate 2 Forever Young 3 Fierceness
Racingfor$: 1 Forever Young 2 Fierceness 3 Next
Mad Max: 1 City of Troy, 2 Fierceness 3 Next