Breeders' Cup 2011 Entries: Stay Thristy Has Pedigree To Pull off Classic Upset

With so much focus being on favorite Uncle Mo and super filly Havre de Grace, several strong horses figure to fly under the radar heading into the Breeders' Cup Classic. One horse nobody should be sleeping on, though, is Stay Thirsty.

The 12-1 shot certainly has a track record of success that suggests he will be a major player in Saturday night's premier race. Although Stay Thirsty finished in third behind fellow Classic horses Flat Out and Drosselmeyer in last month's Jockey Gold Cup, he has a history of running well on one-and-one-fourth mile tracks.

Stay Thirsty won the Travers Stakes, showing he is perfectly capable of winning big races at that distance. He should be well prepared for the Classic at Churchill Downs and most certainly won't be intimidated by the big stage.

There is no shortage of contenders in the field, and essentially, every horse has a chance to win. Because of that, it is most certainly advisable to go off the board a bit when betting the race. No horse has a more impressive pedigree with longer odds than Stay Thirsty does.

Every horse clearly has their strong points and nearly every entry has a signature win that makes them a legitimate contender. Because of that, the best bet is to take the horse with the most complete resume, and the fairest betting odds.

With Javier Castellano along for the ride, Stay Thirsty figures to be a major player in the Classic. Perhaps, the biggest thing in Stay Thirsty's favor is his relative anonymity. With Uncle Mo battling back from a liver disease and Havre de Grace running against the boys, horses like Stay Thirsty are flying under the radar.

Now, more than ever, horses seem to come out of nowhere and win the races with the most at stake. There is no question that Stay Thirsty has the background and the ability to continue that trend.