The Breeders’ Cup World Championships bring together the best horses from around the world. Del Mar Racetrack first hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2017, and the world championships return to Del Mar for the 38th edition of the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 5-6, 2021.
The 2021 Breeders’ Cup will bring fans and spectators together again at Del Mar’s beautiful seaside track. Five races will comprise ‘Future Stars Friday’ and feature 2-year-old races for the fourth straight year. Nine additional Breeders’ Cup races will highlight horses racing’s biggest day of racing on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Breeders’ Cup information on this page will continue to be updated.
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series
Beginning in 2007, the Breeders’ Cup developed the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, a series of races in each division that allots automatic qualifying bids and fees paid entries to winners of defined races. These “Win and You’re In” qualifying races have become popular races throughout the Thoroughbred season, and generate more wagering interest as well.
The pandemic during 2020 sent horse racing into an adjustment period and new races were added to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series like the Haskell Stakes along with the Belmont Stakes and Travers. None of those races are “Win and You’re In” qualifying races in 2021. But 2021 Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality will likely run in the Travers in August at Saratoga and look to complete his Horse of the Year campaign with a strong finish in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Two of the biggest days of racing on the 2021 summer calendar are Aug. 21 at Del Mar and Aug. 28 at Saratoga. There are six graded stakes races Aug. 21 at Del Mar, including two “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series races. The $1 million Del Mar Handicap will award the winner an entry into the $4 million BC Longines Turf. The other Breeders’ Cup qualifying race at Del Mar Aug. 21 is the featured TVG Pacific Classic, which awards the winner a spot in the $6 million BC Longines Classic.
Betting on horse racing will also be big on Aug. 28 at Saratoga. The biggest day of racing at The Spa includes six graded stakes races headlined by the $1.25 million Travers. Three other races are “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races. The $600,000 Personal Ensign awards entry to the $2 million BC Longines Distaff. The $500,000 Ballerina sends the winner to the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint. The $750,000 Sword Dancer on the turf awards the winner a fees paid entry to the $4 million BC Longines Turf.
Breeders’ Cup race and TV schedule
Here is more information on the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, and how you can watch and wager on this year’s event.
- Date: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5-6, 2021
- Post Times and Odds: See below. Friday Races 6-10 starting at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 local PT) and Saturday Races 4-12 starting at 3:00 p.m. ET
- TV: NBCSN and NBC
- Tablet, Online, Mobile: NBC Sports App and streamed live on NBCsports.com/live and TVG and fuboTV
- Track & Location: Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, CA
- Prize Pool: $31 million with 14 Grade 1 races from $1 million to $6 million
Best Breeders’ Cup betting sites 2021
Breeders’ Cup odds 2020
Races on Friday, Nov. 5
Juvenile Turf Sprint (Race 6 at 5:30 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mighty Gurkha (IRE) | 20/1 | Hollie Doyle | Archie Watson |
| 2 | Windy City Red | 30/1 | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | Jonathan Wong |
| 3 | Lipizzaner | 20/1 | Ryan Moore | Aiden O'Brien |
| 4 | County Final | 15/1 | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
| 5 | Cowan | 8/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
| 6 | Ubettableiveit (IRE) | 20/1 | Rowan Scott | Nigel Tinkler |
| 7 | Momos | 15/1 | Manny Franco | Christophe Clement |
| 8 | Amanzi Yimpilo (IRE) | 15/1 | Luis Saez | Wesley Ward |
| 9 | After Five | 6/1 | Jose Ortiz | Wesley Ward |
| 10 | Bodenheimer | 8/1 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Valorie Lund |
| 11 | Into the Sunrise | 15/1 | Rafael Bejarano | Wesley Ward |
| 12 | Dirty Dangle | 20/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Casse |
| 13 | Second of July | 8/1 | Dylan Davis | Philip Gleaves |
| 14 | Golden Pal | 8/5 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Wesley Ward |
The Juvenile Turf Sprint is a 5 1/2 furlong race open to all 2-year-olds. It offers a $1 million purse.
