Breeders' Cup Classic: Handicapping 3 Horses That Can Win

Since the inaugural running at Hollywood Park 26 years ago, the Breeders’ Cup has established itself as the season-ending championship of thoroughbred racing. 

Here are the latest odds and my top three picks for the Breeders' Cup Classic

This year's favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and my first pick is Zenyatta.

Zenyatta, named Zenyatta Mondatta, the third album by The Police, was born in Lexington, KY.  If you have any superstitions about climate affecting a horse, she will be favored not only for her impressive wins, but being local to Churchill Downs.  She is an impressive 17.2 hands tall, which gives her a long stride. She is 19 for 19 and looking for a perfect 20.

She won the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in 2008 and is also the first female horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.  She has an impressive 50 points in the current World Championship Divisional Point Standings. 

She is a massive filly that can make her own race, not needing pace help, and finishes with a flourish like few before her. She’s a picture of perfection over varying racing surfaces and circuits, winning on dirt and all-weather tracks.

She has exhibited the ability to put away her competition and win with ease where expected.  Her immense talent has scared many challengers away, so she’s not well versed against a big field of top-class rivals.

Latest Odds on Zenyatta

Two other horses to consider for the Breeders' Cup Classic are Blame and Lookin at Lucky. Both are also Kentucky bred.

Blame showed promise from the start, and though he missed the Triple Crown in 2009 because of a foot problem, by the end of last year he had finished second in the Super Derby and won the Fayette and Clark handicaps in Kentucky.

His connections came into 2010 with a plan to conquer the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and until Oct. 2 it had gone off perfectly. Blame won his first three starts, including Grade 1 victories over two top Todd Pletcher trained horses, Battle Plan in the Stephen Foster and Quality Road in the Whitney. But at odds of 4-5, he suffered a four-length defeat to unheralded Haynesfield in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. 

In a 12-start career, Blame has never lost two races in a row. Someone is teaching him something and making the right moves. It must be that guy watching from the fence.

Latest Odds on Blame

Lookin At Lucky earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile via a Breeders' Cup Challenge victory in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, and approaches the BC Classic as the leading three-year-old contender in a field led by Zenyatta. 

Lookin At Lucky zipped five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Hollywood Park on Sunday, his final workout before the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Saturday. 

Lookin At Lucky is the 10th champion sired by Smart Strike, a heritage that includes two-time Horse of the Year, Curlin, and champion turf male, English Channel. He is also the broodmare sire of 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird.

Latest Odds on Lookin At Lucky

Get ready horse racing fans, as this weekend will provide some great action!

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail]