By Richard Rosenblatt
For weeks now, Brad Cox has been requested in so some ways to inform us who has the higher probability of successful the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1), Important High quality or Knicks Go.
His reply is straightforward: “I can’t separate them, however I’m enthusiastic about being on this place with each horses.”
A few days ago, for example, this question was posed to the trainer: If you had $10 to bet on one of your Classic horses, which way would you go?
His response: $5 to win on each.
Finally, the 38th Breeders’ Cup has is right here, at Del Mar, with hundreds of followers within the grandstand, with out race-day remedy, and boasting a stellar lineup of thoroughbred stars from world wide.
The Classic, as normal, is the grand finale of the two-day, 14-race, $31 million Breeders’ Cup. Put up time for the 1 ¼-mile Classic is 8:40 p.m. ET publish on NBC.
Knicks Go on the Whitney Stakes -Picture Courtesy of Dom Napolitano
Knicks Go, winner of the 2020 BC Grime Mile, is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in a nine-horse area, with Important High quality, the 2020 Juvenile winner, the 3-1 second selection.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Medina Spirit leads the cost of challengers together with Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Scorching Rod Charlie and some different Grade 1 winners on a roll, Artwork Collector and Max Participant. This Traditional needs to be a doozy of a race.
A scorching tempo is all however assured, with Knicks Go and jockey Joel Rosario set to shoot to entrance from publish 5. Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, 4-1) and Artwork Collector (Mike Smith, 8-1) are more likely to be out entrance, too, with Important High quality (Luis Saez) not far again, together with Max Participant (Ricardo Santana, Jr., 8-1).
From there … properly let’s have Cox dimension up what may happen together with his horses.
“I believe it does arrange properly for (Important High quality),’’ he stated. “I believe Luis clearly does is aware of him extraordinarily properly, and I’m placing him in place. That’s the one beauty of Important High quality. He’s capable of modify to the tempo and that’s, that what makes him so harmful every run. We’re most likely getting a tempo comparable or perhaps even hotter than it was within the Kentucky Derby.”
As for Knicks Go, Cox said: “It is very rare for a horse to do what Knicks Go can do. You don’t always see horses that are capable of running as quick as he can and clearing. And he really accelerates in the turns.
“… We are going to be very aggressive, and hopefully he gets the lead going into the first turn and he’s able to clear off. I think that gives him his best opportunity to win.”
Medina Spirit during the Preakness Stakes at Pilmico – Photo Courtesy of Anne M.Eberhardt
No telling how this one will turn out since 5-year-old Knicks Go has never run as far as 1 ¼ miles, and the likes of Derby runners Medina Spirit, Hot Rod Charlie and Max Player have. History says it will be a tough task for Knicks Go.
Knicks Go comes into the race off three straight wire-to-wire wins by a combined 18 ¾ lengths, most recently a four-length victory in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs on Oct. 20; Essential Quality is making his first start since winning the Travers (G1) at the Spa on Aug. 28, a layoff of more than nine weeks.
Embattled trainer Bob Baffert sends out Medina Spirit looking for his fifth Classic win. Medina Spirit comes into the race off a five-length victory in the Awesome Again (G1). His Derby win remains in question after a post-race positive for a prohibited race-day medication.
“He’s never run a bad race. He’s a good horse,’’ Baffert told drf.com this week. “Every time he runs, he proves how good a horse he is. He’s thrilling to watch run. He has a lot of heart.”
Bill Mott is looking for a third Classic win with Art Collector; he won with Cigar in 1995 and Drosselmeyer in 2011.
Related: 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders, Post Positions, Odds And Predictions
“We know Knicks Go is going to bolt out of there and he’s right inside of us and Medina Spirit is outside, so we hope he is able to stalk, but you don’t know until the race unfolds,” Mott said. “We have a good group of horses who are doing really well. Whether they’re good enough or not, we’ll see Saturday.”
Future Stars Friday kicked off with five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds. With the late scratch of Juvenile (G1) morning-line favorite Jack Christopher, Baffert’s Corniche was the likely top choice, while unbeaten Echo Zulu (4-5) was the favorite in the Juveniles Fillies (G1).
Leading up to Saturday’s Classic, a parade of champions will be headliners in just about every other Breeders’ Cup race:
Gamine – Photo Courtesy of Chelsea Durand
The Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) options Gamine, the Baffert-trained defending champ on the lookout for one other Eclipse Award. The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief is 9-for-10, together with wire-to-wire wins in her final 5 begins, most not too long ago the Ballerina (G1) on the Spa on Aug. 28. The race has a area of simply 5.
The Turf Sprint (G1) has to Breeders’ Cup winners from final 12 months – defending champ Glass Slippers at 6-1 and 2020 Juvenile Turf Dash winner Golden Pal because the 7-2 favourite.
The Dirt Mile (G1) needs to be a dandy with 4-5 favourite Life Is Good, with 4 victories in 5 begins, going up towards Met Mile (G1) winner Silver State.
Audarya is again to strive for a second straight win within the Filly & Mare Turf (G1). A 12 months in the past, mare bred in France gained by a neck over Dashing Fall. The 5-year-old is the 5-1 on the morning-line, with Warfare Like Goddess – 6-for-7 – is the 7-2 favourite.
The Sprint (G1) at 6 furlongs might be mad sprint to the wire with Jackie’s Warrior the sturdy 6-5 favourite and driving a three-race win streak, most not too long ago a 6 3/4-length romp within the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx on Sept. 25. The three-year-old educated by Steve Asmussen faces a slew of older horses in 7-year-olds C Z Rocket and Matera Sky, and 6-year-old Firenze Fireplace, looking for a primary win in his fifth BC race.
The Mile (G1) on the turf consists of considered one of Charlie Appleby’s greatest in Areas Blues, the 3-1 best choice in a full area of 14. Different acquainted names able to contend embrace native favourite Mo Forza (5-1), Raging Bull (15-1), and Bought Stormy (10-1).
The Distaff (G1) has one its strongest fields ever, with prime feminine Letruska the 8-5 favourite in a area of 11 fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles. Two Kentucky Oaks (G1) winners are within the area, this 12 months’s winner Malathaat (4-1) and final 12 months’s winner Shedaresthedevil (4-1). Baffert has a pair – Personal Mission and As Time Goes By and Chad Brown has a pair in Royal Flag and Dunbar Highway. Letruska has gained her final 4 going wire-to-wire. A win right here, and an upset within the Traditional may give her a shot at Horse of the Yr honors.
The Turf (G1) options one other returning champion in Tarnawa. The 5-year-old mare gained final 12 months’s version by one size over Magical and is the 9-5 selection race in a area of 12 with scratches on Thursday of United and Home Spending. Tarnawa ran a detailed second to Torquator Tasso within the Prix de l’Arc Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct. 3.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds
Over the years while working at The Associated Press, Rich Rosenblatt became a familiar name to legions of the horse racing fans and industry insiders with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his stories from the backstretch.
In addition to being an astute observer of sports, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in just about every publication in the world, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Time Magazine.
