2011 Breeders Cup: Breaking Down Top Contenders to Win Classic

When it comes to horse racing, the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness Stakes) may get all the pop culture attention, but it's the Breeders' Cup that matters most to folks in and around the sport.

And rightfully so. After all, the Breeders' Cup, which this year will be run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, is essentially the world championships of horse racing and has been since 1984.

As exciting as the entire two days of racing will be, all eyes will be on the Classic, the winner of which walks (or gallops) away with 60 percent of a $5 million purse.

Let's have a look, then, at some of the favorites to snag the biggest purse of the weekend.

Uncle Mo

If you're looking to play it safe gambling on the Breeders' Cup, then Uncle Mo is your best bet.

The 3-year-old colt is the favorite at 5-to-2, a distinction that has everything to do with his win at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year.

Uncle Mo was a popular pick to win this year's Kentucky Derby before his trainer, Todd Pletcher, withdrew him the day before the race on account of a gastrointestinal infection. He's run into some other health issues since, but he still stands out as arguably the most gifted horse in the sport today.

Uncle Mo, the latest Eclipse Award winner, will break from post 12, with John Velazquez jockeying.

Havre de Grace

Havre de Grace checks in as the second favorite to win the Classic at 3-to-1.

The 4-year-old filly, owned by Fox Hill Farms and trained by Larry Jones, will look to become just the second female in history to win the classic, joining Zenyatta (2009) in that prestigious club.

She will be running from the 10th post, with Ramon Dominguez, who topped the National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010, in the saddle. Havre de Grace finished in third place in last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, also at Churchill Downs, and comes into the weekend with eight wins to her name.

A win on Saturday would cement her standing as the leading contender for Horse of the Year.

Stay Thirsty

The Most Interesting Man in the World would be pleased to see Stay Thirsty among the top contenders to win the Most Interesting Race at the Breeders' Cup.

Another Todd Pletcher entry, Stay Thirsty has cleaned up quite well in 2011, winning the Gotham Stakes, the Jim Dandy Stakes and the Travers Stakes and a third-place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes on the way to this weekend's festivities.

This 3-year-old colt, a 12-to-1 pick to win, will start from the post nine, with Javier Castellano saddling up.