The 5 Breeders’ Cup races I'm anticipating most

The preps have concluded, and in less than two weeks’ time, the world’s best racehorses will line up for the Nov. 2-3 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs. Towering Turf favorite Enable aside, the championships lack a clear standout in most races, but what they do feature are well-matched and diverse fields including international contenders.

Here are five races to most look forward to:

Breeders’ Cup Classic

While Accelerate appears only a tepid favorite, this field should be among the championships’ most diverse. Among the top story lines are comebacks of Bob Baffert-trained West Coast, McKinzie and perhaps even Collected, who are looking to remind the country of their talent that’s been sidelined most of the year. Then of course there is the European invader angle, with Roaring Lion possible coming in off four straight Group 1 victories on grass.

Accelerate will close what’s already a historic season. He became the first horse to sweep the Santa Anita Handicap, the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, the Pacific Classic and Awesome Again in the same year. A win in the Classic would boost his Horse of the Year candidacy.

And then you have Mind Your Biscuits, who up until June was just thought to be one of the world’s best sprinters. Fast forward past runner-up finishes in the Met Mile and Whitney Stakes, and a dominant score in the Lukas Classic, and you have a serious Breeders’ Cup Classic threat.

Breeders’ Cup Turf

Here’s the star power. Enable, European Cartier Horse of the Year and two-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, will attempt to make the first sweep of the Arc and Turf in the same year against an American contingent that appears a cut below her abilities.

For all the history against Enable, there is one very big advantage she has over the others that have attempted this double. That’s a light schedule. All others that have attempted the Arc-Turf sweep entered off a full season of at least six prior starts. Enable, on the other hand, will be running only her third race of the year, and that’s a point in the form cycle many horses can reach their peaks.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Who isn’t excited to see this race? You have the speed versus closer angle and, of course, the classic 3-year-old versus hardened veteran match-up with Promises Fulfilled looking to lock up a championship.

The favorite looks like either Imperial Hint from the East Coast or Roy H, the defending winner, from the West. They ran 1-2 in last year’s Sprint and will be challenged by X Y Jet, Whitmore and Limousine Liberal, among others.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Game Winner brings in an unbeaten record and multiple Grade 1 victories, yet he’s only faced small fields in California. The top two from Belmont Park’s Champagne Stakes will challenge in Complexity and Code of Honor.

No matter who lines up for this race, it’s always one of the highest-anticipated on Breeders’ Cup weekend given the early Kentucky Derby favorite will emerge — that is, if you don’t consider Instagrand, who’s receiving time off, to fit that bill already.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Like its male counterpart, the Juvenile Fillies will set expectations for the division heading into next year, as it carries Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, too. Unlike the Juvenile, however, this race will include all the big names.

Simon Callaghan-trained Bellafina and Kenny McPeek’s Restless Rider are the most accomplished and well-known of the entrants. The former earned her third consecutive graded stakes victory, and second consecutive Grade 1, when running off last out with the Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita. However, Restless Rider looked equally impressive in winning Keeneland’s Alcibiades, plus she owns a win over Churchill Downs’ dirt.

So, too, does Serengeti Empress, who definitely didn’t face as much in her final tune-up, but won Churchill's Pocahontas by 19 1/2 lengths, the widest margin for a stakes win under the Twin Spires since Rachel Alexandra’s Oaks score.