Betting Picks

Breeders' Cup Outrights

Mon 17/09/2018 - 03:59 EDT

Ever since the Breeders’ Cup World Championships expanded to a two-day event ten years ago, organizers have been tinkering with ways to schedule the races that presents some kind of logic to race fans. For 2018 they’ve decided to hold all of the five Juvenile races for two-year-old colts and fillies on the first day of racing and call it Future Stars Friday.

That leaves nine dirt and turf races held over for Saturday’s big card at Churchill Downs on November 3, all open to horses aged three and older, including both the $2 million Distaff for females and the $6 million Classic.

Horse Racing Betting Lines Explained

A number of online racebooks are offering future bets on all or part of the Breeders’ Cup race lineup, most notably the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but you can find lines (or have them provided on request) on most of the other races as well.

It’s important to note when betting racing futures that the official entries and final morning line odds for the Breeders’ Cup races won’t be announced until October 29 as the trainers and owners make the decision as to which races their horses will be running.

At the same time, many horses willing be running one more prep or qualifying race before the Breeders’ Cup, and those results can have a big impact on the odds.

With that in mind, here’s a look at where things stand today in terms of the top contenders and possible best bets for the BC Classic, the BC Distaff and the BC Juvenile, with current morning line odds set by Churchill Downs. Use them as a reference when shopping around for the best future bet odds online.

Breeders' Cup Distaff Best Bets

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Contenders

Monomoy Girl (7-2 ML)

Three-year-old filly has won eight of her nine lifetime races and her last five in a row, including the 2018 Kentucky Oaks. In her only loss she was second by a neck to close out last season after winning her first three starts.
Her five wins so far in 2018 have come at five different tracks, running three different distances from one mile up to 1 1/8 miles, the same distance as the BC Distaff.

Able Tasman (4-1 ML)

The 2017 Kentucky Oaks winner was second in the BC Distaff last year, roaring down the stretch from back in the pack to miss getting the win by only a half-length.
Her most recent win in the Personal Ensign Stakes in August at Saratoga Race Course produced the fastest speed time in her 14-race career.

Wonder Gadot (5-1 ML)

She gave Monomoy Girl all she could handle in the 2018 Oaks, edging up on her off the turn and then digging in to battle into deep stretch before giving away late and just missing by a half-length.
Beat a field of males twice in her native Canada to win the Queen’s Plate and the Prince of Wales Stakes, the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Breeders' Cup Classic Best Bets

Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders

Accelerate (3-1 ML)

Since running ninth in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, he has been in the top two in six straight races, winning four of those.
His last two wins have been at the BC Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, including a win by more than 12 lengths in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, and a four-length win in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Catholic Boy (7-1 ML)

Comes into the BC Classic in a three-race winning streak, including the $1.2 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August by an easy four lengths.
The Travers win was his second consecutive victory at 1 1/4 miles, with one win running on turf and one running on dirt.

West Coast (9-2 ML)

He has been first or second in nine of his 10 lifetime races, and was third in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Trainer Bob Baffert won the BC Classic three times in a row between 2014 and 2016, and has won 14 Breeders’ Cup races overall.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Best Bets

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Contenders

Instagrand (7-2 ML)

Gets the nod on top because he has simply blown away his competition to win his first two lifetime starts, going wire-to-wire in both efforts to win both races by a ridiculously easy 10 lengths.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Songbird, and also has two Breeders’ Cup Mile wins on his resume. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke is a rising star.

Roadster (6-1 ML)

Showed good ability to stalk just off the pace in winning his career debut at Del Mar race track in late July, getting to the wire more than four lengths in front of a big field.
Was probably going too fast, too early trying to catch a loose-on-the lead longshot but still finished a game third in the Del Mar Futurity.

Mucho (12-1 ML)

A stumble at the start probably cost him the Hopeful Stakes last time out at Saratoga, where he came on late and just missed the win by 3/4 of a length. He has a win and two runner-up finishes in three starts.
His sire, Blame, won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles, and it appears Mucho will have no problem getting the 1 1/16 miles in the BC Juvenile.