Breeders' Cup Odds: Arcangelo Favored for Classic After Travers Triumph

With time running out until the Breeders' Cup — the year-end championships for thoroughbred racing — a clear-cut Classic favorite has emerged in Arcangelo. However, the Distaff picture has become muddled.

Last Updated: Sep 26, 2023 12:01 PM ET Read Time: 4 min
Arcangelo horse racing Breeders' Cup
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The 40th annual Breeders' Cup is closing in, and there are odds available for many of this year's thoroughbred championship races, including the Grade I, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

We'll take a look at the latest Breeders' Cup odds for the Classic, Distaff, and Turf below.

Odds to win Breeders' Cup Classic

Horse Bet365
Arcangelo +350
Arabian Knight +600
Geaux Rocket Ride +700
White Abarrio +1,000
Bright Future +1,000
Forte +1,200
Proxy +1,200
Taiba +1,200
Ushba Tesoro +1,200
Saudi Crown +1,200
Practical Move +1,400
Paddington +1,600
Angel Of Empire +1,600
First Mission +1,600
Mage +2,000
Arabian Lion +2,000
Derma Sotogake +2,000
Defunded +2,500
Algiers +2,500
National Treasure +3,300

Odds as of September 26, 2023.

Breeders' Cup Classic favorites

Arcangelo (+350)

Arcangelo's camp skipped the Jim Dandy in favor of training up to the Travers Stakes, and the move worked to perfection. The Belmont Stakes champion relished Saratoga and was simply galloping home late in "The Midsummer Derby" as Disarm made his move late.

The son of Arrogate could go straight to the Breeders' Cup, or get one more prep in for the Classic.

Arabian Knight (+600)

Arabian Knight managed to turn the tables on Geaux Rocket Ride, winning the Pacific Classic in just his fourth career start, something that had never been done in the 32-year history of Del Mar's signature race. A win in the Breeders' Cup Classic, which could be next, would give trainer Bob Baffert his fifth success in the $6 million race.

Geaux Rocket Ride (+700)

Geaux Rocket Ride had his coming out party in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth on July 22 with an impressive display of speed and grit over some of the best three-year-olds in training. He lost nothing in defeat in the Pacific Classic, as he was reeling in Arabian Knight close to home. 

The Richard Mandella trainee could run in the Grade I Awesome Again at Santa Anita on Sept. 30 before going to the Classic.

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Odds to win Breeders' Cup Distaff

Horse Bet365
Nest +300
Idiomatic +350
Adare Manor +600
Society +800
Echo Zulu +1,000
Pretty Mischievous +1,000
Clairiere +1,000
Randomized +1,000
Search Results +1,200
Secret Oath +1,200
Wet Paint +1,400
Pauline's Pearl +1,600
Played Hard +1,600
Julia Shining +2,000
Faiza +2,000

Odds as of September 26, 2023.

Breeders' Cup Distaff favorites

Nest (+300)

Nest aced her four-year-old debut in the Grade III Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga on July 23, but the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes on Aug. 25 was a step back for the Todd Pletcher trainee.

She simply lacked the late kick to contend with Idiomatic, and was even caught late for second by Secret Oath (+1,000). Still, the multiple Grade I winner has time to work in one more prep before the Breeders' Cup, and it will likely be the Grade I Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 8.

Idiomatic (+350)

Idiomatic was on just about no one's radar for the Distaff prior to her four-length romp in the Personal Ensign. But the Grade II Delaware Handicap winner is now 7-for-10 in her career, and has the speed figures to pose a legitimate threat in the Breeders' Cup.

Trainer Brad Cox has mentioned that the Spinster and the Grade II Beldame at Aqueduct, both on Oct. 8, are possibilities for Idiomatic's final Distaff prep.

Adare Manor (+600)

Adare Manor has thrown her hat into the ring for the west coast after capturing the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar on August 5.

She's now won three straight graded stakes, albeit while facing small fields each time. But the speed figures suggest Adare Manor can be a threat in the Distaff at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert's backyard.

