A powerful field of 14 horses has been confirmed for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), part of the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships set to take place at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on November 1-2.
This year’s 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic, set for November 2, is headlined by 5-2 favorite City of Troy, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith and trained by Aidan O’Brien. Repole Stable’s Fierceness (3-1) and Japanese contender Forever Young (6-1), who narrowly missed in the Kentucky Derby, round out the top choices.
The 2024 World Championships, with a prize pool of over $34 million across 14 Grade 1 races, will welcome an international audience at Del Mar for two days of elite racing, cuisine, entertainment, and fashion by the Pacific Ocean. This year's Championship has set both a California record and an international record, with 179 total entries, including 67 overseas contenders from nine countries on five continents.
Broadcast Coverage and Global Reach
Racing fans can catch the action live on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV, with the Classic scheduled for 5:41 p.m. ET on Nov. 2. Coverage will also be streamed on BreedersCup.com, and viewers worldwide can tune in through ITV4, Sky Sports, and RacingTV in the UK and Ireland, and Green Channel in Japan, with the NBC World Feed broadcasted to over 150 nations.
Spotlight on Future Stars Friday and Championships Saturday
The Friday program, branded “Future Stars Friday,” will feature five Championship races for 2-year-olds, while Saturday’s nine-race card will showcase older horses, capped by the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
2024 Classic Contenders
Among those set for the Classic, Group 1 star City of Troy is making his dirt debut from post 3 under Ryan Moore. O’Brien has high hopes for the son of Justify, aiming for a first Classic win after 17 attempts. Travers Stakes victor Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher, will break from post 9 with John Velazquez aboard, and Japan’s Forever Young, winner of six of his last seven races, starts from post 1 under Ryusei Sakai.
Field Line-Up for Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
In post order, the Classic field includes Highland Falls (20-1), Mixto (30-1), Senor Buscador (30-1), and Next (8-1), with a host of other talented contenders completing the 14-horse roster.
Additional Featured Races and Key Contenders
Saturday’s card will also feature top choices such as Thorpedo Anna (4-5) in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Rebel’s Romance (IRE) at 5-2 in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. Friday’s lineup includes Godolphin’s East Avenue, who headlines the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 5-2.
Image Breeders' Cup
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