The Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is the centerpiece of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup meeting. The $6 million race is the richest horse race of the weekend and is scheduled for Saturday, November 6 at Del Mar. Right here at Vegas Betting, you can get expert 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic picks and advice on the best places to bet the race online!
The Breeders’ Cup Classic covers the American Classic distance: a mile and a quarter on the dirt. The race features leading older horses like Knicks Go and Max Player facing top-level three-year-olds like Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie. It should be a thrilling event and a lucrative betting race, so read on to learn how to play it!
This is the official field for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:
Morning line odds are the racetrack’s best guess for the tote board when the race goes off on Saturday. However, they are not necessarily the best Vegas odds. Your best bet is to bet the race at a trusted online sportsbook and lock in your odds when you place your wager. That way, you can be confident about getting the best Vegas odds on your horse.
 |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks Go | +200 | TBA | +275 |
| Essential Quality | +275 | TBA | +350 |
| Hot Rod Charlie | +400 | TBA | +700 |
| Medina Spirit | +500 | TBA | +750 |
| Art Collector | +750 | TBA | +700 |
| Max Player | +800 | TBA | +800 |
You used to have to go to a casino to get the best Vegas odds in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and horse races all year long. Fortunately, you can now get them from home, or from any place you can connect to the internet with your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Online sportsbooks bring great odds and betting action to you, wherever you are!
It can seem difficult at first to choose the best online sportsbook since there are so many of them. However, our guide to online sportsbooks puts comprehensive information at your fingertips. Our Vegas betting experts have done their homework, and give you access to trusted betting sites with great user interfaces, lucrative betting bonuses, and the best Vegas odds.
Now that you know how to find the best places to play the race, let’s get to know the best horses in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
#5 Knicks Go will almost certainly be favored in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He comes off of three straight wins, though he had his customary clear lead in all of them. This time, thanks to #8 Medina Spirit, #3 Hot Rod Charlie, and (if he improves a lot) #7 Stilleto Boy, Knicks Go should have a lot of company up front.
It is also Knicks’ Go’s first try at a mile and a quarter. Perhaps he will stay the distance, as he does have a high cruising speed and has been able to sustain it at least a mile and an eighth. But, with an early battle against Medina Spirit or Hot Rod Charlie so likely, Knicks Go will probably be an underlay.
It is worth noting that Hot Rod Charlie is not wedded to the lead. His more recent style has taken advantage of his speed, but he has also crossed the wire first using a stalking style and at two even looked like a real off-pace horse. This versatility can help him carve out a good trip.
#6 Art Collector also has speed, as he flashed in the Woodward and Alydar. But, he has also won from off the pace, and with so much early speed in this field it is more likely that he will sit a length or two off the running. Art Collector will have to prove himself at this distance, but he is older and better than he was when he tried 1 3/16 miles last year, and he has the pedigree.
Versatile #4 Essential Quality has done almost nothing wrong in his career. It is worth noting that his only defeat came at a mile and a quarter in the Kentucky Derby, against Medina Spirit and Hot Rod Charlie. But, he is a truly versatile horse, he has won the 1 1/4-mile Travers since then, and he also had a rough start in the Kentucky Derby.
#9 Max Player is the most intriguing and most bettable horse in the Classic. Improving at the right time, he has won his last two starts, both at the Classic distance. He does have class to prove against these horses. But, his positional pace from the outside should be a great asset, he can run well at different tracks, and he won’t be left with too much to do.
Two locals round out the field. #1 Tripoli already has a Grade 1 win over this course and distance, so he can improve on the return to Del Mar, but the Pacific Classic field was far less classy than this group. #2 Express Train also likes the course, but he has yet to prove that he wants to go a mile and a quarter.
Here are your best bets for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic!
