There are two burning questions regarding this year's Breeders' Cup Classic: Who is going to win and what horse is going to be excluded from the field?
With 15 entered, the selection committee will have to decide which unfortunate horse and his connections will be forced to watch from the sidelines.
There are several horses, all 3-year-olds, that have Horse of the Year honors in their hands and would all but assure themselves the honor with a victory. They are Shared Belief, California Chrome, Tonalist, and likely Bayern as well.
V. E. Day, Toast of New York, and Candy Boy round out the powerful 3-year-old contingent, which has captured the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Haskell Invitational Handicap, and Santa Anita Derby, and the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby and U.A.E. Derby.
The depleted older horse division will be headed by Whitney winner Moreno, Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Majestic Harbor, Suburban Handicap winner and Jockey Club Gold Cup runner-up Zivo, and Charles Town Classic winner Imperative, as well as Homecoming Classic winner Cigar Street.
The main key to the race will be the pace, and it is expected to be a hot one with Bayern, Moreno, and the Argentine-bred Big Cazanova all loaded with early speed and all appearing to be horses who need the lead.
On the trainers' front, Bob Baffert, trainer of Bayern, will be attempting to win his first Classic after 12 attempts. He has finished second twice, with Game On Dude and Silver Charm, and third once, with Captain Steve.