Race Insights: The race made its debut at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup. The winner paid $10.60 on a $2 win bet and the 2020 winner was the 4/5 post-time favorite Golden Pal, who returned $3.60 to win.
Juvenile Turf (Race 7 at 6:10 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sealiway | 8/1 | Mickael Barzalona | Frederic Rossi |
| 2 | New Mandate (IRE) | 12/1 | Lanfranco Dettori | Ralph Becket |
| 3 | Ararta | 12/1 | Unberto Rispoli | Brad Cox |
| 4 | Public Sector (GB) | 8/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
| 5 | Cadillac (IRE) | 6/1 | Shane Foley | Mrs. Harrington |
| 6 | Mutasaabeq | 5/1 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher |
| 7 | Fire At Will | 12/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Michael Maker |
| 8 | Outadore | 8/1 | Jose ORtiz | Wesley Ward |
| 9 | Battleground | 6/1 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien |
| 10 | Ebeko (IRE) | 20/1 | Flavien Prat | Peter Miller |
| 11 | Gretzky The Great | 8/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Casse |
| 12 | Go Athletico (FR) | 10/1 | Aurelien Lemaitre | P. Decouz |
| 13 | Devilwala (IRE) | 30/1 | Rossa Ryan | Falph Beckett |
| 14 | The Lir Jet (IRE) | 20/1 | Oisin Murphy | Michael Bell |
The Juvenile Turf by Coolmore America is a 1 mile race for 2-year-olds. It offers a purse of $1 million.
Race Insights: This race made it’s debut in 2007 with the start of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series that awarded automatic entries for horses that won selected Breeders’ Cup qualifying races. European shippers have been dominant runners in this race winning nine of the 14 editions. But not in 2020 when Fire At Will was let go at odds of 30/1 and pulled off the upset to win by 3-lengths and pay $62.40 on a $2 win bet. The post-time favorite Battleground finished second and the $1 exacta returned $275. The 2017 winner at Del Mar was 9/2 favorite Mendelssohn, who paid $11.60 to win.
The average win payout on a $2 win wager is $18.25. .
Juvenile Fillies (Race 8 at 6:50 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simply Ravishing | 5/2 | Luis Saez | Ken McPeek |
| 2 | Vequist | 8/1 | Joel Rosario | Robert Reid, Jr. |
| 3 | Dayoutoftheoffice | 5/2 | Junior Alvarado | Tim Hamm |
| 4 | Thoughtfully | 20/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
| 5 | Girl Daddy | 6/1 | Joe Talamo | Dale Romans |
| 6 | Crazy Beautiful | 20/1 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Ken McPeek |
| 7 | Princess Noor | 9/5 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
The Juvenile Fillies is a 1 1/6 mile race for 2-year-olds. It offers a purse of $2 million.
Race Insights: Four of the last eight winners were big longshots greater than 17/1. That includes in 2017 at Del Mar when Caledonia Road (17/1) came from off the pace with a big sweeping move to surge past the leaders and pull away for a 3-length win and pay $36.60. The 2020 field had just seven fillies, and Vequist (6/1) won with a pace-pressing stalking trip to return $15.60.
The average $2 win payout in the Juvenile Fillies is $18.05. The race has been most kind to pace and presser types.
Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oodnadatta (IRE) | 20/1 | Shane Foley | Mrs. Harrington |
| 2 | Miss Amulet (IRE) | 12/1 | Julien Leparoux | Ken Condon |
| 3 | Alda | 12/1 | John Velazquez | H. Graham Motion |
| 4 | Plum Ali | 4/1 | Joel Rosario | Christophe Clement |
| 5 | Aunt Pearl | 3/1 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
| 6 | Nazuna (IRE) | 30/1 | Luis Saez | Roger Varian |
| 7 | Tetragonal (IRE) | 20/1 | Manny Franco | Richard Baltas |
| 8 | Mother Earth (IRE) | 20/1 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien |
| 9 | Madone | 10/1 | Flavien Prat | Simon Callaghan |
| 10 | Campanelle (IRE) | 4/1 | Lanfranco Dettori | Wesley Ward |
| 11 | Royal Approval | 10/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Wesley Ward |
| 12 | Spanish Loveaffair | 15/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Casse |
| 13 | Union Gables | 20/1 | Jose Ortiz | Todd Pletcher |
| 14 | Editor At Large | 12/1 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown |
The Juvenile Fillies Turf is a 1 mile race for 2-year-old fillies. It offers a $1 million purse.
Race Insights: This race made its Breeders’ Cup debut in 2008, and trainer Chad Brown has won four of the last seven editions but not the last two years. Brown did with the 2017 race at Del Mar with off-the-pace filly Rushing Fall (3/1). The 2019 Juvenile Fillies Turf produced the biggest longshot winner in race history when Graham Motion-trained Sharing (13/1) prevailed and returned $29.60. In 2020, 5/2 favorite Aunt Pearl (IRE) went wire-to-wire for trainer Brad Cox to win by 2 1/2 lengths over longshot Mother Earth. Aunt Pearl paid $7.20 and became the third European shipper to win the race.
The average $2 win payout in the Juvenile Fillies Turf is $17.50.
TVG Juvenile (Race 10 at 8:10 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camp Hope | 30/1 | Robby Albarado | Ken McPeek |
| 2 | King Fury | 15/1 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Ken McPeek |
| 3 | Reinvestment Risk | 9/2 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
| 4 | Likeable | 15/1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 5 | Essential Quality | 4/1 | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
| 6 | Keepmeinmind | 30/1 | Jose Ortiz | Robertino Diodoro |
| 7 | Jackie's Warrior | 7/5 | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
| 8 | Classier | 15/1 | Florent Geroux | Bob Baffert |
| 9 | Sittin On Go | 12/1 | Corey Lanerie | Dale Romans |
| 10 | Dreamer's Disease | 30/1 | David Cohen | Robertinoo Diodoro |
| 11 | Next | 15/1 | Gerardo Corrales | Wesley Ward |
| 12 | Hot Rod Charlie | 30/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Doug O'Neill |
| 13 | Rombauer | 15/1 | Javier Castellano | Mike McCarthy |
| 14 | Calibrate | 20/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
The TVG Juvenile is a 1 1/6 mile race for 2-year-olds. It offers a purse of $2 million.
Race Insights: The TVG Juvenile ranks as North America’s season-defining championship for 2-year-olds and geldings. The TVG odds show an average payout in this race of $18.45. Game Winner (1/1) won the 2018 edition as the even money favorite to return $4, but two huge longshots finished second and third to provide some strong Exacta and Trifecta payouts including $482 on the .50 cent Trifecta. In 2019 Storm the Court (45/1) became the biggest longshot to win the race. Fans and bettors enjoyed a big bonus with a $2 win bet returning $93.80. A $1 Exacta paid $488 and .50 cent Trifecta $1,965.
The 2020 winner was Essential Quality (7/2) by less than a length over Hot Rod Charlie (94/1). Essential Quality paid $9.40 to win, and the $1 exacta payout was $300 and $1,914 on a .50 cent trifecta. Essential Quality finished a close fourth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, and won the Belmont Stakes as the favorite in a great stretch duel with Hot Rod Charlie. The 2017 winner at Del Mar was Good Magic (11/1), who returned $25 to win and would go on to finish second the following year in the Kentucky Derby.
Looking for picks to win various Breeders’ Cup races? Our friends at PlayPicks.com will offer some best bets during race week.
