2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic Brisnet.com Speed Rating Report

The $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) will be held at Del Mar on November 4 and Gun Runner possesses the top last-out BRIS Speed rating in the prospective field, registering a 114 for his 10-length romp in the September 2 Woodward (G1) at Saratoga.

Let’s examine the last three BRIS Speed ratings for Classic probables:

Arrogate:		109
		93
		*115
Collected:		110
		111
		106
Diversify:		110
		110
		97
Gunnevera:		109
		85
		97
Gun Runner:		114
		107
		107
Keen Ice:		109
		101
		112
Mubtaahij:		102
		*94
		*101
Pavel:		108
		100
		96
West Coast:		108
		112
		96

*Arrogate’s BRIS Speed rating for the Pegasus World Cup (G1) four starts ago is listed, no numbers for Dubai World Cup (G1) victory three back
*Mubtaahij raced twice in Dubai over the winter/spring & last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Woodward (G1) were used

BRIS Speed numbers for last five Classic winners:

Arrogate:		124
		97
		100
American Pharoah:		100
		104
		109
Bayern:		109
		80
		106
Mucho Macho Man:		113
		100
		100
Fort Larned:		111
		109
		106

My observations:

Gun Runner recorded sensational performances sweeping the Stephen Foster (G1)-Whitney (G1)-Woodward this summer and aims to be the fourth Classic winner in six years with the highest last-out BRIS Speed rating, joining Arrogate, Bayern and Mucho Macho Man (Fort Larned had the second-best figure in 2012).

Collected registered a whopping 110 number when stretching out to the 1 ¼-mile Classic distance in the Pacific Classic (G1), notching his fourth straight win from as many starts this season, and the confirmed front-runner has really come on at age 4 for Bob Baffert. He must be considered a serious contender based upon BRIS Speed ratings but supporters have to be disappointed to see Diversify under serious consideration.

Diversify hasn’t been confirmed yet (decision expected October 23) but trainer Richard Violette Jr. appears ready to go if the New York-bred gelding breezes well in his next workout. His BRIS Speed ratings immediately catch the eye, posting a 110 in the last two starts, and the 4-year-old is tied with Collected for the second-highest last-out figure. But the need-the-lead type got clear early in the last two starts and has never raced outside of New York.

West Coast will bring peaking form into the Classic for Baffert, stepping up to post huge BRIS Speed Ratings in the last two starts, and 3-year-olds have accounted for the last three editions and five of the last 10 runnings of the Classic. Baffert has trained the last three and similar to Arrogate last year, West Coast missed the Triple Crown earlier and established himself as a Classic contender with a convincing win in the Travers (G1).

Keen Ice won’t bring a winning attitude to the oceanfront venue, losing 21-of-24 starts, but his recent BRIS Speed ratings (109 and 112) are good enough to challenge for a minor award against a deep cast of challengers.