It would be a pretty exciting day at the races if…
Hronis Racing’s Accelerate, current two-time consecutive Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) Champion filly Enable, Qatar Racing Limited’s Roaring Lion, Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow, Coolmore’s regally bred runaway UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn, last year’s Travers Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner West Coast, this year’s upstart G1 turf (Belmont Derby Invitational) and dirt (Travers) winner Catholic Boy, Winstar and China Horse Club’s Japanese Champion Yoshida, rags to riches Jockey Club Gold (G1) winner Discreet Lover, six-time graded stakes winning wunderkind Mind Your Biscuits, and 3-year-old four-time graded stakes and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Mckinzie, along with Gunnevera, Pavel, Axelrod and Lone Sailor appeared on the same card together anywhere in the world.
Instead, they all will compete for a piece of the $6 million purse over 1 1/4 miles of sacred horseracing ground on one day, in one race, Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic on Championship Day at Louisville’s Churchill Downs.
The full field of 14 is so loaded that last year’s Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) and BC Classic runner-up Collected, and 2014 BC Classic runner-up Toast of New York are left out of the field listed as Also-Entered and will have to hope for a scratch or defection to earn a gate.
The Classic is the final race on a two-day, equally across-the-board star-studded two cards featuring 14 races with purses totaling $30 million, 191 entrants including 48 international stars and more storylines than a bucketful of morning oats.
Let’s save those storylines for tomorrow’s race-by-race analysis and get right to the all-important post- position draw for each race, beginning in reverse order with the post position, horse (international), with *favorite, jockey and trainer and morning line odds.
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018
Friday, Nov. 2, 2018
The Breeders’ Cup schedule has been changed to reflect the rebranding of the first day as “Future Stars Friday” and features the five Juvenile (2-year-olds) races from which it can be expected early favorites will emerge for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks for fillies and the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
We again begin in reverse order, last Breeders’ Cup race of the day first, with the post position, horse (international), with *favorite, jockey and trainer and morning line odds.
The Breeders’ Cup races will be telecast live Nov. 2–3 on NBC Sports Network and NBC, which will also telecast the Classic scheduled at 5:44 EDT. Check local listings for exact schedule and times in your area. The Breeders’ Cup is also streamed on various wagering and subscription services, on breederscup.com and its mobile app. Some Breeders’ Cup Week events are streamed on Facebook Live & Periscope.
Of course, horse races also involve plenty of humans. So, be sure to check back as we examine each race and some fascinating storylines, both equine and human, in what is certain to be a memorable Breeders’ Cup 2018 at Churchill Downs.