Races on Saturday, Nov. 6
Filly & Mare Sprint (Race 4 at 3:02 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speech | 6/1 | Javier Castellano | Mike McCarthy |
| 2 | Gamine | 7/5 | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert |
| 3 | Come Dancing | 8/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Carlos Martin |
| 4 | Inthemidstofbiz | 30/1 | Emmanuel Esquivel | Cipriano Contreras |
| 5 | Sconsin | 20/1 | James Graham | Greg Foley |
| 6 | Venetian Harbor | 5/1 | Manny Franco | Richard Baltas |
| 7 | Serengeti Empress | 3/1 | Luis Saez | Tom Amoss |
| 8 | Sally's Curlin | 20/1 | Brian Hernandez | Dale Romans |
| 9 | Bell's The One | 6/1 | Corey Lanerie | Neil Pessin |
The Filly & Mare Sprint is a 7 furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. It offers a $1 million purse.
Race Insights: This race made its debut in 2007 and the average $2 win payout in the Filly & Mare Sprint is $12.75; the lowest of all Breeders’ Cup races. No horse has won this race gate to wire, and the 2020 race will have lots of pace up front including from the favorite Gamine (7/5). Also, no 3-year-old had won this race until the last two years, and 2019 winner Covfefe (3/2) was the first favorite to win since 2014 and paid $5.00.
Turf Sprint (Race 5 at 3:39 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Runner | 12/1 | Juan Hernandez | Victor Garcia |
| 2 | Just Right | 30/1 | Colby Hernandez | Michelle Lovell |
| 3 | Imprimis | 4/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr | Joe Orseno |
| 4 | Front Run The Fed | 12/1 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown |
| 5 | Wet Your Whistle | 15/1 | Jose Ortiz | Mike Trombetta |
| 6 | Glass Slippers (GB) | 12/1 | Tom Eaves | Kevin Ryan |
| 7 | Leinster | 4/1 | Luis Saez | George Arnold, III |
| 8 | Oleksandra (AUS) | 12/1 | Joel Rosario | Neil Drysdale |
| 9 | Into Mystic | 12/1 | Joe Talamo | Brendan Walsh |
| 10 | Bombard | 15/1 | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella |
| 11 | Wildman Jack | 15/1 | Manny Franco | Doug O'Neill |
| 12 | Got Stormy | 7/2 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Casse |
| 13 | Texas Wedge | 30/1 | Florent Geroux | Peter Miller |
| 14 | Extravagant Kid | 15/1 | Umberto Rispoli | Brendan Walsh |
The Turf Sprint is a 5 furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. It offers a $1 million purse.
Race Insights: The distance of the Turf Sprint was reduced from 6.5 furlongs to 5 furlongs for the 2019 and 2020 editions. Trainer Peter Miller has saddled the winner the last three years and 2019 winner Belvoir Bay went wire-t0-wire at 14/1 odds to return $31.60. Still, the post time race favorite has won five of the 12 editions, and pace/presser types comprise the vast majority of winners. No filly or mare has won this race since 2013, but 5-year-old mare Got Stormy (7/2) is the 2020 Turf Sprint favorite. The average $2 win payout in the Turf Sprint is $20.10.
Dirt Mile (Race 6 at 4:18 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Collector | 6/1 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Tom Drury, Jr. |
| 2 | Sharp Samurai | 15/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Mark Glatt |
| 3 | Silver Dust | 30/1 | Adam Beschizza | W. Bret Calhoun |
| 4 | War of Will | 10/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Casse |
| 5 | Knicks Go | 7/2 | Joel Rosario | Brad Cox |
| 6 | Mr. Money | 20/1 | Gabriel Saez | W. Bret Calhoun |
| 7 | Rushie | 20/1 | Javier Castellano | Mike McCarthy |
| 8 | Pirate's Punch | 20/1 | Jorge Vargas, Jr. | Grant Forster |
| 9 | Mr Freeze | 6/1 | Manny Franco | Dale Romans |
| 10 | Complexity | 2/1 | Jose ORtiz | Chad Brown |
| 11 | Jesus' Team | 30/1 | Luis Saez | Jose D'Angelo |
| 12 | Owendale | 8/1 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
The Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile is a 1 mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The purse was increased to $2 million for the 2020 race.
