Breeders' Cup 2018 Results: Early Favourite Accelerate Wins Classic Race

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Accelerate won the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, with the early favourite storming through the field to victory at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

A strong early pace had the sprinters in good stead, but the winner showed character as he convincingly pushed forward.

The Breeders' Cup highlighted the closing moments on Twitter:

Here's the result, with payouts via Daily Racing Form:

Breeders' Cup Classic ($6 million purse)

Finish — Post — Horse (Win; Place; Show)

1 — 14 — Accelerate ($7.40; $6.00; $4.40)

2 — 4 — Gunnevera (n/a; $21.80; $11.80)

3 — 1 —Thunder Snow [IRE] (n/a; n/a; $8.00)

McKinzie went off as the new favourite in the moments before the race, but all eyes were on Accelerate, who had punters excited in the build-up to the event.

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West Coast was also hotly tipped as the horses were prepared at the start, and Accelerate appeared agitated before the field thundered out the starting gate.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

However, the eventual winner travelled beautifully, taking up a place in the middle of the pack, running his own race without encountering a huge challenge.

Jockey Joel Rosario appeared comfortable in the saddle, with Accelerate displaying the pedigree everyone knew he had.

In the final furlongs, the five-year-old had control of his own destiny, and the final drive past the winning post had racing fans on their feet.

NBC Sports shared a photo of the finish line as the John Sadler-trained horse won by a length, with Gunnevera chasing hard:

Accelerate was never clear of the field, but at no time in the closing stages did it feel he would fail.

The winner takes home $3.3 million, with the champion awarded 55 per cent of the purse.