The $6 million Classic is the centerpiece of a two-day, 14-race Breeders’ Cup program at Santa Anita, and a well-matched field will contest the 1 ¼-mile event. Let’s compare the last three BRIS Speed ratings of Classic winners this decade and 2019 contenders.
Breeders’ Cup Classic winners (2010-18)
| Accelerate: | 106 |
| 114 | |
| 111 | |
| Gun Runner: | 114 |
| 107 | |
| 107 | |
| Arrogate: | 124 |
| 97 | |
| 100 | |
| American Pharoah: | 100 |
| 104 | |
| 109 | |
| Bayern: | 109 |
| 80 | |
| 106 | |
| Mucho Macho Man: | 113 |
| 100 | |
| 100 | |
| Fort Larned: | 111 |
| 109 | |
| 106 | |
| Drosselmeyer: | 109 |
| 92 | |
| 102 | |
| Blame: | 112 |
| 108 | |
| 102 |
Speed Rating Analysis:
Every Classic winner received a BRIS Speed number of 109 or higher in the last three preps.
Every Classic winner registered (at least) a pair of triple-digit Speed ratings.
Seven of the last nine Classic winners posted an improved Speed rating in final prep.
2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders (alphabetical)
| Code of Honor: | 108 |
| 108 | |
| 93 | |
| Elate: | 101 |
| 98 | |
| 104 | |
| Higher Power: | 96 |
| 110 | |
| 89 | |
| Math Wizard: | 100 |
| 84 | |
| 99 | |
| McKinzie: | 102 |
| 109 | |
| 103 | |
| Mongolian Groom: | 105 |
| 98 | |
| 104 | |
| Owendale: | 103 |
| 103 | |
| 99 | |
| Seeking the Soul: | 95 |
| 91 | |
| 104 | |
| Vino Rosso: | 107 |
| 101 | |
| 102 | |
| War of Will: | 99 |
| 93 | |
| 94 | |
| Yoshida: | 102 |
| 107 | |
| 94 |
Speed Rating Analysis:
Higher Power (110) and McKInzie (109) are the only Classic contenders to post at least a 109 BRIS Speed rating.
Higher Power, Math Wizard, Seeking the Soul and War of Will have failed to register a pair of triple digit Speed figures.
Code of Honor, Higher Power, McKinzie, Owendale and Yoshida earned a declining Speed rating in the final prep.
