Breeders' Cup 2016: Vegas Betting Odds, Race Predictions and More

The 2016 Breeders' Cup will come to a head on Saturday as the best of the horse racing community gather for a final, climactic day of action from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Tension is building toward the curtain-closing Breeders' Cup Classic, but there are other races on Saturday's card that also promise to draw great intrigue, not to mention some of the biggest prize purses available.

The Breeders' Cup itself will throw a $6 million (£4.9 million) prize pot up for grabs, with $3.3 million (£2.6 million) of that going straight to the victor, an increase on last year's $5 million (£4 million) prize.

The filly and mare sprint, the Breeders' Cup Mile and the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, are just some examples of other races that are sure to glean some of Saturday's attention, with the opportunity to make big profit, too.

Read on for a breakdown of Saturday's biggest races at Santa Anita, where the favourites are looking particularly threatening in their bids to live up to expectations.

Breeders' Cup Classic

Post	Horse	Odds
4	California Chrome	10-11
10	Arrogate	3-1
2	Frosted	7-1
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

Starting with the jewel in the crown of this weekend's meet, California Chrome remains the 11-10 odds-on favourite to take home the grand prize, and one gets the impression those odds could fall even more approaching race time.

The 2014 American Horse of the Year has even developed a following of "Chromies," as noted by the official Preakness Stakes Twitter account, which recently remembered the five-year-old's great win at Pimlico two years ago:

Despite leading as such a clear pick for first place, however, California Chrome doesn't appear to have been affected by the pressure that can sometimes come with favourite status, per the Breeders' Cup:

With career winnings of $13.4 million (£10.7 million), the stallion is the richest horse in North American history, according to the New York Times' Melissa Hoppert, and it shows in a spotless 2016 record.

Having yet to finish anywhere except first in six outings this year, California Chrome is set to extend his reach over the field on Saturday, although the likes of Frosted and Bob Baffert-trained Arrogate will be ones to watch.

Predicted Winner: California Chrome

Longines Breeders' Cup Turf 

Post	Horse	Odds
10	Found	5-2
4	Flintshire	11-4
12	Highland Reel	7-2
7	Ulysses	10-1
3	Ectot	12-1
6	Mondialiste	20-1
5	Ashleyluvssugar	33-1
2	Da Big Hoss	33-1
9	Money Multiplier	40-1
13	Metaboss	66-1
8	Twilight Eclipse	66-1
1	Ralis	100-1
11	Texas Ryano	100-1

The Classic won't be the only lucrative racing opportunity for those in action on Saturday after the Breeders' Cup revealed earlier this year the Longines Turf would also see its purse raised to $4 million (£3.2 million).

Unlike the aforementioned California Chrome, Highland Reel isn't the favourite to take this gong at odds of 7-2, but the Guardian's Tony Paley agreed he can still do some damage with trainer Aidan O'Brien guiding him:

The Irish trainer has brought the firmer favourite, Found, back to Santa Anita in a bid to defend her Turf title, and the 5-2 pick is another strong runner likely to do damage.

That being said, there are bad omens surrounding the top pick after the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings pointed out Found's win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a race whose winner has never gone on to win the Turf:

Highland Reel ran a sterling second to Found in this year's Arc, despite coming in behind stable-mate Found at 24-1, and it's time for him to subvert the odds again on Saturday.

The four-year-old also has previous in the United States and triumphed in the Secretariat at Arlington Park last year, showing the long trip will only do so much to unsettle his rhythm leading up to race time.

Predicted Winner: Highland Reel