My Top 5 Best Breeder's Cup Classics

[@waydenj]

I loved American Pharaoh too. A horse of a lifetime ❤

[@onkyolive8399]

Tom durken is a legend announcer.. what a voice..

[@SnidgetAsphodel]

Yeah, I miss his voice at the races.

[@thuaug4417]

“…a wild finish to The Classic … (pause) … AWE-SOME AH-GEN has won!!”

[@steveludwig4200]

And he also threw a nice little buffet party after the races at Galt House. We invited ourselves into the small room and got to talk with Tom a little. Really nice gentleman and by FAR the best race caller in history.

[@thomaskagel2538]

It's really nice to see these races really glad to see that you guys save them for some of us old guys that remember all these horses they're all really great thank you very much and the horses are tremendous

[@Empireofracing2023]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TitanicHorseRacingLover]

1988 is my all time favorite Breeders' Cup Classic. Seeing Alydar's son, Alysheba win on a track he didn't care for (sloppy/off track) in the dark, was fantastic.

[@selvins1]

The race call makes all the difference. My top 3 are Sunday Silence over Easy Goer, Arrogate over California Chrome, the best was Ghost Zapper for me. Flightline reminds me so much of Ghostzapper.

[@_exotic_scooper_]

Flightline is nothing like Ghostzapper

[@ridgemanron]

Arrogate won a race in Dubai that awarded him 12 million dollars for the race. Talk about being in the right place at the right time, you can't do better than that.

[@488ferc4]

1989 sunday silence vs easy goer - easily my favorite

[@tarawehr8184]

Shug wants the Preakness someday

[@adventuresona700dollarhard5]

Someone once asked me what my favorite song was and I played them Durkin's 89 BC call.

[@strickly60s78]

Fantastic Selections. Awesome Again....what a Thriller Finish. I was really cheering for The Closer...Victory Gallop. I wonder if he was out of Grand Gallop...another Big Time Closer. Thank you

[@jameschan9634]

Alphabet Soup is my #1 all time racing memory, I had $50WP @ 19-1. That's still the biggest bet I've ever made.

[@salvatoresgobbo3307]

Nice

[@williamlawlor5969]

good pick

[@englishlongbow935]

I was shocked when Tiznow beat Giant's Causeway eyeball to eyeball. Both great racehorses both as hard as nails.

[@chrisp.9172]

Same with all the Euro's that ran good on dirt, if they had just changed leads! But I don't think they're getting by Tiznow, anyhow! They could go round again....

[@englishlongbow935]

@@chrisp.9172 I agree.

[@williamlawlor5969]

thought the Giant had him McCarron great job

[@Rbaetagar911]

This is a good top 5. Based on opinion, this is one makes a lot of sense. The '98 edition of the Classic was stacked with great horses. 👍

[@Empireofracing2023]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@JK-sh8rc]

According to Racing Empire, there's no BCC races since 1998 worth noting?. Not impressed with their top 5 choices....except maybe 1988. And I've been watching the Breeder's Cup races since 1983.

[@Empireofracing2023]

@@JK-sh8rc I think you got your facts wrong the breeder's cup started in 1984 Plus I put the 2000 classic in their as well so there is one after 1998 Please check your facts before commenting

[@JK-sh8rc]

@@Empireofracing2023 Excuse me for making a mistake. So there was no BCC of note since 2000?

[@JK-sh8rc]

@@Empireofracing2023 And the 1983 was a typo, meant to put 1984.

[@rivaridge7211]

Wow, the beautiful "Alphabet Soup" just kept pressing and pulled it out! Whenever I am in doubt (given "close" odds/handicapping) about any betting choice - I always go with the white or gray horse. Throw in "extra points" if the horse has a "cat name" (even if not a white or gray). Yes, I know it seems far-fetched for many of you, but I have had good success with this strategy. Well, when it comes down to it, we all have our own superstitions. Cheers to all! Thank you Racing Empire for the fun post!

[@chrisp.9172]

Well, if they have a " Cat name" they are probably related to Storm Cat, whom being by Northern Dancer, one of the best sires in the last few decades.I used to bet at least a little on every horse related to Round Table, or anything related to Exclusive Native! So there's tremendous breeding behind those " names"...

