2017 Breeders' Cup Classic Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The main event of a busy weekend of Thoroughbred racing - the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic will take place Saturday, November 4 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California. A purse of $6 million will be up for grabs for horses three years old and upward willing to race 1 1/4 miles on Del Mar's dirt track.

A field of 11 have been confirmed for the Heavyweight showdown. Post time for the Breeders' Cup Classic is 8:35 PM and it goes as race 12. Here is a look into the past performances of all 11 entries for one of the more anticipated races of the year.

2017 Breeders' Cup Classic Field & Odds at Del Mar

Gun Runner 9-5

Steve Asmussen trained colt was tops in the 2016 Road to the Kentucky Derby Standings last year - he is currently rated as one of/if not-the-best race-horse in the world. He had five career starts prior to the Run for the Roses with four wins - two straight wins ahead of the Derby - the G2 Louisiana Derby and the G2 Risen Star Stakes - both results at Fair Grounds. He finished a respectable third in the Derby and recorded a win in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes after that at Churchill Downs last June 16. He has looked good in nine starts since - three straight wins ahead of this weekend including the G1 Woodward Stakes last time out at Saratoga September 2, by 5 1/4 lengths in the G1 Whitney Stakes on that track August 5 and in gate-to-wire fashion by an eye-opening seven lengths with a 107 BRIS Speed Rating in the G1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs June 17. Before that was a good second behind Arrogate in the $10 million Dubai World Cup March 25, a 5 3/4 length win in the G3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park February 20, another win in the G1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs November 25 and a second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Gun Runner has hit the board in his nine seven starts overall and has won five of five six ahead of this weekend against some of the best competition in the world. The impressive morning line favorite hopes to keep an incredible run going Saturday from post 5.

Arrogate 2-1

Defending champion in this race - Bob Baffert trained colt and 2016 winner of the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old has 10 starts with seven wins, a second and a third-place finish wins. Last time out was an OK second in the G1 Pacific Classic Stakes on this track August 19 which followed an unfathomable fourth, 15 1/4 lengths back in the San Diego Handicap here July 22. Before that was a terrific seven race win streak - the $10 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup by 2 1/4 lengths March 25, the $12 million G1 Pegasus World Cup by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths over the legendary California Chrome at Gulfstream January 28, the Breeders' Cup Classic over California Chrome again, the G1 Travers August 27 by an incredible 13 1/2 lengths in his stakes debut, an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar August 4, another Allowance Optional Claiming June 24 and a maiden score at Santa Anita June 5. Arrogate was incredible to start his career and will be out to snap a two-race losing streak Saturday from the rail as the morning line second choice.

Collected 6-1

Bob Baffert trained colt has been pretty darn good so far in his 11-race career - eight wins and a second-place finish. He enters on the heels of a nice four-race win streak - over Arrogate last time out in the G1 Pacific Classic Stakes on this track August 19, over Accelerate in the G3 Precisionist Stakes by an incredible 14 lengths at Santa Anita June 24, by 3 3/4 lengths as favorite in the G2 Californian Stakes with a lofty 104 Beyer Speed Figure April 22 and another 3 3/4 length win in the minor Santana Mile Stakes at Santa Anita April 1. It followed nearly 11 months away, a tenth in the 2016 G1 Preakness Stakes and another two-race win streak - the G3 Lexington Stakes April 16, 2016 and the minor Sunland Park Festival of Racing Stakes last March. He also had a fourth in the G3 Southwest Stakes and another good win in the G3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in January, 2016. Collected has won five of his last six starts overall (all stakes), has looked untouchable in his last four starts overall. He shoots for his biggest win to date Saturday from the outside post 11.

West Coast 6-1

Has placed in all eight career starts for trainer Bob Baffert - six wins and two runner-up finishes. He enters on a nice five-race win streak - the G1 Pennsylvania Derby last time out at Parx September 23, the G1 Travers Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths in wire-to-wire fashion at Belmont Park August 26, the G3 Los Alamitos Derby July 15, the minor Easy Goer Stakes by an eye-opening 3 3/4 lengths after a troubled start at Belmont Park June 10 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita May 20. Before that was a respectable second in his only other graded stakes action to date - the G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland April 15, a maiden score in March and a second in his debut. West Coast has been a factor in every race so far, is now in the conversation for three-year-old championship honors and is expected to be a factor again Saturday from gate 8.

