Flightline closes at 2-1 in Breeders' Cup Classic Future Wager Pool 1

When betting on Pool 1 of the Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager began Friday, Flightline was the slight 3-1 favorite from the 7-2 Life Is Good on the morning line. By the time wagering closed Sunday evening, Flightline had hardened into 2-1 favoritism.

Life Is Good remained the second choice, but at 6-1, just ahead of leading three-year-old Epicenter, who steamed from 20-1 to the third choice at 7-1. Other market movers were Country Grammer (bet down from 20-1 to 12-1), Taiba (from 30-1 to 14-1), and Cyberknife (from 30-1 to 17-1). The only other betting interests to shorten from the morning line were the mutuel field of “All Others” (30-1 to 23-1) and Zandon (30-1 to 25-1), while Charge It held steady at 15-1.

The support came for Flightline, who extended his unbeaten sequence to four in the June 11 Metropolitan H. (G1), despite his lack of experience beyond a mile. The John Sadler charge will put his perfect record on the line, and try 1 1/4 miles, in the Sept. 3 Pacific Classic (G1). Flightline’s major activity during Pool 1 was a bullet five-furlong move in :59 Saturday at Del Mar.

Life Is Good added to his resume on Saturday when wiring the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga. Although the Todd Pletcher trainee booked his Classic berth, perhaps he did not assuage questions about his ability to carry his speed over 1 1/4 miles. The vanquished in the Whitney drifted in Pool 1 – third-placer Hot Rod Charlie inched from 20-1 to 24-1, but disappointing fourth Olympiad ballooned from a 9-2 morning line to 17-1. Whitney runner-up Happy Saver might have added to the appeal of the mutuel field.

The win-only Future Wager handled $205,249, according to TwinSpires.com, and later confirmed by a Monday afternoon release from Breeders’ Cup. (Other outlets may have listed a different figure, and slightly different final odds, because of a discrepancy in closing time on the wager, as explored by Ron Flatter at horseracingnation.com.) 

Pool 2, the final Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager, is set for Friday, Sept. 2, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. That weekend features two “Win and You’re In” events for the Classic. Aside from the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, offering insight into Flightline’s claims, the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) will be held at Saratoga.

The weeks prior to Pool 2 will also have Classic ramifications. The Aug. 17 Juddmonte International (G1) at York is a “Win and You’re In,” and the Aug. 27 Travers (G1) will test Epicenter’s divisional leadership.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic will be staged Nov. 5, the culmination of the two-day championships at Keeneland.

The will-pays in the table below, as reported in the Breeders’ Cup press release, reflect penny breakage according to the recently implemented rule in Kentucky.