None of the Triple Crown race winners are in the field (Mage, National Treasure – he's in the Dirt Mile – or Arcangelo), but he 12-horse Classic is still a strong one, with so many betting options.
Carded as race 9 with a post time of 6:40 p.m. ET, the $6 million Classic will be followed by two more Breeders’ Cup races, the Turf Sprint and the Sprint.
In the 40th Classic, at 1 ¼ miles, late-blooming and front-running 3-year-olds Arabian Knight and Saudi Crown take on older horses including White Abarrio, a pair of Japan-based horses in Ushba Tesero and Derma Sotogake, with the likes of recent G1 winners Bright Future and Zandon also in the mix.
Ushba Tesero, a 6-year-old, has a six-race winning streak and earnings of more than $9.5 million.
Below are the picks from the team at usracing.com
1 Proxy 2 Arabian Knight 3 White Abarrio
“With Arcangelo and Geaux Rocket Ride sidelined, the path to the winner’s circle opened for Proxy, the best closer in a field overloaded with early speed.’’
1 Ushba Tesoro 2 Arabian Knight 3 Zandon
“World traveler Ushba Tesoro sits off a hot pace and blasts home to give Japan its first Classic victory.’’
1 Ushba Tesoro 2 Arabian Knight 3 Bright Future
“This guy looks fantastic on the track and carries a strong winning streak into this one. A smooth start, and he could be the one.”
1 White Abarrio 2 Saudi Crown 3 Arabian Knight
“Imagine: After a 10-year suspension for numerous medication violations, trainer Rick Dutrow wins the Classic. This is what I’m imagining.
1 White Abarrio 2 Ushba Tesero 3 Derma Sotogake
“Babe.’’
1 Arabian Knight 2 Ushba Tesero 3 White Abarrio
“Outside post isn’t ideal, but he’s been training well over his home track and his trainer likes to win the big ones.”
| 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.