[@rivaridge7211]

@@chrisp.9172 Thank you for the nice reply chrisp.9172 - your betting strategy is spot-on. Being in Canada, I would have to say that our "Northern Dancer" is at (or near) the top of any horse bettor's list here (in my Country) in terms of all-time favourites. As an aside, we also take tremendous pride in the great "Secretariat," which had a Canadian born trainer (Lucien Lauren) and Canadian jockey (Ron Turcotte). Penny Chenery (the lovely and gracious owner of Secretariat) made the decision to hold Secretariat's last career race at the Woodbine Race Track in Toronto Canada (October 1973). For those who might be interested, there is a very fun mini-documentary out here on KZbin called, "Secretariat's Last Race." Cheers from Niagara Canada!

[@chrisp.9172]

@@rivaridge7211 Ahh, Woodbine! The only true European like Turf course. I'm actually 1/4 French Canadian! I bet on Moria in the BC FM Turf, my thinking was if a filly beats Colts, bet on her, She broke dead last. They changed from her regular jockey to F. Dettori, she usually moves early, then takes the lead after a mile. But Frankie left her to much to do! Still finished 5th, might of been best...🙏♥️🇺🇸

[@esmondrose5294]

Zenyatta is world class and stamina giant female for any male competition. She is a super horse of horse racing.Legendary runner.

[@williamlawlor5969]

only won in cali

[@Kaydee815]

@@williamlawlor5969 except for. Her romp at Oaklawn.

[@chrisp.9172]

@@williamlawlor5969 It could be argued that her 1 loss was the best race she ever ran! Which came on a deep, very tiring Churchill Downs! Mike Smith said she actually learned to take the kickback DURING the running of the race! Took her all of the backstretch! So this argument that she was a Synthetic freak just doesn't fly. She won 19 of 20 And the loss came by a diminishing head! The fact that she broke a lot further back than usual. That Mike moved up to early for fear that he was too far back. The kickback, the steady on the turn. And most of all, the fact that she shied from the whip, because he never had to use it on her. Any of 1 of those could have made the difference!!

[@reinaldocorneiro5311]

That first race with Cigar was very INTENSE! Great upload ❤

[@joebarr725]

My favorite was Gun Runner. I was so confident in him that I bet 20X my usual bet. Biggest bet i ever made.,

[@johnhoffman2730]

1987 classic is my favorite. Surprised it didn't even make the list.

[@Empireofracing2023]

That one was close to making my top 5 in my top 10 though

[@johnhoffman2730]

It wasn't just the great race. Durkins call was great"The 2 derby winners hit the wire together". Im glad it was considered for the top 5.

[@Empireofracing2023]

That is true If I ever make a top 10 that will be in it most definitely

[@vinceferrari7198]

Yep Ferdinand and Alysheba w Durkin’s fabulous call. My fave.

[@patrickhagan9382]

The 1987 BC Classic was the best ever. 2 Derby winners. Enough said.

[@TheProfessorOfLife]

LOVE Silver Charm! STILL the oldest living Kentucky Derby AND Preakness winner!

[@thuaug4417]

You nailed the top pick. Stacked field. Insane finish. Incredible finishline race call. Still gives me chills.

[@jasonmattingly6306]

1989 should have not only been on the list but near the top

[@chrisp.9172]

I thought Tiznows 2nd win would be #1! Mucho Macho Man's win is underated, hell of a Stretch drive between 3 horses. 87 Classic gotta be in the top 5 when else do you get 2 derby winners? And a photo finish. Back when the best horse's came back for they're 4 and sometimes 5 year old seasons, Alysheba and Ferdinand faced each other like 3 more times! Why can't we recapture that magic?♥️🙏🇺🇸

[@englishlongbow935]

Spectacular Bid was one of my all-time favourites. He ran 30 times. Flightline ran six times. Not belittling Flightline, he is the best of his generation. However racehorses generally used to run more often. Now there's one eye on the stud farm and hanging onto that zero-losses record like boxing champions who box only once every nine months.

