Breeders’ Cup Classic: 2020 Brisnet Speed Rating Report

The centerpiece of the two-day, 14-race Breeders’ Cup, the $6 million Classic (G1) has attracted a compelling field of 11 pre-entries.

A pair of quality 3-year-olds, Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and Belmont Stakes victor Tiz the Law, will step up to face a deep group of older horses that includes Improbable, Maximum Security, and Tom’s d’Etat.

Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver is considered doubtful for the 1 1/4-mile race, with the Distaff (G1) listed as her first preference.

Post positions will be drawn Monday, and let’s review the last three Brisnet Speed ratings for the pre-entries to the 1 1/4-mile Classic:

It is a fast bunch, with more than half the field (six runners) registering triple-digit Speed ratings in the last three prep races. Four horses show a pair.

Title Ready looks too slow based on numbers, failing to reach the triple-digit threshold.

Tiz the Law (115) and Tom’s d’Etat (112) own the top two figures. Authentic, Improbable, and Swiss Skydiver have posted at least a 107 in two of the last three outings.

Classic winners

Here are the previous three Speed ratings for the last 10 Classic winners:

Seven of the 10 received a triple-digit Speed rating in every prep. The other three recorded a pair.

Arrogate failed to register a triple-digit Speed rating in his next-to-last prep. After recording a whopping 124 figure for his track record-setting win in the Travers (G1), the 3-year-old colt ran turned in another massive performance to capture the 2016 Classic, receiving a 115 for his half-length victory over California Chrome.

Accelerate, Blame, Drosselmeyer, and Fort Larned posted at least a 107 Speed rating in two of the last three starts. Gun Runner reached the threshold in all three prep races.

Top contenders in the 2020 Classic field compare favorably to previous winners over the last decade.