Race Insights: The Dirt Mile made its debut at the 2007 Breeders’ Cup and the post time favorite has won just twice. The 2019 winner Spun to Run (9/1) paid $20.20 and went wire-to-wire to hold off the race favorite. One-turn mile specialists that have shown no success going two-turns are not good bets. The average $2 win payout in the Dirt Mile is $22.60.
Filly & Mare Turf (Race 7 at 4:57 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starship Jubilee | 10/1 | Florent Geroux | Kevin Attard |
| 2 | Sistercharlie (IRE) | 6/1 | John Velazquez | Chad Brown |
| 3 | Peaceful (IRE) | 12/1 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien |
| 4 | Mean Mary | 7/2 | Luis Saez | H. Graham Motion |
| 5 | My Sister Nat (FR) | 12/1 | Jose Ortiz | Chad Brown |
| 6 | Rushing Fall | 5/2 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown |
| 7 | Terebellum (IRE) | 20/1 | Lanfranco Dettori | John Gosden |
| 8 | Mucho Unusual | 30/1 | Flavien Prat | Tim Yakteen |
| 9 | Harvey's Lil Goil | 20/1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 10 | Civil Union | 12/1 | Joel Rosario | Shug McGaughey |
| 11 | Audarya (FR) | 12/1 | Pierre-Charles Boudot | James Fanshawe |
| 12 | Lady Prancelot (IRE) | 30/1 | Manny Ranco | Richard Baltas |
| 13 | May Lady Nay (IRE) | 20/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
| 14 | Cayenne Pepper (IRE) | 8/1 | Shane Foley | Mrs. Harrington |
The Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf has been contested at four different distances since 2015 and for the second time it will be run at 1 3/16 miles. The race is for 3-year-olds and up and offers a $2 million purse.
Race Insights: This race started in 1999, and trainer Chad Brown has won it four times since 2012. This year he has four entered including the favorite Rushing Fall (5/2) and Sistercharlie (6/1), who won this race in 2018 and finished third last year behind upet winner Iridessa (IRE). She won at 13/1 odds in her U.S. debut to return $28.40. European runners usually have a prominent precense and this year there are eight entered in the race. The average $2 win payout in the Filly & Mare Turf is $20.30.
Sprint (Race 8 at 5:36 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Echo Town | 20/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
| 2 | C Z Rocket | 7/2 | Luis Saez | Peter Miller |
| 3 | Collusion Illusion | 20/1 | Flavien Pratt | Mark Glatt |
| 4 | MaBon Raison | 30/1 | Adam Beschizza | Jack Sisterson |
| 5 | Manny Wah | 30/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Wayne Catalano |
| 6 | Frank's Rockette | 10/1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 7 | Whitmore | 15/1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Ron Moquett |
| 8 | Firenze Fire | 8/1 | Jose Lezxcano | Kelly Breen |
| 9 | Empire of Gold | 30/1 | Declan Carroll | Terry Eoff |
| 10 | Yaupon | 7/2 | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
| 11 | Diamond Oops | 8/1 | Florent Geroux | Patrick Biancone |
| 12 | Hog Creek Hustle | 30/1 | Corey Lanerie | Vickie Foley |
| 13 | Jasper Prince | 30/1 | Jose ORtiz | Hideyuki Mori |
| 14 | Vekoma | 3/1 | Javier Castellano | George Weaver |
The Breeders’ Cup Sprint is a 6 furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. It offers a $2 million purse.
Race Insights: This is one of the original seven races that started in the 1984 Breeders’ Cup and features the top sprinters at 6 furlongs, or three-quarter mile. Longshots have fared pretty well in the Sprint, and horses at odds of 15-1 or greater regularly hit the Superfecta. However, last year the two favorites had a strong stretch duel and Steve Asmussen-trained Mitole (9/5) prevailed and paid $5.60 to win. This year’s favorite Vekoma (3/1) drew the outside post No. 14. Asmussen has two horses running this year including Yaupon (7/2). Trainer Peter Miller won the last two years and he has the other major contender C Z Rocket (7/2). The average $2 win payout in the Sprint is $20.25.
