Breeders' Cup Classic

For the Australian Breeders Classic, see Breeders Classic.
Breeders' Cup Classic
Grade I race
The first turn in the 2007 Classic
LocationNorth America
Inaugurated1984
Race typeThoroughbred
Websitewww.breederscup.com
Race information
Distance1+1⁄4 miles
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-olds and up
Weight4-year-olds and up: 126 lb (57.2 kg)
3-year-olds: Northern Hemisphere 122 lb (55 kg), Southern Hemisphere 117 lb (53 kg)
Fillies and mares allowed 3 pounds.
PurseUS$7 Million (2024)

The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2,000 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in late October or early November. All of the races to date have been held in the United States except for the 1996 edition held at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada.

The Classic is considered by many to be the premier thoroughbred horse race of the year in the U.S., although the Kentucky Derby is more widely known among casual racing fans. Once the richest race in the world, in more recent years, only the Saudi Cup, Dubai World Cup, The Everest and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe have had consistently higher purses. Often, the winner of the Classic goes on to win U.S. Horse of the Year honors, including the four winners of the race between 2004 and 2007—respectively Ghostzapper, Saint Liam, Invasor, and Curlin. Due to the extremely high quality of horses in the event, the race is notoriously hard to predict. One notable example of an underdog winning the Classic is the victory of Arcangues in 1993. This was the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history and his $269.20 payoff for a $2 wager remains a Breeders' Cup record.

The Classic is now regarded as the fourth leg of horse racing's Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing — the traditional Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) plus the Breeders' Cup Classic. After American Pharoah's Triple Crown win earlier in 2015, the term became popular; the colt became the first horse to ever accomplish this feat.[1][2]

Notable renewals

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1980s

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The first running of the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1984 produced an exciting finish between 30–1 longshot Wild Again on the inside, Gate Dancer on the outside and favorite Slew o' Gold in between. The three battled down the stretch with Wild Again shifting his path away from the rail and Gate Dancer "lugging in" towards the rail, squeezing out Slew O' Gold. Wild Again finished a neck in front of Gate Dancer with Slew o' Gold less than a length behind. After a 10-minute stewards' inquiry, Wild Again was left in first place but Gate Dancer was disqualified to third.[3]

The 1987 renewal featured the face-off between two Kentucky Derby winners, Ferdinand and Alysheba. Ferdinand, who won the Derby in 1986, reached the lead in mid-stretch, then struggled to hold off the late charge of Alysheba. In a photo finish, Ferdinand prevailed by a nose[4] and would later be named Horse of the Year. Alysheba came back in 1988 to win the Classic, becoming the then-leading money earner in history.[5]

In the 1989 renewal, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer faced off for the last time in one of racing's most famous rivalries. Sunday Silence had beaten Easy Goer in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but Easy Goer turned the tables in the Belmont. Easy Goer then won the Whitney, Travers, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup, making him the 1–2 favorite in the Classic. Sunday Silence raced five lengths behind the early leaders, with Easy Goer six lengths further behind. Easy Goer made a move down the backstretch and got next to Sunday Silence, who then made his own move as they rounded the final turn. Sunday Silence opened up a three-length lead, but Easy Goer again started closing down the stretch. At the wire, Sunday Silence prevailed by a neck, earning him Horse of the Year honors.[6]

1990s

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The 1993 renewal saw the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history when the French-based Arcangues won at odds of 133–1. California-based horses had dominated at Santa Anita in the preceding races, and Bertrando was expected to continue the trend. He set the early pace and had a comfortable lead coming down the stretch, only to be caught near the wire. Arcangues' jockey Jerry Bailey had timed the run perfectly, even though he had never ridden the horse before. "I couldn't understand the instructions the trainer (André Fabre) gave me in the paddock", he said. "I don't even know how to pronounce the horse's name. But sometimes a horse runs best when he is ridden by someone who has never been on him before."[7]

In 1995, Cigar came into the Classic having won seven straight Grade I races and was made the 3–5 favorite. On a muddy track, he scored a 2+1⁄2 length victory in the excellent time of 1:592⁄5, then the fastest Classic ever run. When calling the race, track announcer Tom Durkin referred to him as the "unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable" Cigar – a phrase that would be associated with the horse for the rest of his life.[8][9]

