An impressive field of 14 for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic set the starting positions and raised the stakes from the morning line at Del Mar on Oct. 28, and the $7 million race is now officially underway. It was amazing. The second and third international winners are turf races, with Kentucky native but British phenom Troy City (5-2) and Saudi Arabian and UAE derby champion Forever Young (6-1) in the first it has a good location. There are three holes and the last one is unfortunately on the fairway. Fortunately for Forever Young, he finished third in the Kentucky Derby, pictured above, proving himself in the only major race in the world. Fury danced early to win the morning draw 3-1, meaning he’s a firm favourite to be in the morning line-up, even if he’s not exactly warm.
At 3-1, Del Mar’s punters seem well aware of the many opportunities that the 14-horse field presents, not only for the start but also for the tough inner mechanics of the mile and mile ninety. If the 2024 Breeders’ Cup is the “favorite” for the Derby, and the high level of talent and number of three-year-olds will certainly contribute to that huge flavor, it’s important to talk about it again. It’s arguable that the Kentucky Derby is much better than Fireness, who finished 15th. This is what breeders will look like in the stables of the future.
Post Position, Horse, Jockey, Morning Line Odds
1. Forever Young (JPN), Ryusei Sakai, 6-1
2. Highland Falls, Luis Saez, 20-1
3. City of Troy, Ryan Moore, 5-2
4. Mixto, Kyle Frey, 30-1
5. Senor Buscador, Joel Rosario, 30-1
6. Derma Sotogake (JPN), Christophe Lemaire, 20-1
7. Ushba Tesoro (JPN), Yuga Kawada, 12-1
8. Pyrenees, Brian Hernandez Jr., 30-1
9. Fierceness, John Velasquez, 3-1
10. Tapit Trice, Irad Ortiz Jr., 30-1
11. Sierra Leone, Flavien Prat, 12-1
12. Arthur’s Ride, Junior Alvarado, 15-1
13. Newgate, Lanfranco Dettori, 20-1
14. Next, Luan Machado, 8-1
(Source: Del Mar, 10/28/24)
Trainer Chad Brown of Sierra Leone, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby at 12-1, is surprisingly low on the odds totem pole. He is a short distance from the center of the field on the 11th hole and holds a 12-1 lead over senior Ushba Tesoro. They are the fifth-favorite team in Del Mar’s eyes, one spot behind fourth-favorite Next at 8-1. To be honest, Next showed a lot of talent but failed to show performance in the Sierra Leone first division match. In other words, Sierra Leone’s second in the Derby, third in the Belmont and third in the Traverse now at Del Mar mean little in what is by definition a busy third year. More than the opportunity next Saturday.
Six years later is a bit of a stretch for a thoroughbred still plying his trade on the track, but the William Cowens-trained horse has won his last six races, including the distance, which he won recently. the one-and-a-half-mile Greenwood Cup at Parks on September 21 and the one-and-a-half mile Birdstone at Saratoga in early August. His speed over this distance is well over a hundred points, which is why bookies Del Mar have him scheduled for Sierra Leone.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, jockey John Velasquez and their favorite Fierceness will face plenty of challenges under the Southern California sun on Saturday afternoon. Chief among them will be the eye of the storm in this raucous and talented field starting in the ninth box. Fury likes to be at or near the front, so he needs some work on the ninth hole, which features two of his biggest rivals in the tenacious Forever Young and up-and-coming Troy City. Also included are two major horses who won in Japan, Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake, who will act as very talented road dispatchers who will give him a more complex picture of defensive tactics.
The issue of feirceness will, as usual, be the ability to control traffic on the street. In a very odd but subtle way, Fiers had an extended absence from Pletcher’s care after a disastrous Kentucky Derby and two comeback wins in the Jim Dandy and Travers. However, managing the tactical excesses of crossing this field for clean racing remains a challenge. His talented jockey Velasquez will be at his side, but the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic will test Fierce’s heart, with Fierceness in an unusually tough third year unlike any other horse in the race . He will want it. If this is reflected in Saturday’s game, I’m sure Fierceness will want this win very much.
