Breeders’ Cup Classic Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Classic is set for November 6 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Preview and Prediction
- Race: Classic
- Purse: $6 million
- Track: Del Mar
- Date: November 6
- Post Time: 8:40 PM (ET)
- Live: Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds: Click Here
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Handicapping
The race everyone waits for, the Classic closes out the Breeders’ Cup and features the best dirt-course thoroughbreds in North America racing the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. This year’s race has drawn a field of nine.
In the past 14 years, favourites have only won the Classic three times although there have been very few big long shots of late, and the average winning odds during that span are just over 4-1. Horses coming in off preps at Saratoga and Belmont Park have done particularly well of late.
Odds listed here are provided by Bovada’s racebook.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Free Pick & Handicapping: Knicks Go Race Odds: 5-2
The lukewarm favourite in a race where six of nine entries are in single-digit odds, Knicks Go comes in riding a three-race win streak, including last out when he took the (G3) Lukas Classic at Churchill. There he won by four lengths over a colt that came back to win it’s next start.
Prior to that he was the winner of the (G1) Whitney at Saratoga. He has tons of early speed, but the concern for him is that he has never tried racing beyond 1 1/8 miles and so will have to find a way to stretch that speed out.
He’s trained by Brad Cox, Joel Rosario is the rider.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Free Pick & Handicapping: Essential Quality Race Odds: 3-1
The winner of the 2020 BC Juvenile, Essential Quality had a rough start to the this year’s Kentucky Derby and had to settle for a very good fourth place run.
Since then he’s reeled off three straight wins, including his last two at Saratoga where he took the (G1) Travers and (G2) Jim Dandy, the first of those at this 1 1/4 miles distance. For his career he has won eight of nine.
He’s another Brad Cox trainee, Luis Saez will be in the saddle.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Free Pick & Handicapping: Hot Rod Charlie Race Odds: 9-2
Third in the Kentucky Derby and then second in the Belmont Stakes, it looked like Hot Rod Charlie finally got his big win when he hit the wire first in the (G1) Haskell Stakes – only to be DQd for interference.
He bounced back from that effort to win the (G1) Pennsylvania Derby in his last start and here you can expect him to be right in the thick of it as always.
The trainer is Doug O’Neill, Flavian Prat will be in the irons.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Free Pick & Handicapping: Art Collector Race Odds: 8-1
Seemingly destined for great things early in his career, Art Collector hit a rough patch in late 2020 and early 2021 with three consecutive up-the-track finishes.
A trainer switch in the summer seems to have made a world of difference, however, and since August he’s won three straight, including a last-out win in the (G1) Woodward at Belmont. He’s another that needs to prove he can handle the distance, but on recent form he’s in with a shot.
His new trainer is Bill Mott, veteran Mike Smith picks up the mount.
Here’s My 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Free Pick.
If not for the rough start breaking from the #16 gate in the Derby, we could be looking at a perfect 9-for-9 record for Essential Quality if not even a Triple Crown title.
I actually find it a bit hard to believe he’s only the second choice pre-race behind a horse that has yet to try the 1 1/4 mile distance, and wouldn’t be surprised to find EQ is the favourite when the gates open.
One way or the other, he’s my pick to win. I’ve been a big Hot Rod Charlie fan all year – he was my Derby pick – and so I’ll be boxing them in the exacta.
Long shot: Art Collector
Full Field: Breeder’s Cup Classic Odds
(By post position)
- #1 – Tripoli 25-1
- #2 – Express Train 40-1
- #3 – Hot Rod Charlie 9-2
- #4 – Essential Quality 3-1
- #5 – Knicks Go 5-2
- #6 – Art Collector 8-1
- #7 – Stiletto Boy 66-1
- #8 – Medina Spirit 6-1
- #9 – Max Player 9-1
What do you think of our 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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