Breeders’ Cup Longshot Picks

Horse racing’s biggest two days are set for Friday and Saturday with a total of 14 races taking place at Keeneland, including the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday. There are five races on Friday that can be seen on USA Network and nine on Sunday with television coverage on USA Network and NBC. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is normally the highlight of the two days and this year it will feature the unbeaten Flightline who is gaining comparisons to the great Secretariat because of his dominance. There are a number of interesting races on Friday and Saturday and a chance to hit big scores as there are a number of favorites who could be vulnerable. Let’s take a look at this year’s Breeders’ Cup with a glance at the Breeders’ Cup Classic and then some Breeders’ Cup longshot picks.

2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds

Post position, horse, trainer, jockey, morning-line odds

1. Taiba, Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, 8-1
2. Life Is Good, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., 6-1
3. Happy Saver, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 30-1
4. Flightline, John Sadler, Flavien Prat, 3-5
5. Hot Rod Charlie, Doug O’Neill, Tyler Gaffalione, 15-1
6. Epicenter, Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario, 5-1
7. Olympiad, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 10-1
8. Rich Strike, Eric Reed, Sonny Leon, 20-1

There is definitely some value in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, as there always is, but it is hard to see any in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Flightline is getting high praise from nearly everyone and despite this year’s Classic field being a good one, there are no other superstar horses in the race. Perhaps something totally crazy happens in this race, but I sure can’t go against Flightline.

Breeders’ Cup Longshot Picks

When it comes to hitting big scores there are not any better chances to do it than in the Breeders’ Cup because the fields are large and the prices when a favorite flops, big. Let’s look at some longshot picks for Friday and Saturday.

Friday’s Longshot Picks

The Juvenile Turf Sprint could have an interesting longshot in Persian Force at odds of 15-1. He won in Europe earlier this year and he has also faced tough competition like Little Big Bear and Blackbeard. Persian Force should have plenty of speed ahead of him and that should give him a horse to run down. I’ll take Persian Force at big odds.

The Juvenile Fillies has another horse listed at big odds in Sabra Tuff. The horse has not won since her first race in June. She has been running strong and could be a horse that chases down the leaders at the wire. She is a horse that could play in the exotics at a big price.

Saturday’s Longshot Picks

The Filly & Mare Sprint has an interesting longshot in Chain of Love at odds of 20-1. This is another race where the early speed could falter and Chain of Love could take advantage. The horse comes off a win in a stakes race in Japan. She could be flying at the end of this race and hit at a big price.

Another race where the closer could be flying late is in the Turf Sprint and Cazadero is listed at odds of 20-1. He has looked much better on the turn than on the dirt and in a race where the speed could burn itself out, I like Cazadero at odds of 20-1.

The Dirt Mile has a horse in Cody’s Wish who I think has a decent chance to win this race, but you could put in Pipeline into some exacta’s with Cody’s Wish and hit a nice price. Pipeline stayed right with Jackie’s Warrior in the Forego Stakes and I expect him to be right with Cody’s Wish in this race.

The Turf race on Saturday could be completely unpredictable and I give Red Knight a shot at odds of 20-1. I know that European horses dominate this race and if you want to go with a horse like Broome that is not a bad option, but putting Red Knight into some tickets is also a good plan. He does well at this distance and hitting the board would not be a surprise for this horse.

Check out the latest Breeders’ Cup odds at BetRivers.