EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Breeders' Cup has the opportunity to make history this year.The two-day racing event is hosted at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington Ky., beginning on Friday and concluding with the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday.The Breeders' Cup Classic, a Grade I race run at 1 miles, features two Kentucky Derby winners for the third time in the event's history. Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner, will face 2026 winner Golden Tempo.This hasn't happened since Unbridled took on Strike the Gold in 1991 at Churchill Downs in a race won by Black Tie Affair. In 1987, Kentucky Derby winners Ferdinand and Alysheba dueled down to the wire at Hollywood Park, with Ferdinand winning by a nose.Those two horses will also take on 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young and 2026 Preakness winner Napoleon Solo in a field of 8 horses.Who will win the Breeders Cup Classic? We took a look at that race and two other races that will be run on Saturday in the leadup to the finale. Here are some betting tips for Saturday's feature races.Breeders' Cup DistaffThe $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff for fillies and mares will be run at 1 miles and go off at 4:58 p.m. ET.Nitrogen, a 4-year-old mare, will likely be the favorite in this race, and for good reason. She's done everything asked of her this year: six races, three wins, two second-place and one third-place finish. She raced against males in the Whitney and finished second to Sovereignty, then came back to beat mares in the Beldame last month.She was the champion 3-year-old filly last year after finishing second in this race last year, and she'll be the one to beat. She will likely be in the front, but could be challenged by Splendora to set the pace.Fully Subscribed could go off as the second choice with three wins and two second-place finishes this year, but she was runner-up to Nitrogen in the Ogden Phipps in June. She won the Grade I Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 1.While Nitrogen might be the best horse in the race, for betting purposes, let's assume she and Splendora get into a speed duel, leaving the door open for Fully Subscribed to make up ground for a win.Win bet: Fully SubscribedExacta bet: Box Fully Subscribed and NitrogenLongshot pick: ImmersiveBreeders' Cup TurfThe 11th race of the day is the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf, run at 1 miles. This race is very rarely won by U.S. based horses, most recently Bricks and Mortar in 2019.Burnham Square has a shot despite finishing seventh in his last race, the Kentucky Turf Cup in September (won by Tiffany). He has won four races this year and finished second once, back in his season debut in February.Ethical Diamond, who won this race at odds of 27-1 last year, breaks from the inside post and has a solid shot to win after finishing second to Tiffany last month.Win: Benvenuto CelliniExacta Bet: Benvenuto Cellini over Diamond NecklaceTrifecta Bet: Benvenuto Cellini over Diamond Necklace over Tiffany, Ethical Diamond, Burnham SquareLongshot bet: Ethical DiamondBreeders' Cup ClassicGolden Tempo will draw a lot of attention as the most recent Kentucky Derby winner. On the other hand, it's hard to discount Forever Young, who returned in top form to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup in September after a long layoff following a runner-up finish in the Dubai World Cup in March.There's also 4-year-old Magnitude, who stumbled at the start of the Whitney in September and tired, dropping back to finish sixth with Sovereignty winning. If you chalk that up to a bad day at Saratoga, Magnitude's three other wins this year are very impressive, including the Dubai World Cup over Forever Young.We'll take a stand against the current Kentucky Derby winner in a talented field of older horses and bet on Forever Young to win the Classic two years in a row.Win bet: Forever Young to win, place, show.Exacta bet: Forever Young over SovereigntyTrifecta bet: Forever Young over Sovereignty and Magnitude
