Favorite Breeders Cup Classic Races

I’m a big horse racing fan. With the Breeders Cup Classic (BCC) about to be run this weekend (November 3, 2018), here are my favorite BCC races to date:

Wild Again 1984 – Crazy three-way race to the wire finish in the first BCC race, with an upset winner.

Ferdinand 1987 – To quote the great Tom Durkin’s dramatic call, “and the two Derby winners, hit the wire together!”

Sunday Silence 1989 – Sunday Silence vs. Easy Goer was the best rivalry since Affirmed vs. Alydar. There are still those (such as yours truly) who feel that with better rides Easy Goer might’ve come out on top in this race (and the Preakness too).

Cigar 1995: “And here he is, the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar!” Maybe the greatest call in any sport, ever.

Awesome Again 1998: Maybe the best field ever assembled in the Classic. What I remember most about this race is that Awesome Again probably won because he was the only one who ran in a straight line down the stretch!

Tiznow 2000: Incredible performance by Tiznow and the great “European invader” Giants Causeway. Love the camera work on this one down the stretch as well.

Tiznow 2001: This one may be even better! Tiznow becomes the first (and thus far, only) 2x BCC winner by coming back when all seemed lost against another European great, Sakhee. One of Durkin’s most famous calls ever too.

Ghostzapper 2004: Not an especially exciting race, but perhaps the greatest single performance in the history of the BCC.

Zenyatta 2009: The Queen indeed proves that she is a super horse and one of the greatest race mare’s ever.

Blame 2010: It’s almost unfair that even in victory all everybody seems to talk about is Zenyatta’s heroic near miss. Jockey Mike Smith rightfully took the blame (har har) for this one, but Blame was a high quality colt too let’s remember.

Mucho Macho Man 2013: I had forgotten how close and exciting this one was. Larry Collmus’ hysterical call at the wire always cracks me up as well.

American Pharoah 2015: AP cements his status as an all-time legend by winning the Grand Slam. To quote one of the commenters: “A TRIPLE CROWN WINNER!!!! A BREEDERS CUP WINNER!!!!! A HORSE OF A LIFETIME!!!!!!!” ^^^ Thats got dayum right!!!!”

Arrogate 2016: Arrogate “steals the show” after a great extended stretch drive against Future Hall Of Famer California Chrome. Not Victor Espinosa’s best ride perhaps but I think the better horse won here. At his best Arrogate was a monster.