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BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC 1 1/4-Miles PURSE $6,000,000

POST HORSE ML ODDS TOP PICKS

1 (IRE) 12-1 2 2 Roaring Lion 20-1 3 3 Catholic Boy 8-1 10 YOSHIDA 4 20-1 $20 WIN 5 Lone Sailor 30-1 2 ($20) 6 McKinzie 6-1 5-1 7 $2 EXACTA KEY BOX 8 Pavel 20-1 2 with 1,3,6,7,10,14 ($24) 9 12-1 10 Yoshida (JPN) 10-1 $1 TRIFECTA PART-WHEEL Mind Your Biscuits 6-1 11 2 with 1,3,6,7,10,14 with 1,3,6,7,10,14 12 Axelrod 30-1 ($30) 13 Discreet Lover 20-1 powered by brisnet.com 14 5-2

A fantastic field of 14 will go postward Saturday in the crown jewel of the Breeders’ Cup, the $6 million Classic (G1). A well-matched and accomplished cast will contest the lucrative, 1 ¼-miles test. Accelerate is the deserving favorite for conditioner John Sadler, but this is a race where searching for a price seems like the right course of action. The 2018 Classic has a very “grassy” feel to it and the focus will be on the proven turf performers.

In terms of raw talent, European invader ROARING LION (#2) (20-1) is at the top of the cast. Sensational sophomore from the barn of John Gosden has been sublime leading up to his most lucrative assignment in the Classic. Kitten’s Joy colt has hit his best stride in the second half of 2018 in registering four Group-1 tallies in succession. Gray Kentucky-bred is adept at handling the ten-furlong distance, and proved both his versatility and class in coming out on top in the Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) at one mile at Royal Ascot last time. His lack of dirt experience can be made up for with his abundance of class. If Roaring Lion takes to the main surface, his foes will be in trouble.

Travers S. (G1) victor CATHOLIC BOY (#3) (8-1) is still a tough read on dirt at this level but nobody can doubt his class or determination. More Than Ready colt has been running huge since his juvenile campaign. Bay was a Grade-3 winner in a second lifetime race and finished a closing fourth in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar. Ridgling concluded a fine two-year-old season with a stunning, 4 ¾-length drubbing in the Remsen S. (G2) in his dirt debut. Rapidly improving sophomore is peaking with sensational tallies in the (G1) and Travers S. (G1) in advance of the Classic and comes in fresh for Jonathan Thomas. A forwardly placed trip is expected from the fine sophomore.

YOSHIDA (#10) (10-1) is another who has attained top-level glory on both dirt and the turf. Son of top Japanese sire Heart’s Cry won at Downs on Day when annexing the Turf Classic (G1) and comes into the Classic after taking the Woodward S. (G1) going away, unleashing a potent nine-wide rally en route to victory. Bill Mott pupil has every right to improve in a second main-track appearance. And quality late runners have historically performed well when the Classic has been held at Churchill Downs, with and the Mott-trained taking the last two Classic events beneath the Twin Spires. Yoshida will be rallying from well back early on.

ACCELERATE (#14) (5-2) has done little wrong throughout a fine 2018 campaign. The depth of this field makes any horse at shorts odds a bet against to some measure, though. Bob Baffert’s WEST COAST (#7) (5-1) was third in the 2017 Classic and is the second-choice. Fine four-year-old came off a long break to run second in the (G1) and is training in fine fashion since.

Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner MCKINZIE (#6) (6-1) and (UAE-G1) star THUNDER SNOW (#1) (12-1), are also in with a big chance if things go their way.

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