2024 Breeders' Cup Picks, Best Bets & Predictions

By Adam Thompson Nov 1st, 2024 6:07 PM EDT

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The top horses from the world converge onto Del Mar in Southern California for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic. The main event on Saturday features the $7 million Breeders’ Cup classic, but that’s one of 12 races on the card. 

The last time horse racing handicapper Adam Thompson posted betting picks for Bookies.com, he nailed the Belmont Stakes trifecta, resulting in a massive $500 win on a $3 wager for those tailing his choices. 

Now he’s circled the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, the main event of a full racing card at Del Mar near San Diego. Post time for the Classic is 5:41 p.m. ET. 

Thompson has been crushing horse racing for the last three years. Last year he cashed on eight of the 13 races at the Belmont Stakes Saturday, and won more than half the races at this year’s Preakness Stakes before cleaning house at the Belmont. 

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2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park

Saturday, Nov. 2 | 5:41 p.m. ET | NBC

As big as the Triple Crown events are, no single day of racing gets bigger than the Breeders’ Cup, in which hundreds of the world’s top horses converge in one place to face off. There are a whopping nine Grade I races with $1-5 million in cash on the line. None are as big or prestigious as the Breeders’ Cup Classic. 

FIERCENESS (#6, 3/1 morning line odds on Nov. 1) has the highest speed rating of any horse in this elite field, and his two best races were the last two, in winning the Jim Dandy Stakes and the G1 Travers Stakes. The Todd Pletcher-trained horse is the horse to beat, but at 3/1 and with such a competitive field, it’s tough to go all-in. 

In the same vein is CITY OF TROY (#3, 5/2), the favorite going into the day’s action. He’s dominated the British circuit, winning six of seven events. The horse’s numbers have been excellent, but he’s never raced on the dirt surface and it’s a big step up in international competition. 

NEXT (#14, 8/1) is just as intriguing and at far-bettable betting odds. The six-year-old horse – Triple Crown races are all with three-year-olds – has won seven races in a row, and all at longer distances than the 1 ¼-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic. This is a horse to have in exotics, at least. 

We’ll target Next and FOREVER YOUNG (#1, 6/1) as better bang-for-your-buck backers. The Japanese thoroughbred has seven races with six wins in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The lone blemish was a third-place showing at the Kentucky Derby. 

Here’s how we’re betting on this race and every race at Del Mar on Saturday. 

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2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic Picks

• $10 To Win: 1 ($10)
• $3 Exacta 1 with 3,9,14 ($9)
• $3 Exacta 14 with 1,3,9 ($9)
• $0.50 Superfecta Box 1,3,9,14 ($12)

Del Mar Saturday Picks

• RACE 1: 6 To Win
• RACE 2: 3 To Win; Trifecta 3 with 2,4,7 with 2,4,7
• RACE 3: 1 To Win; Exacta Box 1,3,8
• RACE 4: 9 To Win; Exacta Box 4,6,9
• RACE 5: 5 To Win
• RACE 6: 2 To Win; Exacta 2 with 6,9
• RACE 7: 11 To Win
• RACE 8: Breeders’ Cup Classic (see above)
• RACE 9: Exacta Box 3,4,10
• RACE 10: Exacta Box 1,3,8
• RACE 11: Exacta Box 2,6,9
• RACE 12: 1 To Win; Exacta Box 1,10,14

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About the Author

Adam Thompson

More About Adam

Long established as one of the nation's premier handicappers, Adam Thompson joined Bookies.com in 2019 after a successful run as senior handicapper for SportsLine & CBSSports.com. He specializes in the NFL and MLB, where he's hit on well over 60% of his picks the past five years. Adam's NBA and horse racing picks have also produced consistent, major winners over the years.