Breeders' Cup Classic 2016: Projected Prize Money, Order of Finish for Classic
The Classic is the highlight race of the Breeders' Cup event, and this year's race features a special runner in California Chrome.
All eyes will be focused on California Chrome on the most important American horse race outside of the Triple Crown events. This year's Breeders' Cup is being held at Santa Anita Park, the ninth time the event has been held there.
Chrome, the 2015 Kentucky Derby winner, has already won the Dubai Classic this year. If he can add the Classic to his resume, it will conclude one of the best years in horse racing history.
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| 1 | Effinex | Flavien Prat | Jimmy Jerkens | 40-1 | 5th Place |
| 2 | Frosted | Joel Rosario | Kiaran McLaughlin | 15-2 | 3rd Place |
| 3 | Keen Ice | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | 25-1 | 6th Placed |
| 4 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | 8-11 | 1st Place |
| 5 | Win the Space | Gary Stevens | George Papaprodromou | 66-1 | 8th Place |
| 6 | Melatonin | Joe Talamo | David Hofmans | 16-1 | 9th Place |
| 7 | War Story | Scott Speith | Mario Serey Jr. | 100-1 | 10th Place |
| 8 | Sherman Ghost | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jimmy Jerkens | 25-1 | 7th Place |
| 9 | Hoppertunity | John Velasquez | Bob Baffert | 22-1 | 4th Place |
| 10 | Arrogate | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert | 11-4 | 2nd place |
In addition to the big races that California Chrome has won, he has been victorious in 15 of the 24 races he has entered for trainer Art Sherman. California Chrome is the 8-11 favorite in the event, according to Odds Shark.
Jockey Victor Espinoza has no doubt about California Chrome's ability. “This is the best horse I’ve ever ridden,” he told Debbie Arrington of the Sacramento Bee.
Arrogate, trained by Bob Baffert, is California Chrome's main rival in the big event. Arrogate is a three-year-old in his first year of competition. He seemed like a long shot to enter the competition in the Breeders' Cup—let alone the Classic—until he won the Travers at Saratoga this summer.
Arrogate went to the lead quickly in that elite event, and he steadily pulled clear until he had put the field away by 13 ½ lengths. That kind of victory opened the door to the Classic for Arrogate, who is the 11-4 second-choice in the event.
Still, Arrogate seems hard-pressed to have a chance at coming up with the victory in the Classic. But if Baffert's horse remains calm and comes up with that same kind of performance, a win is a possibility.
Baffert knows that beating California Chrome is a difficult assignment. “I’ve always had a lot of respect for him,” Baffert told Arrington. “(But) this is the best I’ve ever seen him. ... You have to give a lot of credit to the Sherman camp; they’ve done a tremendous job managing him. He’s going to be really tough.”
Frosted competed in last year's Classic and was beaten badly. However, he has had two major New York victories this year in the Metropolitan Mile and the Whitney Stakes, and those wins indicate that he has the class to compete with elite horses.
The question is the 1 ¼-mile distance of the Classic, because Frosted has never been successful at that distance in the past. However, the horse comes into the event with odds of 15-2, per Odds Shark.
| First place | $3.3 million |
| Second place | $1.02 million |
| Third place | $540,000 |
| Fourth place | $300,000 |
| Fifth place | $180,000 |
| Sixth place | $60,000 |
| Seventh place | $60,000 |
| Eighth place | $60,000 |
The Classic is one of the premier events on the racing calendar, and it comes with a purse of $6 million. The winner of the event will earn $3.3 million, while the second-place finisher will get $1.02 million and the third-place finisher will earn $540,000.
Prediction
Arrogate's performance in the Travers was an eye-opener, and if everything breaks right for the horse, he has an excellent chance of winning.
But how often will a horse get a perfect trip in two consecutive high-profile races? It is not likely.
California Chrome is too good, too experienced and has shown he can win the biggest races against the best competition.
Look for California Chrome to come up with yet another victory
1. California Chrome; 2. Arrogate; 3. Frosted.
The Classic will be televised by NBC, and post time is expected to be at 8:35 p.m. ET.
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