FanDuel Mile (Race 9 at 6:15 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circus Maximus (IRE) | 12/1 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien |
| 2 | Kameko | 6/1 | Oisin Murphy | Andrew Balding |
| 3 | Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) | 30/1 | Lanfranco Dettori | Aidan O'Brien |
| 4 | Siskin | 12/1 | Colin Keane | Gerard Lyons |
| 5 | Digital Age (IRE) | 8/1 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown |
| 6 | Safe Boyage (IRE) | 15/1 | Jason Hart | John Quinn |
| 7 | Casa Creed | 20/1 | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott |
| 8 | March to the Arch | 15/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark Case |
| 9 | One Master (GR) | 15/1 | Pierre Charles Boudot | William Haggas |
| 10 | Halladay | 12/1 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher |
| 11 | Ivar (BRZ) | 4/1 | Joe Talamo | Paulo Lobo |
| 12 | Uni (GB) | 5/1 | Joel Rosario | Chad Brown |
| 13 | Factor This | 8/1 | Floretn Geroux | Brad Cox |
| 14 | Raging Bull (FR) | 8/1 | Jose Ortiz | Chad Brown |
The FanDuel Mile is a 1 mile race for 3-year-olds and up. It offers a $2 million purse.
Race Insights: Year after year, this race on the turf has longshots hit the board and big Superfecta payoffs. Last year was an exception, as the three favorites between 3/1 and 4/1 finished in-the-money and Uni (GB) came from way back at the half mile marker to win and return $9.20. Top European runners are showcased and eight run in the 2020 FanDuel Mile. European-based horses have won half of the Breeders’ Cup Mile races. The average $2 win payout in the Breeders’ Cup Mile is $21.00.
Longines Distaff (Race 10 at 6:54 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ce Ce | 12/1 | John Velazquez | |
| 2 | Harvest Moon | 12/1 | Flavien Prat | |
| 3 | Dunbar Road | 12/1 | Jose Ortiz | |
| 4 | Horologist | 8/1 | Junior Alvarado | |
| 5 | Swiss Skydiver | 2/1 | Robby Albarado | |
| 6 | Lady Kate | 15/1 | Tyler Gaffalione | |
| 7 | Point of Honor | 30/1 | Javier Castellano | |
| 8 | Valiance | 12/1 | Luis Saez | |
| 9 | Ollie's Candy | 10/1 | Joel Rosario | |
| 10 | Monomoy Girl | 8/5 | Florent Gerouz |
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff is a 1 1/8 mile race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It offers a $2 million purse.
Race Insights: The winner over the past six editions leading into the 2019 race run at Santa Anita had gone off at odds of 5-1 or less. That includes the sensational 2016 race when undefeated favorite Songbird lost by a nose to the great Beholder (3/1). But last year Blue Prize (ARG) won at odds of 8/1 to return $19.20. The 2020 Distaff has two heavy favorite with Gamine (8/5), who has won 12-of-14 starts and Preakness Stakes-winning filly Swiss Skydiver (2/1). The distance of the Distaff was reduced last year and remains at 1 1/8 miles. The average $2 win payout in the Longines Distaff is $18.25.
Longines Turf (Race 11 at 7:33 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arklow | 5/1 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
| 2 | Magical (IRE) | 5/2 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien |
| 3 | Tarnawa (IRE) | 6/1 | Christophe Soumillon | Dermot Weld |
| 4 | Mehdaayih (GB) | 30/1 | Joel Rosario | John Gosden |
| 5 | Donjah (GER) | 30/1 | Clement Lecoeuvre | Henk Grewe |
| 6 | Lord North (IRE) | 8/1 | Lanfranco Dettori | John Gosden |
| 7 | United | 8/1 | Flavien Prat | Richard Mandella |
| 8 | Red King | 20/1 | Umberto Rispoli | Philip D'Amato |
| 9 | Channel Maker | 5/1 | Manny Franco | Bill Mott |
| 10 | Mogul (GB) | 4/1 | Pierre-Charles Boudot | Aidan O'Brien |
The Longines Breeder’s Cup Turf is a 1 1/2 mile race for 3-year-olds and up and offers a purse of $4 million purse.
