Betting the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic on different budgets

A full field is signed on for the most lucrative race of the weekend at Del Mar, the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

The 1 1/4-mile dirt test has a huge international presence in it, but my top pick will be a domestic runner at a big price.

Breeders' Cup Classic Wagers for Different Budgets

$20 Budget

• $1 trifecta key 12 with 1,3,7,11,14 ($20)

$50 Budget

• $15 win and place #12 Arthur’s Ride ($30)
• $4 exacta 12 with 1,3,7,11,14 ($20)

$100 Budget

• $3 trifecta key 12 with 1,3,7,11,14 ($60)
• 50-cent superfecta 7,12 with 1,3,7,12 with 1,3,7,11,12,14 with 1,3,7,11,12,14 ($36)

Breeders' Cup Classic Analysis

Glassman Racing’s #12 Arthur’s Ride (15-1) had to overcome some injuries earlier in his career, but the colt has been healthy in 2024 and has registered some powerful performances this season. The speedy son of Tapit is 3-for-5 this campaign, led by a dominant score in the Whitney S. (G1) two back, and I feel that the four-year-old will deliver a performance similar to his romp at Saratoga on Saturday.

The Kentucky-bred is swift from the gate and has a tactical edge on many of his foes who prefer to do their best running in the stretch. He posted a nice morning move on the local surface to acclimate to the ground on Tuesday, and regular pilot Junior Alvarado will have the colt forcing the pace from the start, perhaps even having the leading selection on the front end into the first turn. 

Two of the three Japanese imports have appeal to me, led by #7 Ushba Tesoro (12-1). By Orfevre, the seven-year-old was second best in both the Saudi Cup (G1) and the Dubai World Cup (G1) earlier in 2024, and he delivered a nice prep for the Classic when a clear second at Funabashi in his latest appearance. He will be rallying from well off the tempo under Yuga Kawada. 

#1 Forever Young (6-1), an unlucky third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), merits respect for the brilliant Yoshito Yahagi. Real Steel sophomore was a sharp winner of the Japan Dirt Classic on Oct. 2, and the once-beaten colt will be a force in his second run in the States from the rail. Regular pilot Ryusei Sakai will be on board.

It would be foolish to omit the spectacular #3 City of Troy (5-2), even though he has never run on the dirt. The Justify colt is a four-time Group 1 hero who is all class and a perfect fit at 1 1/4 miles. Ryan Moore will guide the sensational European invader. 

Dirt marathon expert #14 Next (8-1) and Chad Brown’s Grade-1 winning #11 Sierra Leone (12-1) each possess the credentials to make the frame in the fantastic field.