[@chrisp.9172]

@@englishlongbow935 Spectacular Bid was "the best horse to ever look through a bridle" - Buddy Delp John Sadler reqouted him when making Comparison about Flightline. The Bid is one of my favorites because he set and owned the track record at Santa Anita for 7f and 1mi. 1/4, (Still the world record) also Citation, because he won a race BETWEEN the Preakness and the Belmont! From my generation, Alysheba was unbelievable when he ran his race, his Classic in the dark from this video, was great, but let us not forget he came within a nostral of being the only other horse to win 2 Classics! And of course, Zenyatta!!🇺🇸♥️🙏

[@thomasblue6064]

I know what you mean about bringing great horse's back to run their 4yr and 5yr season's. Unfortunately it's all about the money now, not the sport. Shalom

[@chrisp.9172]

@@thomasblue6064 Once in a while, you get a sporting owner, who wants to enrich the game, like Jerry Moss, who brought back Zenyatta as. A 5yr. Old. Risking a perfect record. She lost in her last start, turns out, maybe the best race she ever ran! Mike Smith said she actually learned how to take the kickback DURING the race! Took her all of the backstretch to do it! There are a few exceptions..

[@englishlongbow935]

@@chrisp.9172 Rick Strike clearly hates kickback. When the brown seas parted in the Kentucky Derby he sailed through the gap with ease and gratitude. The trouble is having done that, the tactics have stayed the same. I'd like to see him lead from the front over a mile to 9 furlongs and staying clean.

[@kimkearney5419]

A few I agree with, but I think you need Zenyatta and Flightline. Zenyatta because she was the only Filly to ever win this. Flightline because the win was so spectacular that I think he holds the record for the most lengths in front.

[@Empireofracing2023]

With Zenyatta I don't really think her win was better than the 5 I used here It's just super popular because she was Flightline didn't run in the classic when this video was made but his run was certainly great

[@bruceazumbrado5387]

Many "Classic" races in Breeder's Cup Classic. My favorite is "The two derby winners hit the wire together". Your choices were very exciting.

[@franco1961]

Ferdinand vs Alysheba 1987 most be there. Blame vs Zenyatta 2010 most be there.

[@talisfinney984]

I worked for the late great photographer Tibor Abahazy that did photos for the racetracks across the country and the 1998 Classic if Frankie kept Swain straight he would of won easily but that is horse racing for ya🍻🍺 😎🤙

[@johnhoie-hj7cg]

Zenyatta’s win (and for that matter, her only defeat) were tremendous races. So were both of Tiznow’s wins, but especially the second. He is the only two time winner.

[@waydenj]

Lovely choices.... My #1 right now is Flightline from 2022. He just ran away from them ALL!!!

[@Empireofracing2023]

Flightline's breeders cup was really The most impressive I have seen so far in my life though I haven't been around very long lol

[@waydenj]

@@Empireofracing2023 American Pharoah in 2015 was in similar style to Flightline so he's my #2 right now 👍🏾👍🏾

[@jerryczzowitz3384]

We all have differing opinions, so no criticism for YOUR opinion. My personal top 5 is 1. 87' Ferdinand [ last time 2 Derby winners faced each other? ] 2. 96' Alphabet Soup [ always bothered me when Durkin says Cigar was hung out 5 wide and that was the difference, AS was 4 wide the whole way and broke track record. So not like he had huge advantage ]. 3. 84' Wild Again [ Oh Gate Dancer, you should have won 84 & 85 but you liked to catch the leaders and then run with them instead of passing them.] 4. 88' Alysheba [ if not the strongest field definitely in the discussion ] 5. 89' Sunday Silence [ SS & Easy goer was best rivalry since Affirmed & Alydar and there hasn't been one better since ] . Honorable mentions in chronological order, 90' Unbridled, 98' Awesome Again, 01' Tiznow, 09' Zenyatta, 16' Arrogate.

[@deathstar1389]

Number ONE is correct, everything else doesn't matter, IMO most talented field to ever run in the classic..the race lived up to the hype.

[@estebansanchez2528]

what a horse is the number .1

[@JIMBrown-y6f]

Agree she was exceptional

[@_exotic_scooper_]

1. Tiznow 2. Flightline 3. Zenyatta. 4. Alphabet Soup 5. Arrogate

[@maninacrowd2342]

Flightlines win this year was unbelievable

[@edgargonzalez850]

I don’t know about horses. But that horse tiznow was amazing mucho power💪👀

[@david1044]

Skip Away just couldn't run at Churchill. But He was easily the best horse in that 98 version. His 97 version is still the fastest of all BC Classics. But that was a pretty good list..