Race Insights: European shippers just dominate this race, and closers seem to be preferred. Last year Even Money favorite Bricks and Mortar rallied to win by a neck over a 51/1 longshot. There have been four female horses win this race, and the 2020 edition has four fillies or mares entered. No 3-year-old has won this race since 2013. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the race six times, and would be the first trainer to win a Breeders’ Cup race seven times if Magical (IRE) at 5/2 or Mogul (GB) at 4/1 win. The average $2 win payout in the Longines Turf is $20.65.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Race 12 at 8:13 p.m. ET)
| Post | Field | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacitus | 20/1 (Bet Here) | Jose Ortiz | Bill Mott |
| 2 | Tiz the Law | 3/1 (Bet Here) | Manny Franco | Barlay Tagg |
| 3 | By My Standards | 10/1 (Bet Here) | Gabriel Saez | W. Bret Calhoun |
| 4 | Tom's D'Etat | 6/1 (Bet Here) | Joel Rosario | Albert Stall, Jr. |
| 5 | Title Ready | 30/1 (Bet Here) | Corey Lanerie | Dallas Stewart |
| 6 | Higher Power | 20/1 (Bet Here) | Flavien Prat | John Sadler |
| 7 | Global Campaign | 20/1 (Bet Here) | Javier Castellano | Stanley Hough |
| 8 | Improbable | 5/2 (Bet Here) | Irad Ortiz, Jr | Bob Baffert |
| 9 | Authentic | 6/1 (Bet Here) | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert |
| 10 | Maximum Security | 7/2 (Bet Here) | Luis Saez | Bob Baffert |
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic is a 1 1/4 mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The purse is $6 million in 2020.
Race Insights: Pace and Pressers have done well in the past five years including Vino Rosso (9/2) last year when sitting just off the leaders and making a big move in the stretch to win by more than 4-lenghts over the favorite McKinzie. Vino Rosso returned $11.20 to win, and the average $2 win payout in the Classic is $26.25; the highest of all Breeders’ Cup races. Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Classic three times and has a trio of favorites all breaking outside in Improbable (5/2), Authentic (6/1) and Maximum Security (7/2). The top-2 Kentucky Derby finishers Authentic and Tiz the Law (3/1) will be running near the lead with Maximum Security.
How to bet on horse racing
The opportunity for bigger payouts is greater during the Breeders’ Cup, as full fields of 14 horses are common. For example, the average $2 win payout in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is $26.67. The traditional Win, Place and Show bets all have higher payouts due to larger field sizes. The chance to hit a big score is greater as well in the ‘exotic’ pools when picking the exact order of finish in an Exacta, Trifects, Superfecta or even Super High 5 – the exact order of finish of the top five horses. Some of the exotic wagers are offered with a minimum wager amount of .50 cents.
Beyond those bets are also guaranteed prize pools offered by the Breeders’ Cup. With guaranteed prize pools or $1 million and up, cashing a ticket in any of these pools can produce a huge payday.
- Win: A bet on a horse to Win means you only get paid if the horse finishes first.
- Place: A bet on a horse to Place means you get paid the 2nd place money if the horse finishes first or second.
- Show: A bet on a horse to Show means you get paid the 3rd place money if the horse finishes first, second or third.
- Exacta: Correctly betting on the first and second place horses in exact order.
- Trifecta: Correctly betting on the order of finish of the first three horses in win, place and show position.
- Superfecta: Predicting and betting the first four horses in the correct order.
- Super High Five: Predicting and betting the first five horses in correct order.
- Pick 5 – Correctly betting the winner of five consecutive races prior to the initial first race in the sequence. (Also Pick 3 and Pick 4 offerings).