2000s

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Although Tiznow won the Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors in 2000, he is best known for his effort in the 2001 renewal. Tiznow experienced a variety of physical problems throughout the year and came into the Classic with only two wins in five starts. Facing him was an exceptionally strong European contingent that included Galileo and Sakhee. The 2001 Breeders' Cup took place at Belmont Park in New York and was the first major sporting event since 9–11, so security was exceptionally heavy. Europeans won many of the early races on the card and looked set to take the Classic when Sakhee hit the lead in mid-stretch. Tiznow fought back and won the race by a nose, with Tom Durkin calling, "Tiznow wins it for America!" Tiznow became the first and to-date only two-time winner of the Classic.[10]

In the 2009 Classic, Zenyatta came into the Breeders' Cup with a perfect record of 13 wins from 13 starts. Rather than trying to defend her title in the Ladies Classic (now known as the Distaff), her connections decided to enter her in the Classic against male horses. The race was run on Santa Anita's Polytrack synthetic dirt surface, which attracted several turf competitors including Gio Ponti (Man o' War, Arlington Million), Twice Over (Champion Stakes) and Rip Van Winkle (Sussex, Queen Elizabeth II), who hoped to repeat Raven's Pass upset victory in the 2008 Classic. The field also included Mine That Bird (Kentucky Derby), Summer Bird (Belmont and Travers) and Einstein (Santa Anita Handicap), but Quality Road (Florida Derby) was scratched when he refused to load in the starting gate. When the race finally got underway, Zenyatta broke poorly and on the wrong lead. As was her custom, she dropped far back in the early running then started her move around the far turn. Jockey Mike Smith guided her between horses near the rail, then swung the mare wide as they entered the stretch. Zenyatta quickly regained stride and closed on the early leaders, winning by a length over Gio Ponti. Mike Smith believed she would have won by more if she had not slowed when the crowd started to react. "She started pricking her ears and looking at the crowd", he said. "And she still went, believe it or not, well within herself. She was pricking her ears and galloped out. She didn't even take a breath after the race was over. It's just incredible." Zenyatta became the first and still the only female horse to win the Classic.[11][12]

Automatic berths

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Main article: Breeders' Cup Challenge

Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed the Breeders' Cup Challenge, a series of races in each division that allotted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has multiple qualifying races. Note though that one horse may win multiple challenge races, while other challenge winners will not be entered in the Breeders' Cup for a variety of reasons such as injury or travel considerations.

In the Classic division, runners are limited to 14 and there are up to eight automatic berths. The 2022 "Win and You're In" races were:[13]

  1. The February Stakes, a Grade 1 race run in February at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan
  2. The Stephen Foster Handicap, a Grade 2 race run in June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
  3. The Haskell Invitational, a Grade 1 race run in July at Monmouth Park in New Jersey
  4. The Whitney Handicap, a Grade 1 race run in August at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York
  5. The International Stakes, a Group One race run in August at York Racecourse in England
  6. The Pacific Classic, a Grade 1 race run in September at Del Mar Racetrack in San Diego, California
  7. The Awesome Again Stakes, a Grade 1 race run in October at Santa Anita Park in California
  8. The Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Grade 1 race run in September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

Records

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Most wins:

Stakes record:

  • The fastest time recorded in the Breeders Cup Classic belongs to Skip Away, who set the mark of 1:59 under Mike Smith in 1997 at Hollywood Park. Because the Breeders' Cup Classic is run at different racetracks each year, some of which are faster than others, there is no official stakes record. Note though that Authentic's revised time of 1:59.60 set a record at Keeneland,[14] Ghostzapper's time of 1:59.02 set a track record at Lone Star Park[15] and Alphabet Soup's time of 2:01.0 set a track record on Woodbine's old dirt track.[16]

