Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, with Belmont Stakes and Travers winner Arcangelo right behind at 7-2.
The two 3-year-olds were among just four horses listed at single-digit odds in the 13-horse field for the Classic, which is scheduled to go to post at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Trained by Bob Baffert, who has won the Classic four times in the last nine runnings, Arabian Knight is relatively lightly raced, with just four starts. But he beat older horses in the Sept. 2 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in his last start.
“We always thought of him as a top-class horse,” Baffert told the Breeders’ Cup notes team. “You could see that as a yearling, which is why he cost us a pretty penny.”
Arabian Knight sold for $2.3 million at the 2022 Ocala 2-year-olds in training sale.
He put together an eye-opening performance in his career debut at Keeneland last year, winning a maiden race by over seven lengths on the Saturday undercard.
But a minor physical setback knocked him off the Triple Crown trail before he returned to finish third in the Haskell before winning the Pacific Classic.
“The race was a disaster,” Baffert said of the Haskell. “He was too fresh and wouldn’t rate on the lead. I think it showed his immaturity. But despite the outcome, we did learn from it.
“That [Pacific Classic] was a good race. I thought he might get beat from the quarter pole home, but he really dug it. Now he’s finally getting into form where we’re going to see the best of him. He’s ready. I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his ‘A’ game, I don’t really care who’s running against us. That’s my focus with him.”
The Classic field, in post-position order, will be: Arcangelo, Zandon, Whitney winner White Abarrio, Missed the Cut, Derma Sotogake, Saudi Crown, Clapton, Ushba Tesoro, Senor Buscador, Dreamlike, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future, Arabian Knight and Proxy.
Arcangelo did not train on the track Sunday and Monday after throwing a hind shoe, but trainer Jena Antonucci expressed confidence that he’ll be OK for Saturday.
“I know everybody’s been stressed about this, but he had a warm hind foot pulling the shoe off,” Ashe said during the draw livestream. “We’ll be patient, always put the horse first to make sure he is 100% He’s rather annoyed with us. He’s like a sarcastic teenager. We’re thrilled with him. He has just a huge personality.”
Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. has trained White Abarrio up to the BC Classic after he won the Whitney at Saratoga Race Course by 6 1/4 lengths on Aug. 5.
Haskell winner Geaux Rocket Ride, who was second by a neck in the Pacific Classic, is missing the BC Classic after he suffered a broken leg with ligament damage during a workout on Saturday. He underwent surgery on Sunday.
Pin Oak Stud posted an update on social media on Monday:
“Rocket is having an unexpected response to the surgery and isn't recovering as we hoped. He appears to be in no pain and is eating. Our boy is still fighting hard, so we will keep fighting for him. Under Dr. Carpenter's recommendation, he is moving to another facility better equipped to handle his post-op recovery.”
Kentucky Derby winner Mage is also out of the Classic after spiking a slight fever on Saturday. Co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said Mage, who finished last of seven in the Travers in his last start, will point toward the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 27 and a 4-year-old campaign.
Some other notable favorites on the Saturday card include Personal Ensign winner Idiomatic (5-2) in the Distaff; Goodnight Olive (6-5) in the Filly & Mare Sprint; Cody’s Wish (9-5) in the Dirt Mile; and Elite Power (9-5) in the Sprint.
At 4-5 in Friday’s Juvenile Fillies, the undefeated Tamara, daughter of Hall Famer Beholder, has the lowest odds of any favorite in the 14 Breeders’ Cup races.
Three Eclipse Award winners conspicuous by their absence in the Breeders’ Cup pre-entries were Forte, Nest and Echo Zulu.
Forte, the champion 2-year-old male in 2022, has been retired after he grabbed a quarter during the Travers that turned into a quarter crack that wasn’t healing fast enough in time for the BC Classic.
His stablemate Nest, the 2022 champion 3-year-old female, is skipping the BC Distaff after finishing fourth in the Spinster on Oct. 8.
Echo Zulu, champion 2-year-old female in 2021 and the top female sprinter in North America this season following a win in the Ballerina at Saratoga, has been retired after she suffered a leg injury during a workout at Santa Anita on Oct. 13.