The more horses and combinations used in placing an exotic bet the greater the cost of the wager. Payouts at the Breeders’ Cup are determined by the pari-mutuel system at the track. The amount a person wins depends on how much money is in the pool overall divided by how many bets are placed. The odds on the horses change as the money is bet right up to post time.
Beyond the win, place, show bets and popular exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers, there is also Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 pools. These can be life changing scores, as the Pick 6 has had a single ticket winner at the Breeders’ Cup three times since 2000 with each more than $1.4 million. There have been at least five times when nobody hit the Pick 6 since 2000, and each of the consolation prizes (5-of-6) paid between $43,000 to $114,000.
Friday’s Guaranteed Pools
The 2019 “Future Stars Friday” card offered a $500,000 Pick 5 guarantee on races 1-5 followed by a $1 million guarantee for the Late Pick 5 on Breeders’ Cup races 5-9. There was also a $1.5 million guaranteed Pick 4 on Breeders’ Cup races 6-9. The 2020 guaranteed pools will be updated as announced by the Breeders’ Cup.
Saturday’s Guaranteed Pools
The $1,000,000 guaranteed Pick 6 was offered on 2019 Breeders’ Cup races 6-11. Also, a Late Pick 5 on races 7-11 with a $2,000,000 guarantee and a Breeders’ Cup Pick 4 on races 8-11 with a $3,000,000 million guarantee.
Saturday’s Pick 6, late Pick 5 and Jackpot Super High-5 had a mandatory payout in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.
Bet minimums
- $10 Head2Head
- $2 WPS, Daily Double, Pick 6
- $1 Exacta and SPDD
- $.50 Trifecta, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and SH-5
- $.10 Superfecta
Breeders’ Cup betting tips
The Breeders’ Cup consists of 14 Grade 1 races with prize pools from $1 to $6 million totaling more than $30 million. Full fields up to 14 horses provides the opportunity for more winners at bigger prices and odds.
Beyond having a number of places to bet on the Breeders’ Cup like top online sites TVG, TwinSpires and BetAmerica, look for sportsbooks that offer more Breeders’ Cup betting options like head-to-head matchup wagering, which was first offered during the 2018 Breeders’ Cup and proved to be popular bets. As more legal sportsbooks enter the market in the US, like FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook and PointsBet, you’ll also see these sportsbooks get more creative with potential offerings like cross-sport parlay props. It’s another way for the sportsbooks to provide special offers and promotions on big events like the Breeders’ Cup.
At the Breeders’ Cup, big multi-million dollar betting pools are common. Regular race fans can dream of a big score with less risk when wagering on the expanded Pick 5s or the exacta, trifecta, superfecta or Pick 6.
The Pick 5 is one of the most popular wagers in the country as it offers a $.50-cent minimum wager and a player-friendly 15% takeout, allowing more racing fans to take a shot at a bigger payday with less takeout. In addition, the Jackpot Super High 5 wager also with a $.50-cent minimum will be offered on every race on the Friday and Saturday cards, including the “Future Stars Friday” races. If the bet goes unhit and there are no winning tickets, the carryover pool will continue to the next race, including into Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup card.
In handicapping and preparing for the Breeders’ Cup, you can be more informed and have a better chance to win if you follow some simple tips from experts like Mike Shutty; author of Super Screener and co-founder of Horse Racing Nation.
- Learn to project the pace of the race
- Form cycle analysis – look at contenders form cycle
- Workout analysis – last workouts before the Breeders’ Cup
The 37th Breeders’ Cup draw for post positions will be in late October with date and tiem to be announced. We’ll post the odds and horses for each race at that time.
The 2020 Breeders’ Cup will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. In addition to the TVG network’s added horseracing coverage, TVG will have a special features and announce those closer to the Breeders’ Cup.
Breeders’ Cup betting at Keeneland
This will be the second time the Breeders’ Cup will be run at Keeneland Race Course with the previous edition in 2015.
Biases – A track bias will be updated as more information from Keeneland Race Course becomes available.
Post Position
Off the Pace
Long Shots