2021 Breeders' Cup Classic

Last updated
38th Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
Location Del Mar Racetrack
DateNovember 6, 2021 (2021-11-06)
Winning horse Knicks Go
Winning time1:59.57
Jockey Joel Rosario
Trainer Brad Cox
Owner Korea Racing Authority
Conditions fast [1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance26,553 [2]
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2022  →

The 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 38th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program, and the fourth race in the so-called Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing in North America. It was run on November 6, 2021 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. It proved decisive in American Horse of the Year voting as it featured the top-ranked older horse Knicks Go and the leading three-year-olds, Essential Quality and Medina Spirit. The race was won by Knicks Go.

Contents

The Classic is run on dirt at one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m). The purse of $6,000,000 was the highest in North America in 2021. The race is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:

The race was broadcast on NBC.

Contenders

The Breeders' Cup Classic is open to up to 14 starters, with automatic berths for horses that win one of the designated "Win and You're In" races in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge series. Other horses are ranked by their performances in graded stakes races and by the judgement of a panel of racing experts. [3]

Entries were taken on November 1, after which the post position draw was held. The leading contenders were: [4] [5] [6]

The mare Letruska, who had won five straight races including four at the Grade I level, was the only Horse of the Year candidate not entered in the race, instead running in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. [7]

Race description

Essential Quality went off as the post-time favorite, in part because bettors expected a speed duel to develop between Medina Spirit and Knicks Go, who both favored a front-running style. Instead Medina Spirit broke slowly and Knicks Go got off to an early lead. After running a fast opening half-mile in 45.77 seconds, Knicks Go was able to relax down the backstretch. Moving around the final turn, Hot Rod Charlie mounted a drive and closed to within a length at the top of the stretch. Knicks Go then responded by drawing away down the stretch to win by 2+3⁄4 lengths over Medina Spirit, with Essential Quality closing for third. The final time was an excellent 1:59.57. [2]

Knicks Go became the sixth horse to win two different Breeders' Cup races, having won the Dirt Mile in 2020. It was the first Breeders' Cup Classic win for trainer Brad Cox, and gave him wins in three of the four majors. "Obviously, the race went really well", said Cox. "He broke and was able to establish position early. Once he was able to do that, he's a hard horse to catch." [2]

Knicks Go was subsequently named the 2021 American Horse of the Year, receiving 228 of 235 votes. [8]

Results

FinishProgram
Number		HorseJockeyTrainerMorning Line
Odds [9] 		Final OddsWinningsMargin
15 Knicks Go Joel Rosario Brad Cox 3.2$3,120,0002+3⁄4 lengths
28 Medina Spirit John Velazquez Bob Baffert 6.8$1,020,0002+3⁄4 lengths
34 Essential Quality Luis Saez Brad Cox 1.9*$540,0003+1⁄2 lengths
43 Hot Rod Charlie Flavien Prat Doug O'Neill 3.2$300,0004+1⁄2 lengths
57Stilleto Boy Kent Desormeaux Ed Moger Jr. 51.5$180,00010+1⁄4 lengths
66 Art Collector Mike E. Smith Bill Mott 10.2$120,00014+1⁄2 lengths
71Tripoli Irad Ortiz Jr. John W. Sadler 15.8$60,00017 lengths
89Max Player Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen 13$60,00020+1⁄4 lengths
SCR2Express Train Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs SCRSCRSCR

Times:1⁄4 – 23.16; 1⁄2 – 45.77; 3⁄4 – 1:10.04; mile – 1:35.28; final – 1:59.57 [1]
Splits for each quarter-mile: (23.16) (22.61) (24.27) (25.24) (24.29)

Payout

Payout Schedule: [1]

Program
Number		HorseWinPlaceShow
5Knicks Go$8.40$6.20$4.00
8Medina Spirit$6.60$4.00
4Essential Quality$2.80


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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Chart for the 2021 Breeder's Cup Classic". Equibase. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Sherak, Steve (7 November 2021). "Going, Going, Gone: Knicks Go All the Way in Classic". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "How It Works | Breeders' Cup". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Privman, Jay. "2021 Breeders' Cup: Cox pair favored in BC Classic; total of 196 pre-entered". www.drf.com. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Meet the Contenders for the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic". www.americasbestracing.net. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  6. ↑ Ginsbach, Jay. "Breeders' Cup Classic Is Loaded Ahead Of 2021 Race At Del Mar". Forbes. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Week in Review: Letruska Belongs in the Classic". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Knicks Go a true Horse of the Year". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "The field for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
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