Dubai World Cup Good BetTo Finish Unprecedented Double

Ushba Tesoro will be one of the favorites in the Breeders’ Cup 2023 odds to win the 40th Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita and could accomplish something no horse has done.

The Japanese champion won his last six races and seven of eight since switching from turf to dirt, including the $12 million Dubai World Cup in March. The six-year-old followed that up with another easy stakes win in Japan on Sept. 27, before shipping to California.

Eight horses have come close to winning both the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year, but none have finished the job. Silver Charm (1998) and California Chrome (2016) each finished second in the Classic after winning in Dubai.

Trainer Noboru Takagi brings Tesoro to Santa Anita to face some talented U.S.-based horses, led by Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight and White Abarrio, who won the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga impressively in August. As many as 12 horses are expected to go to the post for the 1¼-mile, $6 million race.

Arcangelo, who won the Belmont and Travers Stakes last summer, would have taken a lot of money at the racebook as well. But the son of 2016 Classic winner Arrogate was scratched earlier in the week.

Japan Boasts 2 Horses Who Can Pay Off

Ushba Tesoro has won all six races at the Classic distance on dirt after winning just three times in his first 22 career races – all on turf.

His drill on Oct. 29 was impressive and Noboru said the tight Santa Anita turns should not bother his horse, who will wear No. 8. The switch from turf to dirt has made a good horse a champion, with jockey Yuga Kawada aboard the last two.

“Moving to dirt helped him,” Noboru told the Thoroughbred Daily News through a translator. “The timing worked well and he grew up both physically and mentally from it. He was a difficult horse to control, but with dirt racing everything matched him.”

Japan’s Derma Sotogake (5), who ran away from the field in the U.A.E. Derby in March, also has the tools to be a factor. He hit the gate in the Kentucky Derby, but ran on admirably for sixth. He has not run since the first Saturday in May, but will have juicy horse racing odds.

Baffert Goes for Fifth Classic Pay Day

Bob Baffert leads all trainers with four Classic victories and Arabian Knight will try to give him a ring for the thumb Saturday.

Arabian Knight (12) will have one horse outside him at the break — Proxy (13) — but has plenty of speed to slide down to either the lead before the first turn or right off of it.

“I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his ‘A’ game, I don’t really care who’s running against us” Baffert told reporters.

There are two obstacles for Arabian Knight. He could duel with the speedy Saudi Crown (6) and others. He has only run four races and was third in probably his toughest test — the Haskell at Monmouth.

There’s every chance AK discards Saudi Crown and runs away before holding off the closers, but we are against him in this race if you bet online.

Gray Could Make Green In Classic

White Abarrio (3) won both the Holy Bull and the Florida Derby last year at Gulfstream, but a wide trip in the Kentucky Derby led to a 16th-place finish.

The Gray colt re-emerged this summer with a win at Gulfstream, a solid third in the Met Mile at Belmont and a stunning 6¼-length win in the Whitney.

Rick Dutrow took over the training duties from Saffie Joseph before the Met Mile and White Abarrio was reborn. It is hard to figure if he just had a perfect day at Saratoga or he is getting a lot better? But you can never discount a horse with leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.

The rest of the Breeders’ Cup entries for the Classic have a chance to turn solid careers into something much better.

Trainer Chad Brown’s Zandon (2) has finished in the money 12 of his 13 career races (fourth in the Cigar Mile) and broke an eight-race losing streak last time out with a closing win in the Woodward at Aqueduct on Oct. 1. He also won the Blue Grass Stakes and was third in the Kentucky Derby.

Expect Zandon to be running well in the lane and veteran Proxy should be up near the leaders. The son of Tapit won the Monmouth Cup in July and finished first or second in 13 of 19 races.

Proxy was second to Bright Future (11) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga in early September. Both have been off since that battle, decided by a nose. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and Hall of Fame jockey John Velasquez are BF’s connections.

What’s The Best Bet for the Classic

If you like speed, go with Arabian Knight and try to get a long shot underneath. But we like Ushba Tesoro to be the first Japanese horse to win the Classic. Originally, we liked Arcangelo (1) to pair with the Dubai champ. Instead, we will look for Zandon to be the best of the rest and give ourselves a chance with several runners for third. If you want, hit the all button for third and hope for closer Senor Buscador (9) grabs the show spot.

Bet Trifecta – 8 with 2 with 3,5,9,11,12,13

Questions of the Day

What’s the best bet to make on the Breeders’ Cup Sprint?

Which horse is the most likely to have the most early speed in the Breeders’ Cup Classic?