Breeders' Cup Classic 2016: Latest Odds, Predictions Heading into Saturday

The 2016 Triple Crown season ended with a bit of a whimper, with a different horse winning each of the sport's major events.

It was a stark contrast to the 2015 season, which saw American Pharoah break the Triple Crown drought and make history.

The final major race of the 2016 calendar, however, will provide an opportunity for a notable horse to return to the nation's consciousness. California Chrome, who won the first two races of the 2014 Crown season before falling to Tonalist in the Belmont, spearheads the field for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic.

Chrome, two years removed from his ascent to national stardom, has been unstoppable since returning to full-time racing earlier this year. He has won six races this season, including October's Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, and comes off as a 1-1 favorite in the morning line odds.

"I can’t tell you what a thrill it’s been for me, especially the last two races," trainer Art Sherman told reporters. "Sometimes I get spooky and think, 'Wow, what happens if he lets him run?' Victor said he wrapped up on him the last two races. Now we’re a fresh horse coming into the Breeders’ Cup, which is what I wanted."

Chrome has won his past two races by 7 1/4 lengths. His recent run of success has made him the richest thoroughbred in North American history, bringing home $13,432,650—which I assume pays for a whole heck of a lot of carrots.

Post	Horse	Odds
4	California Chrome	1-1
10	Arrogate	5-2
2	Frosted	6-1
9	Hoppertunity	15-1
3	Keen Ice	15-1
6	Melatonin	15-1
1	Effinex	20-1
8	Shaman Ghost	20-1
5	Win the Space	30-1
7	War Story	50-1

"He’s bigger, he’s stronger. He’s an unbelievable athlete," Sherman said. "He’s such a cool horse to be around. He’s got such a personality."

The 2016 season has provided some much-needed stability for Chrome, forced to travel all over the world amid his wins at the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The 10-month competitive break from last year's Dubai World Cup seems to have made him an unstoppable force heading into Saturday's race.

Arrogate is by far the closest competitor in the 10-horse field. The three-year-old colt has won his last four races but is lightly raced. He did not enter any of the Triple Crown events and was not raced before his three-year-old year.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Arrogate comes in at 5-2 odds.

"He's been working really well," Baffert said, per Frank Angst of Blood-Horse. "He's shown us by working that you can shut him off or turn him on. He's a lot quicker than he looks. He's a big tall, lanky kind of horse that covers a lot of ground."

Arrogate is coming off a historic performance at the Travelers, winning by 13 1/2 lengths.

The only other horse at better than 10-1 odds in the field is Frosted, who comes in at 6-1. Frosted finished seventh in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, so that should tell you all you need to know about the level of competition compared to 2015.

California Chrome and Arrogate should battle their way to the finish in a relative romp.

Pick: California Chrome by two lengths.