Betting Trends for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar

Trainer Aidan O’Brien faces a date with destiny as strives to win the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic for the first time in his career on Saturday.

Stable star City Of Troy is the favourite on horse racing betting sites to emerge victorious, but he faces a tough task against some talented opponents.

We have studied the recent record books to uncover some key betting trends that we think will help you pick the winner of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

• 21 of the last 22 Classic winners had 3-8 runs that season.
• 24/40 winners triumphed in their last race.
• 36/40 won a G1 that season.
• 40/40 winners were aged 3-5 (3yo - 13 wins; 4yo - 17 wins; 5yo - 10 wins).
• Bob Baffert has the most wins by a trainer (2014, 2015, 2016 & 2020)

O’Brien has made no secret of how highly he rates City Of Troy and the horse appears to have the right profile to claim Classic victory.
 
The son of Justify has won three Group 1 races in the United Kingdom this season – the Epsom Derby, Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes.
 
While his form is on the turf, the horse looked comfortable on an artificial surface when he was sent for a workout at Southwell in September.
 
He is well drawn in stall three and will be tough to beat under jockey Ryan Moore if he can secure a favourable position during the early part of the race.
 
Odds of 7/4 on several betting apps are a fair reflection of his chances and could look extremely good value by around 9.45 pm on Saturday.
 
Fierceness is the main hope for the home team despite his disappointing performance in the Kentucky Derby earlier in the season.

He has subsequently won the Jim Dandy Stakes and the Travers Stakes and could be dangerous under jockey John Velazquez.

Japanese horse Forever Young finished third in the Kentucky Derby and has since won the Japan Dirt Classic over ten furlongs.

He could run well, although Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone appeals as a better each-way contender at their respective odds.

The three-year-old son of Gun Runner has performed creditably in his last four outings without getting his nose in front and could run into a place at Del Mar.

However, City Of Troy looks a cut above his Classic rivals and is strongly fancied to give O’Brien his first victory in the race.

Breeders’ Cup Classic 2024 Betting (via Rhino Bet)

• City Of Troy – 7/4
• Fierceness – 3/1
• Forever Young – 5/1
• Sierra Leone – 11/1
• Highland Falls – 14/1
• Ushba Tesoro – 16/1
• Arthur’s Ride – 18/1
• Derma Sotogake – 25/1
• Tapit Trice – 25/1
• Newgate – 25/1
• Next – 28/1
• Senor Buscador – 33/1
• Pyrenees – 50/1
• Mixto – 80/1
• Rattle N Roll – 100/1