The daughter of Uncle Mo is targeting Sunday's Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita as her final Distaff tune-up.

Odds to win Breeders' Cup Turf

Horse Bet365
Auguste Rodin +300
Mostahdaf +400
Emily Upjohn +800
Westover +800
Fantastic Moon +1,000
Bolshoi Ballet +1,000
Hukum +1,000
King of Steel +1,400
Adelaide River +1,400
Shahryar +1,400
Gold Phoenix +1,600
Rebel's Romance +1,600
Up To The Mark +1,600
Luxembourg +2,000
Ottoman Fleet +2,000

Odds as of September 26, 2023.

Breeders' Cup Friday events for 2023

Race Name Restriction Distance/Surface
Juvenile Turf Sprint 2YO Five furlongs on turf
Juvenile 2YO 1 1/16th-miles on dirt
Juvenile Fillies 2YO fillies 1 1/16th-miles on dirt
Juvenile Turf 2YO One mile on turf
Juvenile Fillies 2YO fillies One mile on turf

Breeders' Cup Saturday events for 2023

Race Name Restriction Distance/Surface
Filly & Mare Sprint 3YO&Up Fillies & Mares Seven furlongs on dirt
Filly & Mare Turf 3YO&Up Fillies & Mares 1 1/4-miles on turf
Turf Sprint 3YO&Up Five furlongs on turf
Dirt Mile 3YO&Up One mile on dirt
Sprint 3YO&Up Six furlongs on dirt
Mile 3YO&Up One mile on turf
Distaff 3YO&Up Fillies & Mares 1 1/8-miles on dirt
Turf 3YO&Up 1 1/2-miles on turf
Classic 3YO&Up 1 1/4-miles on dirt

Road to the Breeders' Cup Classic Schedule

Race Date Track Result
February Stakes* February 19 Tokyo Racecourse (Japan) Lemon Pop
Kentucky Derby May 6 Churchill Downs Mage
Preakness Stakes May 20 Pimlico National Treasure
Belmont Stakes June 10 Belmont Park Arcangelo
Metropolitan Handicap June 10 Belmont Park Cody's Wish
Stephen Foster Stakes* July 1 Ellis Park West Will Power
Haskell Stakes* July 22 Monmouth Park Geaux Rocket Ride
Whitney Stakes* August 5 Saratoga White Abarrio
Juddmonte International Stakes (turf)* August 23 York (UK) Mostahdaf
Travers Stakes August 26 Saratoga Arcangelo
Pacific Classic* September 2 Del Mar Arabian Knight
Jockey Club Gold Cup* September 2 Saratoga Bright Future
Pennsylvania Derby September 23 Parx Saudi Crown
Awesome Again Stakes* September 30 Santa Anita Park TBD
Lukas Classic September 30 Churchill Downs TBD

*denotes "Win & You're In" race for Breeders' Cup Classic

Breeders' Cup Track Overview

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA will host the Breeders' Cup for the 11th time, which is the all-time record for the roving thoroughbred championship series. Santa Anita's main oval is one mile around, and a round trip of their turf course is seven furlongs (7/8ths of a mile). 

Santa Anita typically hosts two meetings: a winter/spring one that begins on Dec. 26 and lasts through mid-June, and an autumn one that starts in late September and ends in late October. The track will stay open an extra week to accommodate the 40th renewal of the Breeders' Cup, which is set for Nov. 3 & 4, 2023.

Most Breeders' Cup Wins By Jockey

Name Wins
Mike Smith 27
John Velazquez 19
Irad Ortiz Jr. 17
Jerry Bailey 15
Joel Rosario 15
Lanfranco Dettori 14
Garrett Gomez 13

Most Breeders' Cup Wins By Trainer

Name Wins
D. Wayne Lukas 20
Bob Baffert 18
Aiden O'Brien 16
Chad Brown 16
Todd Pletcher 14
William Mott 12
Charles Appleby, Brad Cox, Richard Mandella, Shug McGaughey 9

Breeders Cup Classic FAQs

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