- Knicks Go has the shortest odds in the field for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at +275.
- Essential Quality is the second betting option at +375.
- Medina Spirit is listed with +750 odds in his return against the top competition.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The Breeders’ Cup Classic is 10 days away and an early look at the odds shows Knicks Go as the betting favorite over the field that includes Essential Quality.
Breeders' Cup Classic Odds
- Knicks Go +275
- Essential Quality +375
- Hot Rod Charlie +700
- Medina Spirit +750
- Art Collector +800
- Max Player +800
Knicks Go And Essential Quality As Favorites
It’s not necessarily surprising that Knicks Go and Essential Quality are the betting favorites in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but the order in which they’re listed could shock some. Online gambling sites give Knicks Go (+275) a slight advantage over Essential Quality (+375).
The Case For Knicks Go
Knicks Go is an older horse than his top competitor as a five-year-old and is in good form with three straight first-place finishes. In the past calendar year, Knicks Go has won the Whitney, Pegasus World Cup and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
While clearly a talented horse, he’ll be in uncharted territory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Knicks Go has never run a race at a mile and a quarter and while the extra length isn’t expected to make too much of an impact, nobody can know for sure.
The Case For Essential Quality
Essential Quality has won eight of his nine races in his career including signature wins in the Travers Stakes, Jim Dandy and Belmont Stakes. At the age of three, Essential Quality is in his prime and is on a three-race winning streak.
The distance of the race shouldn’t pose much of a threat as his last win was at a mile and a quarter while also having won at a mile and a half. Even in the disappointing fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, many thought he was the best horse in the field and was a victim to the poor trip on the course.
Medina Spirit Back In Action
One of the biggest storylines of the race will be that Bob Baffert’s Medina Spirit is eligible to run following the well-covered cheating scandal. Although, the horse racing betting sites have Medina Spirit listed well below the favorites in odds at +750.
Since winning the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit finished third in the Preakness has won two straight entering this contest. A wildcard if nothing else, Medina Spirit will be a potential option to watch for if the price seems worth it.
The race is set for November 6 and will go off at around 5:40 p.m. EST.