Breeders’ Cup Classic

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Robby Albarado crosses the finish line aboard Curlin on his way to winning the Breeders' Cup Classic October 27, 2007 during the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) The Breeders’ Cup Classic provides the finale for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Run over 1¼ miles, it is a Grade 1 race limited to thoroughbreds of three years and up. A win in the Classic is a defining moment in the life of any thoroughbred, trainer or breeder - each year this race attracts some of the best racers in the world. Over the last four years, the Classic winner has gone on to be voted US Horse of the Year.

With fields consisting only of top-notch thoroughbreds, picking a likely Classic winner isn’t easy. In 1993, Arcangues set the Breeders’ Cup record by winning the race at the longest odds, with a $269.20 payoff for a $2 wager.

For 2008, the purse for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is a whopping $5 million. The Classic will be run as the last race at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, 25 October.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Winners

Year	Winner (Margin)	Time	Jockey	Trainer
2007	Curlin	2:00.59	R. Albarado	Steve Asmussen
2006	Invasor (ARG)	2:02.18	Fernando Jara	Kiaran McLaughlin
2005	Saint Liam	2:01.49	J. Bailey	R. Dutrow Jr
2004	Ghostzapper	1:59.02	J. Castellano	R. Frankel
2003	Pleasantly Perfect (1 1/2)	1:594/5	Alex Solis	Richard Mandella
2002	Volponi (6 ½)	2:012/5	Jose Santos	Philip Johnson
2001	Tiznow (ns)	2:003/5	Chris McCarron	Jay Robbins
2000	Tiznow (nk)	2:003/5	Chris McCarron	Jay Robbins
1999	Cat Thief (1 ¼)	1:592/5	Pat Day	D. Wayne Lukas
1998	Awesome Again (3/4)	2:02:00	Pat Day	Patrick Byrne
1997	Skip Away (6)	1:591/5	Mike Smith	Hubert Hine
1996	Alphabet Soup (ns)	2:01:00	Chris McCarron	David Hofmans
1995	Cigar (21/2)	1:592/5	Jerry Bailey	Bill Mott
1994	Concern (nk)	2:022/5	Jerry Bailey	Richard Small
1993	Arcangues (2)	2:004/5	Jerry Bailey	Andre Fabre
1992	A.P. Indy (2)	2:001/5	Eddie Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale
1991	Black Tie Affair (1 1/4)	2:024/5	Jerry Bailey	Ernie Poulos
1990	Unbridled (1)	2:021/5	Pat Day	Carl Nafzger
1989	Sunday Silence (1/2)	2:001/5	Chris McCarron	C. Whittingham
1988	Alysheba (ns)	2:044/5	Chris McCarron	Jack Van Berg
1987	Ferdinand (ns)	2:012/5	Bill Shoemaker	C. Whittingham
1986	Skywalker (1 ¼)	2:002/5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	M. Whittingham
1985	Proud Truth (hd)	2:004/5	Jorge Velasquez	John Veitch
1984	Wild Again (hd)	2:032/5	Pat Day	Vincent Timphony

2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic

The 2007 race saw Curlin, with jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Steve Asmussen, thunder to victory 4½ lengths ahead of runner-up Hard Spun. Curlin’s win was particularly impressive given that he was raced for the very first time only in February of 2007.

The longshot Awesome Gem secured a third position, and the 5-2 favourite, Street Sense, came fourth.

Strong performances aside, the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic will be remembered with some sadness because the horse George Washington had to be euthanized on the track after breaking his right front leg, just as Curlin was entering the winner’s circle.

After winning the Classic, Curlin went on to win the Preakness Stakes and the 2007 Eclipse Award title of Horse of the Year.

Fans will be waiting to see what Curlin can deliver in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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