[@bamfy15]

"Not today for Skip Away" was a great Durkin line

[@dannypittman8001]

Tiznow's second Breeders Cup victory should have been #1

[@jetsom1000]

awesome again!..amazing

[@bamfy15]

The 2000 classic gets overshadowed by 2001 but I love the 2000 Race. "Tiznow tough as nails!"

[@ronaldclatterbuck5953]

Dude you left out 1989 classic with Sunday Silence and Easy Goer Blushing John....you. crazy to leave that one out

[@guardiaguardia3017]

87, 89, 2009, 96 and 94. Please review.

[@ridgemanron]

Nothing can match Zenyatta's performance when she won it.

[@sammynowhammys]

Faxs 📠

[@bgardiner3354]

Zenyatta was massively over-rated

[@sammynowhammys]

@@bgardiner3354 only girl horse to win the classic, and won the distaff year before plus 17 other wins in a row, only loss was by a foot defending her classic title, she wins that last race she's among the all time greatest ever like top 8, over rated makes you sound like a 🤡

[@bgardiner3354]

@@sammynowhammys how many races did she win in open class? Hugely over rated based on her record. She could have been Pegasus but in reality she raced 18 times against C graders and only twice against A graders. Winx in comparison won 25 G1's. Only one of these was restricted.

[@ridgemanron]

@@bgardiner3354 If you're not massively impressed by the fact she took on the best horses in the world when competing in the Breeders Cup Classic and blew them away in her first running of the event, and then lost by a head in the other, simply because she ran out of ground, but was still rated as 'Horse Of The Year' over the horse who actually won the race because everyone knew she was superior to him, I don't know what I can add. For her career she won 19 of 20 races, with the only blemish being when Mike Smith moved a step too late when he asked her for her late run, for otherwise she would have been 20 for 20. No horse, other than Forego, would be in her league of 'closing' ability and I don't believe even he could have matched the acceleration she applied late in all her races. I'll tell you who was overrated, and that would be Secretariat, for he was beaten 5 times out of 21 races and two of the horses who beat him were Onion, a $15,000 'claimer', who was beaten 39 times in his 54 race career, and Prove Out who was beaten 9 times in his career. In fact, Prove Out actually 'spotted' Secretrariat 5 lbs ( 126 to 121) and still beat him by four lengths. H. Jerkens was the trainer of both horses mentioned, and when he was asked why he would even send obviously inferior horses against 'Big Red', his answer was, 'As a trainer I believed he was overrated!' I think we can agree that he backed up his statement after seeing how his horses embarrassed Secretariat....twice ! No horse, and especially one of inferior caliber, ever was able to embarrass Zenyata and a simple examination of ALL her races would prove that.

[@keithbraggs2154]

The 2016 BC Classic was an exciting one, two heavyweights, California Chrome VS Arrogate.

[@JK-sh8rc]

That race is difficult for me to watch even today. I swear Victor Espinoza was doing everything to NOT win. What jockey stops urging their horse on at the top of the stretch in the most prestigious race of the year while continuously looking over their shoulder? Shockingly bad ride and I've always been astonished that the stewards didn't look into it.

[@MP-cx2rh]

Incredible race by Alysheba, not sure how Seeking the Gold didn’t when this race

[@chrisp.9172]

Because Alysheba was all heart! Despite not liking the mud! That was a good field too! Alysheba, Seeking the gold,Forty Niner, Waquiot, And Cryptoclearance we're all graded stakes winners! The latter 2 we're mud freaks on top of that..🙏♥️🇺🇸

[@MP-cx2rh]

If Smith would have given Cigar even a decent ride he would have put daylight on this field in the stretch. He ended up having to run 50 yards further than the rest and still only beaten by a neck.

[@greggriggert3341]

Cigar was Bailey

[@michaelconlee3925]

Silver Charm with a gamely effort in a great finish

[@Empireofracing2023]

I think so too!

