Breeders' Cup Classic 2020: Who are the fastest contenders?

The 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic features the deepest field in recent memory. Nine Grade 1 winners are set to line up, and there is very little separating the top six choices in terms of speed figures. To illustrate how competitive this race is, take a closer look at the Beyer, Brisnet and Timeform Figures for this year's Classic probables below.

Horse	Best/Last Beyer	Best/Last Brisnet Figure	Best/Last Timeform Figure
Improbable	108/108	108/108	127/127
Tiz the Law	109/103	115/103	128/128
Maximum Security	111/101	108/103	131/127
Authentic	105/105	108/108	129/126
Tom's d'Etat	109/102	112/101	129/124
Swiss Skydiver	105/105	109/109	127/127
Happy Saver	100/100	104/104	123/123
Global Campaign	104/104	108/104	125/125
By My Standards	103/102	107/99	125/120
Tacitus	101/97	105/102	127/120
Midcourt	104/101	106/103	127/125
Higher Power	107/99	110/100	123/119

Who is the fastest: What makes this race so tough is the fact that one can make an argument that any of four horses are the fastest based on differing figures. Maximum Security has the highest career Beyer in the field, but Improbable has the highest last out number. Tiz the Law has the best Brisnet figure, but Swiss Skydiver has the highest number in her last start. Maximum Security leads the way in terms of career Timeform figures, while Tiz the Law has the highest from his last race. Authentic and Tom's d'Etat, who do not lead in any category, are consistently near the top in many speed figure categories as well.

One thing that stands out: Tiz the Law's Travers Stakes figures were massive. He received a 115 Brisnet Speed Figure, which is a full three points higher than Tom's d'Etat's best of 112. His 109 Beyer Speed Figure is tied for the second highest career number in the field, and his Timeform number is near the top. He was on quite the upward trajectory prior to his Derby defeat. Maybe he just does not like Churchill Downs?

Odds and accomplishments for the 2020 Classic runners:

Horse	Claim to Fame	Last Race	HRN Odds
Improbable	4-time G1 winner	1st in Awesome Again	7-2
Tiz the Law	Travers, Belmont Stakes (G1) winner	2nd in Kentucky Derby	4-1
Maximum Security	Saudi Cup, Pacific Classic (G1) winner	2nd in Awesome Again	9-2
Authentic	Haskell, Kentucky Derby (G1) winner	2nd in Preakness	6-1
Tom's d'Etat	Clark Stakes (G1) winner	3rd in Whitney	10-1
Swiss Skydiver	2-time G1 winner	1st in Preakness	10-1
Happy Saver	Undefeated in 4 starts	1st in Jockey Club Gold Cup	15-1
Global Campaign	Highest career figure came at 1 1/4 miles	1st in Woodward	20-1
By My Standards	4-time G2 winner	1st in Alysheba	20-1
Tacitus	3-time G2 winner	3rd in Jockey Club Gold Cup	20-1
Midcourt	San Pasqual Stakes (G2) winner	3rd in Awesome Again	30-1
Higher Power	'19 Pacific Classic (G1) winner	4th in Pacific Classic	30-1

Additional Breeders' Cup Classic updates

• Trainer Tom Drury confirmed to HRN on Monday that Art Collector would bypass the Classic in favor of the Dirt Mile.

• Tacitus was listed by trainer Bill Mott among his six Breeders' Cup probables.

Who's already going: Improbable, Tiz the Law, Maximum Security, Authentic, Tom's d'Etat, Happy Saver, Global Campaign, By My Standards, Tacitus, Midcourt and Higher Power

Who could be going: Swiss Skydiver