2021 Breeders' Cup Classic Picks

The Breeders’ Cup Classic features several horses who made names for themselves in the Empire State this year. Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality will be one of the favorites, as will Whitney Stakes winner Knicks Go, Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Max Player, and Woodward Stakes winner Art Collector.

Breeders' Cup Classic Horses

This is the official field for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:

1. Tripoli (John Sadler/Irad Ortiz) - 15/1

2. Express Train (John Shirreffs/Victor Espinoza) - 20/1

3. Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O’Neill/Flavien Prat) - 4/1

4. Essential Quality (Brad Cox/Luis Saez) - 3/1

5. Knicks Go (Brad Cox/Joel Rosario) - 5/2

6. Art Collector (Bill Mott/Mike Smith) - 8/1

7. Stilleto Boy (Ed Moger/Kent Desormeaux) - 30/1

8. Medina Spirit (Bob Baffert/John Velazquez) - 4/1

9. Max Player (Steve Asmussen/Ricardo Santana) - 8/1

Remember that the morning line is just the track’s best guess about the odds. The advantage to wagering online is that when you see the best odds on your horse, you can go ahead, bet them, and lock in the odds when you bet.

Horses
Knicks Go	TBA	+200	TBA
Essential Quality	TBA	+275	TBA
Hot Rod Charlie	TBA	+400	TBA
Medina Spirit	TBA	+500	TBA
Art Collector	TBA	+750	TBA
Max Player	TBA	+800	TBA

Free Breeders' Cup Classic Picks

Now that you know how to find the best places to play the race, let’s get to know the best horses in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic. 

Breeders' Cup Classic Favorite

#5 Knicks Go will go off the favorite. He has won his last three races easily, but got a clear lead all three times. With the likes of #8 Medina Spirit and #3 Hot Rod Charlie (and perhaps #7 Stilleto Boy, though he will have to take a serious step forward) all doing their best work up front, the trip will not be as cozy for Knicks Go this time.

Knicks Go has yet to go a mile and a quarter, as well. At this point in his career he has been able to sustain his high cruising speed out to a mile and an eighth, but the extra furlong plus other very good horses likely to push him up front lead to him being an underlay.

It is worth making a note that Hot Rod Charlie might come from a bit off the pace. He has strong early speed and can keep on after going very fast early (as he proved in the Belmont), but earlier in his career he was an off-pace horse and he might use that extra level of versatility to his benefit.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders

#6 Art Collector has a lot of speed, as he showed in the Woodward and Alydar. But, he also showed he can win from off the pace, and may not be quite as fast to the front as Knicks Go or Medina Spirit or Hot Rod Charlie. Art Collector also has to prove himself at the distance, but he is better and stronger now than the last time he stretched out even close to this long.

#4 Essential Quality, just like Hot Rod Charlie, faces older foes for the first time. He has done little wrong, though his only loss did come at a mile and a quarter. That did come in a bigger field after a bad start. though, and he won smartly in the ten-furlong Travers since then. But. he will also be a short price in a tough spot, making it worth knowing the downsides.

The most interesting horse to bet in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is #9 Max Player. He has won his last two races, both at a mile and a quarter, so he has the proven stamina. He has to show his class, since these are tougher horses than he has been facing, but he has tactical speed from the outside for a trainer who has won two Breeders’ Cup Classics already.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Longshots

Local longshots #1 Tripoli and #2 Express Train round out the field. Tripoli has a G1 win at a mile and a quarter at Del Mar, but the field in the Pacific Classic was less than vintage and he will have to take a step forward. Express Train also likes Del Mar. but has yet to prove he wants anything to do with a mile and a quarter.

Breeders' Cup Classic Day Wagering

Breeders' Cup Classic wagers include same horse racing bets that tracks across the country offer. You can bet to win, meaning the horse must run first. You can bet to place, meaning the horse must run first or second. A show bet means the horse must run first, second, or third. Across the board means betting a horse to win, place, or show.

You can also shoot for a bigger score with exotic wagers. An exacta requires picking the first two horses in order, the trifecta the first three in order, superfecta the first four. Boxing these wagers costs more, but ensures you have every order covered, so your horses can finish in any order.

You can also pick winners in multiple races. A Daily Double requires you to pick the winners of two races in a row. A Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 require you to pick winners of 3, 4, and 5 races in a row.

Breeders' Cup Classic Bets

Here are the best bets for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic:

• $20 to win - #9 Max Player

• $1 exacta box -  #4 Essential Quality, #6 Art Collector, #9 Max Player

• $0.50 trifecta box - #3 Hot Rod Charlie, #4 Essential Quality, #6 Art Collector, #9 Max Player

• $0.20 superfecta box - #3 Hot Rod Charlie, #4 Essential Quality, #5 Knicks Go, #6 Art Collector, #9 Max Player

Where to Bet the Breeders' Cup Classic

Now that you know about the contenders, the wagers, and the best bets to make, you have all the information that you need to bet the Breeders' Cup Classic online!  Get to know the top New York racebooks, which all offer excellent odds and incentives for Breeders' Cup Classic bettors, like rebates and sign-up bonuses.

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