A field of 14, plus one also-eligible, will compete in Saturday’s Grade 1 $5,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Cal. The Breeders’ Cup is the annual premiere event in horse racing, akin to football’s Super Bowl or baseball’s World Series. The best horses in the world come out to compete in the two-day series of races, culminating in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Included in this year’s Classic field are the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, Haskell Invitational winner Bayern, Travers Stakes winner V.E. Day, UAE Derby winner Toast of New York, and Awesome Again winner Shared Belief—and that’s not even half the field. For Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, a win in the Classic may offer redemption and a chance to regain the lead in the battle for year-end honors.
After his dominating wins in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), horse racing fans were hopeful that California Chrome would continue his winning ways and become the next Triple Crown winner. However, a troubled trip and the toll of a tough campaign caught up to California Chrome in the finale of the Triple Crown and Tonalist got the Belmont Stakes (G1) win. After a brief layoff, California Chrome returned a few months later in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) for what should have been an easy win, but Bob Baffert’s Haskell Invitational (G1) winner Bayern was there to hand California Chrome another defeat. Saturday, California Chrome will face both rivals, as well as the undefeated multiple Grade 1 winner, and morning-line favorite, Shared Belief.
“If (he) wins this race, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be Horse of the Year.” said California Chrome’s assistant trainer Alan Sherman of his colt’s future. “It will be nice to not have a big target (as favorite) on our back. Shared Belief is the hot horse now. I think four or five could win it – It all comes down to who gets the best trip – but they all (entrants) scare me.”
