The richest and most important race of the Breeders’ Cup festival is the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, November 2 at Del Mar. Every horseplayer looks forward to betting the Breeders’ Cup because of the huge fields and classy horses. And, this is the place to get expert 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic picks and real Vegas odds on the race!
The Breeders’ Cup Classic covers 1 ¼ miles on the dirt at Del Mar Park, the American classic dirt distance. City of Troy is the morning-line favorite; the English Derby winner has the class, and he is a son of Justify, but he has yet to try dirt. Fierceness will be well bet off of his win in the Travers. Forever Young, Ushba Tesoro, and Derma Sotogake are a three-strong contingent of Japanese dirt horses, while Next, Sierra Leone, and Newgate are other interesting American runners.
Everyone wants to know who will join a winners’ list that includes greats like Sunday Silence, Cigar, Zenyatta, and American Pharoah? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best places to bet the Breeders’ Cup Classic online.
This is the official field for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
Keep in mind that the morning line is no guarantee of actual wagering odds if you play the races on track. The morning line can be a useful guide to which horses are or are not expected to take money. However, you cannot lock in those prices at the racetrack or at a traditional OTB.
Betting the race online is your best bet in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. After all, online betting sites allow you to lock in real Vegas odds on major races like the Breeders’ Cup Classic just by placing a bet, just like you can do at the best Vegas casinos. It’s simple: watch the prices, place your bet when you see an overlay, and know you have the best odds. That’s it!
These are the odds at the top of the Breeders’ Cup Classic market.
 |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Troy | +200 | +220 | +190 |
| Fierceness | +350 | +400 | +400 |
| Forever Young | +550 | +500 | +550 |
| Sierra Leone | +1000 | +1200 | +1000 |
| Next | +1000 | +1400 | +1700 |
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Now that you have your betting site all lined up, it’s time to start handicapping. Let’s get to know the best horses in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The morning-line favorite is City of Troy, but there is good reason to stand against him. The English Derby (G1) winner’s class and stamina are unassailable – but he has only ever raced on the grass. He is a son of Justify, who has been a good influence for turf or dirt, but it’s hard to take chalk on a horse who has never raced on a surface, especially from a barn that has never won this race.
Forever Young is the best bet in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is two noses in the Kentucky Derby away from being perfect in seven starts. He has proven stamina over 1 ¼ miles, he has handled dirt surfaces around the world with aplomb, and he is versatile enough to show tactical pace or rally from well off of it. These are excellent tools for a Breeder’s Cup Classic winner.
Fierceness tackles older foes in the Breeders’ Cup Classic for the first time, but his last start showed the kind of maturity he needs in order to be a major player. Before the Travers (G1) his wins were easy, or else he lost. In the Travers, he had to dig in against a mounting Thorpedo Anna. His 1 ¼-mile stamina and his tactical speed, combined with his increasing maturity, make him appealing.
Newgate is likely to get ignored on the tote board. He ought to be some level of a price, just because his strength of schedule isn’t as strong as some of the others here. However, he is a Grade 1 winner at 1 ¼ miles, he has tactical speed that can keep him in range of fast California pace, and trainer Bob Baffert has won this race four times. This is a lot to like.
Ushba Tesoro may not have won this year, but he has been second in all three starts, including a close call in the Saudi Cup (G1) and also a second behind the runaway Laurel River in the Dubai World Cup (G1). He is well proven at 1 ¼ miles, shipping overseas is old hat, and he is good enough to run on for another share of the exotics here.
Sierra Leone is another who hasn’t won in a while, but he keeps running to quality company. His last win came in the Blue Grass (G1), but he has still never missed the board in eight career starts. He travels around the country and always rallies for a share, and his regular effort makes him a threat to do the same thing again.
You know the top contenders, so now all that’s left is to bet the biggest race of the Breeders’ Cup. These are the best bets for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic!
