Three Japan-based horses will compete in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday. Loves Only You became the first Japanese horse to win the Breeders’ Cup when he took home the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Fely & Mare Turf in 2021. There are 19 Japanese contenders who made the trip to Del Mar Racetrack this time around, with Forever Young, Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake are all in the Breeders’ Cup Classic field for 2024. Forever Young has the shortest 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic odds of the three at 6-1, followed by Ushba Tesoro at 12-1 and Derma Sotogake at 20-1. Meanwhile, Irish-trained horse Troy is a 5-2 favorite in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic lineup. The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic post is 5:41 p.m. ET. You’ll want to see what SportsLine’s Jody Demling has to say before entering any of his 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic picks or horse racing predictions, considering his impressive record.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic having made the Oaks Derby double 11 over the last 16 years. He has also predicted the winner of the Belmont Stakes in four of the past seven years and has called 10 of the last 20 Preakness winners, including 2023 when he notched the winner, acta, trifecta and superfecta as well as the trifecta in 2024. He also homered Flightline to a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic 2022. And everyone who follows him is on his way up.
Now, with the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic just around the corner, Demling shares his picks and predictions at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top predictions for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic
One of Demling’s Surprise Picks for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic: He is the fading ferociousness of the three-time Grade 1 winner (3-1), a top favorite for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic who recently won the Travers Stakes. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt won the Breeders’ Cup Junior Cup last year and has three wins in five starts since. However, inconsistency and mediocre speed make Aggression less reliable in defence.
Fierce rebounded from her third-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes with a first-place finish in the Florida Derby that earned him favoritism ahead of the 2024 Kentucky Derby. However, he did not live up to expectations, finishing a disappointing 15th at Churchill Downs. Even with subsequent victories including a first-place finish in the Travers Stakes, his lack of consistency is giving Demling pause before participating in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic. See which horses you could pick here.
Another surprise: Demling leads Uspa Tesoro, although he is the underdog by a 12-1 margin. The 7-year-old is the most experienced of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic horses, entering Saturday with 35 starts under his belt. He has also won seven of nine starts on dirt tracks, giving him a shot at competing at Del Mar Raceway.
Oshpa Tesoro had three runner-up finishes before Saturday’s race, including runner-up finishes in the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup. He finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year, and Demling expects to be back in the mix for this year’s race. Find out which horses to choose here.
How to Make 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic Picks and Bets
Demling just named his picks for Troy, Sierra Leone and every horse in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic lineup. He’s also ranked high as a major double-digit underdog who “has a great chance of pulling off the upset.” Demling shares what horse he is, along with his complete projected leaderboard for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, at SportsLine.
Who will win the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and what’s a long shot should it be back? Check out the latest 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, all from the expert who picked the 2022 winner, and find out.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Odds
