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21:44 Churchill Downs (USA)

Race 11 - Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade 1)

  • 14 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f
  • Going: Fast
  • Surface: Dirt
  • US$5,999,999 added
  • Winner: US$3,780,000
  • 2nd: US$1,200,000
  • 3rd: US$599,999
  • 4th: US$420,000
Weighed In
  • Off Time: 21:48:57
  • 14 Ran
1(1)
Silk - Royal blue, royal blue cap
12/1
  • Form 212182
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 121

2(2)
Silk - Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves, claret cap, silver peak
  • Form 131111
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 127

3(3)
Silk - Maroon, Gold Epaulets, Maroon Cap
  • Form 1-24111
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 115

4(4)
Silk - Blue, red hoop, red chevron on sleeves, red cap
28/1
  • Form 25-3812
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 111

5(5)
Silk - White and light blue halved, gold crown, white and light blue halved sleeves, light blue cap
  • Form 852321
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 108

6(6)
Silk - Red, yellow disc, red sleeves, yellow stripes, quartered cap
  • Form 12-111
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 123

7(7)
Silk - Hot pink, black diamond hoop, black diamond hoop on sleeves, black cap
11/2
  • Form 113-222
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 125

8(8)
Silk - White, Purple Hoop, White Hoop on Purple Sleeves, Purple Cap
50/1
  • Form 4-44412
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 115

9(9)
Silk - PURPLE, white seams, purple cap
  • Form 110323
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 99

10(10)
Silk - White, green ball, green armlets on sleeves, white cap, black star
14/1
  • Form 21-1551
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 115

11(11)
Silk - Yellow and black stripes, red sleeves, red cap
  • Form 2-21221
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 124

12(12)
Silk - White, orange stars on sleeves, orange star on white cap
50/1
  • Form 342112
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 112

13(13)
Silk - Black, Gold 'V', Black Cuffs on Gold
  • Form 443301
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 111

14(14)
Silk - Dark green, white hoops, dark green hoops on white sleeves, dark green cap
9/2
  • Form 112111
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 128

15(15)
NR

Collected (USA)

42 b BFD
33/1
  • Form 1123-74
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 115

16(16)
NR
  • Form 622/1-02
  • Age 7
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 104

In depth

Verdict

A notoriously difficult race for European horses to win but three take their chance. Roaring Lion is the best of them on Turf but his Group 1 winning streak may well come to end on this surface despite having won the QE11 at Ascot a fortnight ago. Ballydoyle’s Mendelssohn and the Godolphin colt Thunder Snow have form on Dirt having filled the places behind Discreet Lover at Belmont last time but the latter finished well behind runner-up Mind Your Biscuits at Saratoga before that. Catholic Boy also beat Mendelssohn at the latter track in August and though Bob Baffert’s winning run in this contest came to end last year, he runs recent Grade 1 winners Mckinzie and West Coast today, though the latter could only manage third in the 2017 renewal with Gunnevera further behind. Accelerate inched through the field after a slow start at Santa Anita to win his third Grade 1 race in succession. Similar tactics may have to be employed today given a high draw but a chance is taken on YOSHIDA. The latter ran well in the Queen Anne at Ascot during the summer and returned to the Dirt in September to land a Grade 1 over 1m1f at Saratoga. Not one to tilt at windmills, Bill Mott considers his colt can run a big race today and he gets the vote.

Formwatch

Thunder Snow (IRE) Helmet colt out of Eastern Joy.

Roaring Lion (USA) Kitten's Joy colt out of Vionnet.

Catholic Boy (USA) More Than Ready colt out of Song Of Bernadette.

Gunnevera (USA) Dialed In colt out of Unbridled Rage.

Lone Sailor (USA) Majestic Warrior colt out of Ambitious.

Mckinzie (USA) Street Sense colt out of Runway Model.

West Coast (USA) Flatter colt out of Caressing.

Pavel (USA) Creative Cause colt out of Mons Venus.

Mendelssohn (USA) Scat Daddy colt out of Leslie's Lady.

Yoshida (JPN) Heart's Cry colt out of Hilda's Passion.

Mind Your Biscuits (USA) Posse H out of Jazzmane.

Axelrod (USA) Warrior's Reward colt out of Volatile Vickie.

Discreet Lover (USA) Repent H out of Discreet Chat.

Accelerate (USA) Lookin At Lucky H out of Issues.

Collected (USA) City Zip H out of Helena Bay.

Toast Of New York (USA) Thewayyouare gelding out of Claire Soleil.