2021 Breeders' Cup Classic
The 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 38th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program, and the fourth major of thoroughbred racing. It was run on November 6, 2021 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It is expected to be decisive in American Horse of the Year voting, with the favorites being the top-ranked older horse Knicks Go and the leading three-year-old Elusive Quality. The race was won by Knicks Go.
| Breeders' Cup Classic | |
| Location | Del Mar Racetrack |
|---|---|
| Date | November 6, 2021 |
| Winning horse | Knicks Go |
| Winning time | 1:59.57 |
| Jockey | Joel Rosario |
| Trainer | Brad Cox |
| Owner | Korea Racing Authority |
| Conditions | fast[1] |
| Surface | Dirt |
The Classic is run on dirt at one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m). The purse of $6,000,000 is the highest in North America. The race is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:
- Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 122 lb
- Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 117 lb
- Four-year-olds and up: 126 lb
- Any fillies or mares receive a 3 lb allowance
The race was broadcast on NBC.
Contenders
The Breeders' Cup Classic is open to up to 14 starters, with automatic berths for horses that win one of the designated "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge races. Other horses are ranked by their performances in graded stakes races and by the judgement of a panel of racing experts.[2]
Entries were taken on November 1, after which the post position draw was held. The leading contenders include:[3][4][5]
- Knicks Go — Top ranked American racehorse after four wins including the Pegasus World Cup and Whitney Stakes. Known for his front-running style, his stamina is the major concern as he has never won at 10 furlongs
- Essential Quality — top-ranked three-year-old after wins in the Belmont and Travers Stakes
- Medina Spirit — finished first in Kentucky Derby but faces possible disqualification due to a drug positive. Also won the Awesome Again Stakes in front-running fashion
- Hot Rod Charlie — winner of the Pennsylvania Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes
- Max Player — winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup
- Art Collector — winner of the Woodward Stakes
The mare Letruska, who has won five straight races including four at the Grade I level, is not entered in the race, instead running in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. If none of the leading male contenders win the Classic and Letruska wins the Distaff, she will be a strong contender for Horse of the Year honors.[6]
| Finish | Program Number |
Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line Odds[7] |
Final Odds | Winnings | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Knicks Go | Joel Rosario | Brad Cox | 5-2 | 3.2 | $3,120,000 | 2+3⁄4 lengths |
| 2 | 8 | Medina Spirit | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | 4-1 | 6.8 | $1,020,000 | 2+3⁄4 lengths |
| 3 | 4 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad Cox | 3-1 | 1.90 | $540,000 | 3+1⁄2 lengths |
| 4 | 3 | Hot Rod Charlie | Flavien Prat | Doug O'Neill | 4-1 | 3.2 | $300,000 | 4+1⁄2 lengths |
| 5 | 7 | Stilleto Boy | Kent Desormeaux | Ed Moger Jr. | 30-1 | 51.5 | $180,000 | 10+1⁄4 lengths |
| 6 | 6 | Art Collector | Mike E. Smith | Bill Mott | 8-1 | 10.2 | $120,000 | 14+1⁄2 lengths |
| 7 | 1 | Tripoli | Irad Ortiz Jr. | John W. Sadler | 15-1 | 15.8 | $60,000 | 17 lengths |
| 8 | 9 | Max Player | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | 8-1 | 13 | $60,000 | 20+1⁄4 lengths |
| SCR | 2 | Express Train | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | 20-1 | SCR | SCR | SCR |
Times: 1⁄4 – 23.16; 1⁄2 – 45.77; 3⁄4 – 1:10.04; mile – 1:35.28; final – 1:59.57[1]
Splits for each quarter-mile: (23.16) (22.61) (24.27) (25.24) (24.29)
Payout
Payout Schedule:[1]
| Program Number |
Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Knicks Go | $8.40 | $6.20 | $4.00 |
| 8 | Medina Spirit | $6.60 | $4.00 | |
| 4 | Essential Quality | $2.80 | ||
- $1 Exacta (5-8) Paid $32.60
- $0.50 Trifecta (5-8-4) Paid $41.95
- $0.10 Superfecta (5-8-4-3) Paid $17.01
References
- "Chart for the 2021 Breeder's Cup Classic". Equibase. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- "How It Works | Breeders' Cup". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- Privman, Jay. "2021 Breeders' Cup: Cox pair favored in BC Classic; total of 196 pre-entered". www.drf.com. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- "Meet the Contenders for the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic". www.americasbestracing.net. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- Ginsbach, Jay. "Breeders' Cup Classic Is Loaded Ahead Of 2021 Race At Del Mar". Forbes. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- "The Week in Review: Letruska Belongs in the Classic". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- "The field for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.