What else is new? Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is loaded for the Breeders’ Cup at his home track at Santa Anita, with Arabian Knight the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $6 million Classic.
Baffert, who tops all trainers in BC earnings with more than $39 million, entered eight of his best horses in seven Breeders’ Cup races set for Nov. 3-4.
Arabian Knight, a lightly raced 3-year-old colt who missed the Triple Crown races but won the Pacific Classic (G1) last month, tops a Classic field of 13 entered Monday night in the centerpiece in the 40th edition of the two-day, $31 million Breeders’ Cup.
“He’s slowly turning into a man right now; he’s still learning,’’ Baffert said this week of the Uncle Mo colt with just four career starts. “He’s ready to run.”
Bob Baffert and Jill Baffert during morning workouts at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on October 31, 2023 as horses prepare for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup
Arcangelo, the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers (G1) winner trained by Jena Antonucci is the 7-2 second choice. The colt has been nursing a warm hind foot and has not been to the track for the past two days.
Arabian Knight, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, drew the No. 12 post, while Arcangelo drew the rail and will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.
“He’s won from the one (post) before so that’s what we think,’’ Antonucci said. “It seems everyone is quite stressed about this (foot issue) for us — so thank you everybody for your grave concern … he had a warm hind foot and pulled a shoe off. We will be patient; always put the horse first and make sure he is 100%.
Breeder’s Cup Classic Showdown: Baffert’s Historic Pursuit and Top Race Favorites
The field is a strong one that includes two Japan-based horses, Ushba Tesero, a 6-year-old with a six-race winning streak, and UAE Derby (G2) winner Derma Sotogake.
Baffert is seeking a fifth win in the Classic, with Bayern, American Pharoah, Arrogate, and Authentic his previous winners. All were 3-year-olds.
The field also includes Whitney (G1) winner White Abarrio for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., at 4-1 leaving from post 3 under Irad Otiz Jr. Ushba Tesero is also 4-1.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher entered two – Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future (10-1 from post 11) and maiden winner Dreamlike (30-1 from post 10), who was second to Saudi Crown in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Saudi Crown, trained by Brad Cox, and Arabian Knight, are the likely pace-setters, as each has won big races going gate-to-wirer.
“The dirt mile seems to have less speed than the Classic,’’ Pletcher said of his choice for Dreamlike. “We felt he wants 1 1/4 miles and he wants a truly run race. He wants to drop back and make one run.”
The Classic is not the final race on Saturday, but the ninth on a 12-race card with a post time of 6:40 p.m. ET. NBC will televise the race, along with most of the other BC races.
Arabian Knight, trained by Bob Baffert, exercises during morning workouts at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on October 28, 2023 as horses prepare for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup
On Friday, Baffert sends out two colts in the $2 million Juvenile – Muth at 4-1, and Wine Me Up; Locked, trained by Pletcher is the 7-2 favorite.
On Saturday, his Preakness (G1) National Treasure (8-1) takes on 9-5 favorite Cody’s Wish in a field of nine for the $1 million Dirt Mile; 10-1 Eda winner challenges 6-5 favorite Goodnight Olive in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint; and is in a nine-horse field; longshot Du Jour tries to give the trainer a first turf race win in the $2 million Mile against the likes of 5-2 favorite Songline and 7-2 Master of the Seas; and Adare Manor, winner of five in a row, is entered in the $2 million Distaff against 5-2 favorite Idiomatic in a field of 11.
After digesting the morning-line odds, consider the average winning payout in the Classic on a $2 win bet is $23.50. Last year, Flightline returned $2.88 as the 2-5 favorite, but in 1993 it was 133-1 longshot Arcangues winning and returning $269.20.
Baffert’s past winners
Interestingly, three of Baffert’s Classic winners’ names begin with A – American Pharoah (2015), Arrogate (2016), and Authentic (2020. His non-A winner was a B – Bayern in 2014.
The complexion of the field took a turn these past few days. On Saturday, Haskell (G1) winner Geaux Rocket Ride sustained a condylar fracture of the right front leg during a workout and underwent surgery the next day.
On Sunday, Derby winner Mage was pulled out of the race due to a slight fever. Both 3-year-olds were considered top contenders in the Classic.
Breeders’ Cup on TV
USA Network and FanDuel TV will both televise Friday’s first day featuring 2-year-olds. USA Network coverage runs 4-8 p.m. ET and features one undercard race and the five Breeders’ Cup races. FanDuel TV begins at 2 p.m. and concludes with race 10, scheduled for an 8:10 p.m. post.
On the big day, USA Network’s coverage starts at 1:30 p.m. followed by 3 ½ hours of programming on NBC and Peacock (3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.)
The Classic post time is 6:40 p.m., with two more BC races to follow, the Turf Sprint (7:25 p.m. post)and the Sprint (8 p.m. post). Those races will be on Peacock.
The field for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
| 2 | Zandon | 12-1 | Chad C. Brown | Lafranco Dettori |
| 3 | White Abarro | 4-1 | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | Irad Ortiz,Jr. |
| 4 | Missed The Cut | 30-1 | John W. Sadler | Luis Saez |
| 5 | Derma Sotogake | 20-1 | Hidetaka Otonashi | Christophe Lemaire |
| 6 | Saudi Crown | 12-1 | Brad H. Cox | Florent Geroux |
| 7 | Clapton | 20-1 | Chad Summers | Tyler Gaffalione |
| 8 | Ushba Tesoro | 4-1 | Noboru Tagaki | Yuga Kawada |
| 9 | Senor Buscador | 30-1 | Todd W.Fincher | Geovanni Franco |
| 10 | Dreamlike | 30-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | Jose L. Ortiz |
| 11 | Bright Future | 10-1 | Todd A. Pletcher | John Velazquez |
| 12 | Arabian Knight | 3-1 | Bob Baffert | Flavien Prat |
| 13 | Proxy | 12-1 | Michael Stidham | Joel Rosario |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