Mubtaahij 12-1

Globetrotting Irish bred colt had four wins and a second-place finish in five races overseas in 2015 including a win in the UAE Derby by eight lengths and the Al Bastakiya Stakes at Meydan before debuting in North America. He failed to place in his next four starts including a fourth in the 2015 Belmont Stakes and eighth in the Kentucky Derby before a second behind California Chrome in the $10 million 2016 Dubai World Cup. He arrives off his first win in 2 1/2 years however - the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita September 30 which followed an OK fourth in the 2017 Dubai World Cup in March and his only other start in 2017 - a fifth in the Curlin Handicap at Meydan in February. Before that was a fourth in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park last October, a decent second in the G1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga September 3, 2016 and an OK third in the G2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park July 9 of last year. Mubtaahij has been training well ahead of this weekend and will try to build of his best effort in some time from gate 8.

Churchill 15-1

Aidan O'Brien trained Irish bred colt has placed in 10 of 12 career starts - seven wins, a second and two third-place finishes. He won seven straight races between June/2016 and May/2017 including the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas, the Group 1 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas, the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and has been OK in three starts since. Last time out was a third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot October 21 which followed a seventh in the Group 1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes September 9 and a second in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York August 23. Churchill was untouchable earlier in his career but hopes to snap a three-race losing streak Saturday from post 7.

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Pavel 20-1

Lightly raced Doug O'Neill trained colt has just four career starts with two wins and a third-place finish. Last time out was a third in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park October 7 which followed a good six length win with a 103 Beyer Speed Figure in the G3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx September 4, an OK fourth in his stakes debut - in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga July 29 and a win in his debut by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita July 1. Pavel has been competitive so far and will be after a third win in five starts from gate 10.

Gunnevera 30-1

Has five wins, three seconds and a third-place finish in 13 career starts for trainer Antonio Sano. Last time out was a second behind West Coast in the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga August 26 which followed a win in the minor Tangelo Stakes at Gulfstream Park August 8, an OK fifth in the G1 Preakness Stakes May 20, a seventh in the G1 Kentucky Derby and a third in the G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream April 1. Before that was a nice victory on that track in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes March 4, a respectable second in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream February 4 and another good win by 5 3/4 lengths in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot November 19. He's also had a good eye-opening win with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the G2 Saratoga Special August 14, 2016. Gunnevera has won three graded stakes races so far and has been decent lately. He shoots for his second graded stakes score in three starts Saturday from post 9.

War Decree 30-1

Aidan O'Brien trained colt has just six career starts with three wins and a second-place finish. He makes his North American debut Friday off a good win in the Group 3 Koffy Diamond Stakes at Dundalk September 29, off-the-board finishes in a pair of Group races in Britain, a win in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes in July, 2016 and a second in a Group 2 race three weeks prior to that. War Decree has been up against some tough competition and fared pretty well overseas. He hopes that success translates Saturday from gate 2.

Win the Space 30-1

Posted a DNF in this race last year but has three wins, a second and five third place finishes in 17 career starts for trainer George Papaprodromou. He enters off an OK third in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita September 30 which followed a fifth in the minor Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar August 23, over nine months away and his DNF in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Before that was an OK third in the 2016 G1 Awesome Again Stakes October 1, a disappointing DNF after being pulled up in the G1 Pacific Classic August 20, a respectable third in the G2 Cougar II Handicap last July 23, a very nice second at 24-1 odds in the 2016 G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 25 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score May 15, 2016. Win the Space has been decent at times but will need a special effort Saturday in order to contend from post 3.

War Story 30-1

Has placed in his 11 of 23 career starts - five wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. He arrives on the heels of consecutive disappointing fourths - the G1 Woodward Stakes last time out at Saratoga September 2 and the G1 Whitney Stakes on this track August 5. Before that was a good two length win in the G2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park June 10, an OK third in the G2 Charles Town Classic April 22 and consecutive fifths - the G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes March 4 and the G1 Pegasus World Cup January 28 - both at Gulfstream. He also had a good win in the minor Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct December 17, a fourth in the G1 Cigar Mile on that track November 26, an eighth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic and an OK second in the minor Pa Derby Champion Stakes at Parx September 24. War Story has been a tad underwhelming most recently but hopes to change things around Saturday from gate 4.

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