Largest winning margins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse $ Track Ref
2024 Sierra Leone 3 Flavien Prat Chad C. Brown Brant, Peter M, Magnier. Mrs. John Tabor, Michael Smith, Derrick, Westerberg, and Smith, Brook T. 2:00.78 $7,000,000 Del Mar [17]
2023 White Abarrio 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Richard E. Dutrow Jr. C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC 2:02.87 $6,000,000 Santa Anita [18]
2022 Flightline 4 Flavien Prat John W. Sadler Hronis Racing LLC, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc., Siena Farm LLC & Woodford Racing, LLC 2:00.05 $6,000,000 Keeneland [19]
2021 Knicks Go 5 Joel Rosario Brad H. Cox Korea Racing Authority 1:59.57 $6,000,000 Del Mar [20]
2020 Authentic 3 John R. Velazquez Bob Baffert Spendthrift Farm 1:59.60 $6,000,000 Keeneland [21]
2019 Vino Rosso 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Mike Repole 2:02.80 $6,000,000 Santa Anita [22]
2018 Accelerate 5 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Hronis Racing LLC 2:02.93 $6,000,000 Churchill Downs [23]
2017 Gun Runner 4 Florent Geroux Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm 2:01.29 $6,000,000 Del Mar [24]
2016 Arrogate 3 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Juddmonte Farms 2:00.11 $6,000,000 Santa Anita [25]
2015 American Pharoah 3 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 2:00.07 $5,000,000 Keeneland [26]
2014 Bayern 3 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah 1:59.88 $5,000,000 Santa Anita [27]
2013 Mucho Macho Man 5 Gary Stevens Katherine Ritvo Reeves Thoroughbred Racing 2:00.72 $5,000,000 Santa Anita [28]
2012 Fort Larned 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian Wilkes Janis R. Whitham 2:00.11 $5,000,000 Santa Anita [29]
2011 Drosselmeyer 4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott WinStar Farm LLC 2:04.27 $5,000,000 Churchill Downs [30]
2010 Blame 4 Garrett Gomez Albert Stall Jr. Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider 2:02.28 $5,000,000 Churchill Downs [31]
2009 Zenyatta† 5 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss 2:00.32 $5,000,000 Santa Anita [32]
2008 Raven's Pass 3 Frankie Dettori John Gosden Princess Haya/Darley Racing 1:59.27 $5,000,000 Santa Anita [33]
2007 Curlin 3 Robby Albarado Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables et al. 2:00.59 $5,000,000 Monmouth Park [34]
2006 Invasor (ARG) 4 Fernando Jara Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Racing 2:02.18 $5,000,000 Churchill Downs [35]
2005 Saint Liam 5 Jerry Bailey Richard Dutrow Jr. M/M William K. Warren Jr. 2:01.49 $5,000,000 Belmont Park [36]
2004 Ghostzapper 4 Javier Castellano Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables 1:59.02 $4,000,000 Lone Star Park [37]
2003 Pleasantly Perfect 5 Alex Solis Richard Mandella Diamond A Racing Corp. 1:59.88 $4,000,000 Santa Anita [38]
2002 Volponi 4 José A. Santos Philip G. Johnson Amherst & Spruce Pond Stable 2:01.39 $4,000,000 Arlington Park [39]
2001 Tiznow 4 Chris McCarron Jay M. Robbins Cee's Stables 2:00.62 $4,000,000 Belmont Park [40]
2000 Tiznow 3 Chris McCarron Jay M. Robbins Cooper & Straub-Rubens 2:00.75 $4,000,000 Churchill Downs [41]
1999 Cat Thief 3 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 1:59.52 $4,000,000 Gulfstream Park [42]
1998 Awesome Again 4 Pat Day Patrick B. Byrne Stronach Stables 2:02.16 $4,000,000 Churchill Downs [43]
1997 Skip Away 4 Mike E. Smith Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine 1:59.16 $4,400,000 Hollywood Park [44]
1996 Alphabet Soup 5 Chris McCarron David Hofmans Ridder Thoroughbred Stable 2:01.00 $4,000,000 Woodbine [45]
1995 Cigar 5 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1:59.58 $3,000,000 Belmont Park [46]
1994 Concern 3 Jerry Bailey Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff 2:02.41 $3,000,000 Churchill Downs [47]
1993 Arcangues 5 Jerry Bailey André Fabre Daniel Wildenstein 2:00.83 $3,000,000 Santa Anita [48]
1992 A.P. Indy 3 Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Tomonori Tsurumaki, William S. Farish III, William S. Kilroy 2:00.20 $3,000,000 Gulfstream Park [49]
1991 Black Tie Affair (IRE) 5 Jerry Bailey Ernie T. Poulos Jeffrey Sullivan 2:02.95 $3,000,000 Churchill Downs [50]
1990 Unbridled 3 Pat Day Carl Nafzger Frances A. Genter 2:02.20 $3,000,000 Belmont Park
1989 Sunday Silence 3 Chris McCarron Charlie Whittingham H-G-W Partners 2:00.20 $3,000,000 Gulfstream Park
1988 Alysheba 4 Chris McCarron Jack Van Berg Dorothy & Pam Scharbauer 2:04.80 $3,000,000 Churchill Downs
1987 Ferdinand 4 Bill Shoemaker Charlie Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 2:01.40 $3,000,000 Hollywood Park
1986 Skywalker 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Michael Whittingham Oak Cliff Stables 2:00.40 $3,000,000 Santa Anita
1985 Proud Truth 3 Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Darby Dan Farm 2:00.80 $3,000,000 Aqueduct
1984 Wild Again 4 Pat Day Vincent Timphony Black Chip Stable (William Allen, Ron Volkman, Terry Beall) 2:03.40 $3,000,000 Hollywood Park