[@chrisp.9172]

Would have won had Stevens had not steered him to the outside! For one, he got away from the good part of the track that had taken Alot of rain. For two, by doing so, he opened up the hole for the winner! He still finished 2nd, amazingly!♥️🙏🇺🇸

[@liane4429]

I like your video and I hope you make more horse racing videos

[@silvereyedstacker1842]

Tiznow’s 2001 win trumps his 2000 win by a mile and a quarter. Arrogate vs California Chrome deserves to be top 5 too. There was never another time two monsters of that caliber faced each other in the Classic when they were at their peak and ruled it out down the stretch. American Pharoah as well because we’re likely never to see another Grand Slam winner in our lifetimes.

[@glendunbar]

If Giants Causeway didnt sit 4 wide the entire way, he wins that. Incredible horse.

[@thuaug4417]

1993 Classic still amazes me, the crowd going silent in the stretch, eerie. I had a fiver on him, so was laughing my ass off.

[@richarddavisiii9910]

1989 Sunday Silence

[@patriciolopez8420]

I felt a relief when u clarified in the title that is your top 5... its a sin to not put the best breeders cup of in history Flightline vs LIG and Arrogate vs California even the 2 of Zennyata

[@Sophia-js5mr]

The best ever breeder's cup for me is my one and only the queen of all queens GOLDIKOVA won her 3rd consecutive breeder's cup in a row honey. 12 yrs already no one have recreate history yet booboo. 💐💋

[@chrisp.9172]

Which one? She won 3 miles, but we're talking about the Classic..

[@Sophia-js5mr]

@@chrisp.9172 I know she did not the run the classic cos she a turf queen not dirt, thank to remind me Chris, I am totally agreed but this is how I remember breeder's cup and will alway be. My one and only Goldikova pour toujours.🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵

[@chrisp.9172]

@@Sophia-js5mr Ahhh, se vous ple! She was a French bred! I can understand why your biased! Good luck in the soccer match today....

[@elvynramonovallesolea3815]

Tiznow wins it for America is my number one.

[@marklewen9384]

The 88 field was the deepest of horses in top form..

[@tarawehr8184]

Knicks go the MD bred won the classic a feat for my home state

[@pearljammin100]

No one ever talks about Concern as the announcer said coming from out of the clouds to win last to first

[@sigscorpion9275]

A weak top 5 at that

[@michaellucas669]

It's his top 5, not your top 5

[@michaelolive5070]

All finishes were close...making each a thrilling race. Good choices.

[@shaunross1674]

Tiznow 2nd race with saki should've been #1 and what about the battle between alysheba and Ferdinand

[@Empireofracing2023]

@shaunross1674 this was MY PERSONAL top 5 not yours 👍😁

[@shaunross1674]

I thought the 87 classics between alysheba an Ferdinand would've been the the no 1 but u didn't even put it in the top 5

[@Empireofracing2023]

That's a good shout but I would have that at 6 imo

[@oscarrivera1998]

No Queen Z! Wow!

[@domingoperezmartinez]

Flightline?

[@jackwynperle3720]

'98 field is just simply absurd.

[@thomasdolby8929]

Without having the 2001 Classic in here, you lose all credibility.

[@Empireofracing2023]

I respect your opinion but these are MY opinions so im not saying that these are the best full stop just My best

[@chrisp.9172]

It was not only the performance, but the victory by Tiznow! The 1st major sporting event since 9/11 . If you remember, the Euro's had won every race other than the sprint, even the juvenile races. So when Tiznow wouldn't let Sakee by him, and in fact came back! (The camera angle changes,right when he went by him, I think he got a length on him) so when Durkin called; ",Tiznow, wins it for America" wow, I'm not a huge Durkin fan, but some of his calls are epic!!

[@FranciscoCruzCabrera]

Zenyatta vs Blame in 2010

[@TheProfessorOfLife]

Terrible ride by Bailey on Cigar! Five-wide for the last 4 furlongs? Ridiculous!

[@GGBELLAPUFF22]

Zenyatta !!!

[@johnwalsh3215]

No Zenyatta this isn’t worth watching again except for Alphy in the first race

[@gomin4346]

Arrogate Zenyatta Raven pas Flightline

[@ronaldclatterbuck5953]

Zenyatta not even in top 50 ...way overrated. She ran against nobody's...