City Of Troy, Fierceness Lead Field of 14 in $7 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic

DEL MAR, CA — A field of 14 contenders from around the globe were entered Monday for the 41st running of the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The 1 1/4-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 is topped by morning-line favorite City of Troy (5-2), campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith and trained by Aidan O’Brien, with Repole Stable’s Fierceness (3-1) the second choice on the morning line. Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (JPN) (6-1) is the third choice in his first U.S. appearance since a narrow loss in the Kentucky Derby (G1). 

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Featuring 14 Grade 1 races during an international festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, the 2024 World Championships will entertain fans from around the globe as the sport’s best horses, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys compete over two days of world-class racing. Attendees will enjoy outstanding culinary experiences, high fashion, and top entertainment at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, “Where the Turf meets the Surf” on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. 

A total of 179 horses were entered in the World Championships, a California record, including three previous Champions: Big Evs (IRE), Fierceness, and Rebel’s Romance (IRE). There are 67 international contenders, also a record for the World Championships. Nine countries are represented: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, from a record five continents –Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. 

The Breeders’ Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and FanDuel TV. The NBC coverage includes a network window from 3:30-6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2. The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) will be the centerpiece of the Championships Saturday program with a post time of 2:41 p.m. PT / 5:41 p.m. ET. There will be four Championship races before and four Championship races after the Classic, centering the marquee race as the end of the middle Pick 5 and the start of the late Pick 5 on the wagering menu. 

City of Troy, Forever Young Challenge Fierceness in Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic

City of Troy, Forever Young Challenge Fierceness in Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
In the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, four-time Group 1 winner City of Troy will be making his dirt track debut. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify will be ridden by Ryan Moore from post 3.

“We always talk very highly of him,” said O’Brien, who has a stellar record of 18 previous wins in the World Championships but is chasing his first win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic after 17 prior attempts. “Obviously, he was by Justify, so there was always a big chance that he would (run well) on the dirt. He has a very brave heart… He has a very high cruising speed, tactically, very quick… He was a horse we always dreamed about that maybe could be very competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness enters the Classic off a victory in the Travers Stakes (G1), his third Grade 1 victory, with the first coming in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year at Santa Anita Park – a win that solidified championship honors as the top 2-year-old of 2023. John Velazquez has the mount from post 9 aboard the son of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light. 

Third choice on the morning line at 6-1 is Forever Young, a winner of six of seven starts trained by Yoshito Yahagi. Ryusei Sakai has the mount Saturday from post 1. 

Find out HERE who we are betting in every race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships!