Wide-open Breeders' Cup Classic ripe for an upset

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is seemingly lacking some star power now that both Justify and Good Magic have retired. The two chestnut colts are headed to stud duty, and either of them could have factored Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs if still in training.

In the last three years, the favorite has won the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But those editions also featured giants like American Pharoah, Arrogate and Gun Runner.

Does that make this year's Classic ripe for an upset? Heading into a major weekend of final preps, the top choices look like California-based Accelerate and New York's Diversify, but neither sports as good a record shipping out of state.

Some horses you can state a case for, plus could offer a nice pay day to their backers, include recent Grade 1 Travers winner Catholic Boy and Yoshida, who switched to dirt to take the Grade 1 Woodward.

Catholic Boy looked like a Kentucky Derby contender until he bled when finishing fourth in the Florida Derby. Trainer Jonathan Thomas returned his star to turf, and Catholic Boy delivered a Grade 1 win in the Belmont Derby Invitational. His form transferred back to the dirt, too, making him a Classic prospect.

Granted, Yoshida appears to have beaten a weak field in the Woodward, but it was a nice dirt debut. He has had one work back since the win. The son of Heart’s Cry won on the Churchill Downs turf on the Derby undercard. Now he has a shot at doing the same on the dirt.

Of course, don't forget about the Bob Baffert barn. West Coast will face Accelerate this weekend in the Grade 1 Awesome Again, and McKinzie just came off the shelf to win the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Also, Hoppertunity, the model of consistency, has run well at marathon distances this year. He also finished fourth in both the Alysheba (G2) and the Suburban (G2). The Breeders’ Cup Classic could be within his scope.

Finally, consider War Story, should connections give him another try in the Classic. He might not be the top horse in training, but he is an expert at earning a paycheck. A Breeders' Cup presence since 2015, the gelding has flashed a new dimension this year. Instead of waiting until the end to run, he has been able to put himself closer to the pace and performed well, finishing in the exacta in four of five starts.

There's a case for others, too, making me think the Classic is as wide-open as it has been in years.