2022 Breeders’ Cup Odds: Race Betting Preview

It’s that time of year again when everybody will be wanting to have a wager on the Breeders’ Cup, and this year we are back to cover the horses, the trainers, the jockeys, but more importantly the odds for the big races.

Last year, more than $121 million was wagered on the Breeders’ Cup and we could see that being surpassed this year at Keeneland. 

In this post, we are going to look at the early morning line odds predictions for some of the big races and pick out some of the favorites that look good, but also some of the long shots that we feel have a great chance of hitting the board for a juicy return.

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Betting win, place or show, or even across the board is pretty straightforward and we’ll look at those, but we’ll also look at some exotics as well that can pay big bucks if you can hit one of these. So let’s look at the nine races on Breeders’ Cup Saturday and see where the odds are at the moment.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds?

This is a huge matchup with the unbeaten Flightline taking on the tenacious Epicenter. Flightline is the heavy chalk here at -225 (4/9) while his main rival, the Steve Asmussen-trained Epicenter, is a +550 (11/2) chance to take the ultimate crown as the top three-year-old.

Outside of the top two, a long shot that might appeal is Rich Strike (+3300), who you might remember pulled off one of the greatest shocks in American racing history when landing the 2022 Kentucky Derby at odds of 80/1. If we get a sloppy track on Saturday, anything could happen. Can lightning strike (pun intended) twice?

Breeders’ Cup Turf Odds

According to the oddsmakers, the Europeans are already home dry in the turf, and their record certainly lends weight to that argument. The current morning line futures have the Godolphin pair Rebel’s Romance (+275, 11/4) and Nations Pride (+350, 7/2) as the two topping the boards. Having won the race last year, Charlie Appleby certainly is aiming for the gold with two top-flight arrows here.

The home team is headed up by the Bill Mott-trained mare War Like Goddess (+450, 9/2) and she looks like the best chance of a home team win. 

Looking at the long shots, we like the chances of Gold Phoenix (+5000, 50/1) hitting the board at a huge price. He is 3 from 9 and only has one graded stakes win to his name, but being a powerful closer, this race could set up nicely for a stretch run to the wire.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Odds

The girls go to play here and it’s Nest (+150, 6/4) who is the favorite in front of barn buddy Malathaat (+250, 5/2) and they look to have a stranglehold on this race for top trainer Todd Pletcher.

Both of these fillies come into the Breeders’ Cup in great form and the question will finally be answered. Is it the three-year-old Nest or the four-year-old Malathaat who will emerge victorious? For us, it’s Nest who will come out on top.

So what about the others? Well, who can forget the stunning win of Secret Oath (+1200, 12/1) in the Kentucky Oaks, and nobody would begrudge D. Wayne Lukas another taste at the top table.

The filly has been out of form but a serious workout over five furlongs at Churchill Downs in a little over 58 seconds last week shows she is in sparking form heading into the big one.

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Breeders’ Cup Mile Odds

Another race where we normally see domination from the Europeans, they have won this in three of the last four years and have a top contender in Kinross (+275, 11/4), who has won his last two Group 1s and has struck up a fierce connection with top jockey Frankie Dettori.

But it is another British-trained runner who is the chalk here and that is Godolphin’s Modern Games (+225), who produced a 112 Beyer when winning stateside two runs back but was beaten last time by another British-trained runner in Bayside Boy (not certain to run).

But they have to worry about the home runner Annapolis (+600, 6/1) who looks like being a strong closer in this and could be a bigger price on the boards on Saturday.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint Odds

The talking horse here is Jackie’s Warrior (+150, 6/4), who has won 12 of his 17 starts. However, he was beaten in this race last year by the fast-closing Aloha West (+2000, 20/1), who is back to defend his crown. 

The interesting horse here is Jack Christopher (+175, 7/4), who was hyped up as a potential superstar before stretching out in the Haskell and being beaten by the top-class Cyberknife.

It is important to note that this one is unbeaten around one turn and this cutback to six furlongs could see us crown a new American superstar in the sprinting division.

It’s going to be very tough to topple these two favorites but pairing Jack Christopher with Aloha West and another long shot Chain Of Love (+3300, 33/1) could pay dividends for exotics players.

Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf

The Filly and Mare Turf really looks at the mercy of the European raiders with the amazing Nashwa (+175, 7/4) the current chalk. The Gosden-trained runner finished third in Britain’s top race for three-year-old fillies, The Oaks, where she was behind the Irish runner Tuesday (+700, 7/1).

But Nashwa has since blossomed while Tuesday’s form has taken a dip. The Europeans also have a strong representative in Above The Curve (+350, 7/2), who is second behind the chalk.

But we like the chances of In Italian (+700, 7/1) trained by Chad Brown. This Dubawi filly is 5-2-1 from eight starts and looks like a lock to hit the board. She looks to be the speed in this race and having won last time here at Keeneland, she can dictate from the top of the pack.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Odds

Cody’s Wish (+300, 3/1) is the horse heading here in top form. His cutback in distance last time when defeating the top sprinter Jackie’s Warrior was a shock win, but it was his third straight, and stretching back out to a mile will be no problem for the son of Curlin. He is likely to top the boards as we reach post time on Saturday.

The others at the top of the betting include Laurel River (+250, 5/2) and Cyberknife (+300, 3/1) and of these two it’s Cyberknife who might just have that bit more class.

Final fields are not yet out but a long shot that could surprise a few is Simplification (+2500, 25/1). Who can forget him clearing away in the Fountain Of Youth back in March, and there is still the feeling we have not seen the real deal yet from him, and the cutback to the mile looks positive.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Odds

This all centers around the Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal (+150, 6/4), who is going for his third straight Breeders’ Cup win after winning this race last year and his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2020.

It’s important to note that he is 8 from 12 and the only time he has been beaten on home soil was on his track debut back in April 2020 on dirt. The other three times were when racing in the U.K. He is a superstar and will be a tough foe for all these.

If we are looking at one to hit the board at a big price, then John Sadler’s Bran (+1600, 16/1) could be the one. Golden Pal is going to try to go gate to wire here and the pace will be lightning-quick. Bran is a strong closer and will surely be running these rivals down as they head to the wire. 

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Odds

The Steve Asmussen barn inmate Echo Zulu (+400, 4/1) has to be the starting point after handing out a mauling to Grade 3 rivals on her comeback run last time. She was a Sportsbook at last year’s Breeders’ Cup, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Her only defeat in seven starts was in the Kentucky Oaks and it seems Asmussen has planned this one out.

Chad Brown’s Goodnight Olive (+250, 5/2) is the likely chalk here and is another filly who has only one loss (5 from 6) so far and took the step up the class ladder last time in her stride to win the Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap.

For those looking at a potential upset, the Bill Mott-trained Frank’s Rockette (+1000, 10/1) is one to keep a close eye on. She has posted three triple-digit Beyers in her last three runs and that means she’ll be a solid option for those who like to play the exotics.

Breeders’ Cup Odds Conclusion

So we have taken a good look at the odds for Breeders’ Cup Saturday but make sure to check the final entries for updated odds before making your final selections.

Also, make sure to read up on our Friday picks and long shots for the juvenile races as well as our prop bets that will be available closer to race day.

Racing on Friday starts at 3 p.m. ET while the Saturday card kicks off early at 11:50 a.m.