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Grand Slam – ESPN.com
  2. ^ American Pharoah – Breeders' Cup.com
  3. ^ Crist, Steven (11 November 1984). "SLEW O' GOLD BEATEN BY 31–1 SHOT IN BREEDERS' CUP". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  4. ^ Crist, Steven (22 November 1987). "Ferdinand Wins by a Nose". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  5. ^ Lee, Robert (25 October 2015). "The Seven Greatest Breeders' Cup Classics of all time". Times Union. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. ^ Gantz, Tracy. "Sunday Silence's Classic". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  7. ^ Peddicord, Ross. "133 to 1! Classic is a shocker French 5-year-old Arcangues wins in late stretch". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  8. ^ Paulick, Ray (8 October 2014). "Remembering the 'Unconquerable, Invincible, Unbeatable' Cigar – Horse Racing News | Paulick Report". www.paulickreport.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  9. ^ Beyer, Andrew. "In Breeders' Mud, Cigar Emerges Victorious". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  10. ^ Haskin, Steve. "Tiznow Wins For America". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  11. ^ Liebman, Dan. "It's All Zenyatta in the BC Classic". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  12. ^ Armytage, Marcus (9 November 2009). "Zenyatta captures a nation's hearts at with Breeders' Cup Classic victory". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  13. ^ "BC announces 2022 "Win and You're In' schedule". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Authentic's Classic time changed, still track record". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie". www.lonestarpark.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Woodbine Track Records – Thoroughbred". www.woodbineentertainment.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  17. ^ "2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  18. ^ "2023 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes - (race 9)". Equibase. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes - (race 11)". Equibase. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  20. ^ "2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  21. ^ "2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  22. ^ "2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  23. ^ "2018 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  24. ^ "2017 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  25. ^ "2016 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  26. ^ "2015 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  27. ^ "2014 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  28. ^ "2013 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  29. ^ "2012 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  30. ^ "2011 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  31. ^ "2010 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  32. ^ "2009 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  33. ^ "2008 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  34. ^ "2007 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  35. ^ "2006 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 4 November 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  36. ^ "2005 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  37. ^ "2004 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 October 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  38. ^ "2003 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 October 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  39. ^ "2002 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 October 2002. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  40. ^ "2001 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 27 October 2001. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  41. ^ "2000 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 4 November 2000. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  42. ^ "1999 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 November 1999. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  43. ^ "1998 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 November 1998. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  44. ^ "1997 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 November 1997. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  45. ^ "1996 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 October 1996. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  46. ^ "1995 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 October 1995. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  47. ^ "1994 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 5 November 1994. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  48. ^ "1993 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 November 1993. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  49. ^ "1992 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 31 October 1992. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  50. ^ "1991 Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 November 1991. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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