America’s showcase event features an outstanding field, which is headlined by Candy Ride son Gun Runner and Bob Baffert-trained Arrogate out of Unbridled’s Song Infact, there was audible groan from the crowd as Juddmonte’s champion Arrogate drew the rail for Saturday’s $6-million event. “If you go look at the Travers and the Pegasus, he broke from the rail and won,” Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said.
In addition to Arrogate, who is scheduled to be retired to Juddmonte Farm following the race, Baffert has three other chances to score his fourth straight Classic win. This year, the Hall of Famer saddles Collected, Mubtaahij and West Coast with Javier Castellano taking over for Smith. Stablemate Collected beat Arrogate in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes perhaps not as much because he was ‘not upto his usual self’, but perhaps because Collected is now coming into his own with speed and grace which could make for a Classic winner. Gun Runner has outclassed every horse he’s faced this year but he may simply have trouble with Collected’s speed in this year's
Breeders' Cup Classic. The new kid on the block, West Coast has only been beaten twice in eight starts and is easily compared to Arrogate after his 3 1/4-length Travers victory. Based on how West Coast has performed so far this year, he is likely improved enough to beat Collected but can he take on the Grey Flash? Trainer Aidan O'Brien will take two swings at earning his first win in the Classic, saddling dual Guineas winner Churchill and War Decree.
Although Churchill enjoyed an unbeaten stint of 7 races earlier this year, his last few races have found him lacking. Whereas stablemate War Decree’s father, War Front, is from the Northern Dancer line. War Front’s father was Danzig who has produced excellent grass and dirt runners. War Decree’s grandsire on his broodmare’s side is Street Cry who won the Dubai World Cup over dirt. He also fathered Street Sense who won the Kentucky Derby in 2007. War Decree has got a much better shot than Churchill because he brings very good dirt breeding to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Graded stakes winner Pavel will be making just his fifth start, but his form suggests that he can finish within top five.