The grand finale of the year in horse racing takes place on November 2 at Santa Anita Park, and the 1 ¼-mile, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic looks to be a wide-open event with great betting value. McKinzie has been tabbed as the morning-line favorite at 3/1 odds over second choices Code of Honor and Vino Rosso, who are both listed at 4/1. With a win or even a runner-up finish, Code of Honor would all but wrap up the Eclipse Award for three-year-old champion male, and Horse of the Year wouldn't be out of the question, either. Elate (6/1 odds) takes on the boys for the first time and races for the last time, as she will be retired after the Classic. NBC Sports Network has coverage of the Breeders' Cup from 2:30-7 p.m. ET, with NBC taking over the final hour. Post time for the Classic is 7:44 p.m. CT. ## The field for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic 1) MATH WIZARD Morning-line odds: 30/1 Trainer: Joeseph Saffie, Jr. Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr. Record: 13 starts (3 wins, 2 places, 3 shows) Earnings: $860,623 This colt was last seen [winning the Pennsylvania Derby](https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/235953/math-wizard-works-his-magic-to-win-pennsylvania-derby) by a neck at Parx, defeating the likes of Mr. Money, Improbable and War of Will (who he faces again here) at odds of 31/1. But he lost his last six races before that, his numbers are on the light side compared to the top dogs in here, and he's won only three of 13 races. An easy toss. #2) SEEKING THE SOUL Morning line odds: 20/1 Trainer: Dallas Stewart Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr. Record: 29 starts (7-6-7) Earnings: $3,354,153 This six-year-old has made more than $3 million and is the top money-earner in the field. He won the Stephen Foster Stakes in June but has gotten drilled in two races since and has won only two of his last nine starts. The trainer is known for bringing home longshots in big races, but this fellow is in deep water here. Toss. #3) OWENDALE Morning line odds: 15/1 Trainer: Brad Cox Jockey: Javier Castellano Record: 12 starts (5-1-2) Earnings: $958,725 He's won three Grade 3 races and put in two decent efforts in Grade 1s this year. He seems to win every other race, and that might not be good news as he comes into the Classic off a win. He tired badly in his only start at 1¼ miles, and he faces a tough task as a three-year-old facing older horses on Saturday. He always tries hard, but I'll have to pass. 4) WAR OF WILL Morning line odds: 20/1 Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Record: 13 starts (4-1-2) Earnings: $1,615,569 His last win was in the Preakness [back in May](https://sports.nbcsports.com/2019/05/18/war-of-will-wins-2019-preakness-stakes/), and he's lost three races since then. But his third-place finish in his most recent outing in the Pennsylvania Derby was a good one, as he finished only 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner. This fellow has been a bit of a disappointment, but he's due to show us some good stuff soon. I just don't think Saturday is the day. Passing. 5) YOSHIDA Morning line odds: 8/1 Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: Mike Smith Record: 17 starts (5-4-1) Earnings: $2,445,770 Last seen in August running two bang-up races, both in Grade 1 events. On Aug. 3, he was runner-up to McKenzie in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, coming up short by 1 ¾ lengths. And on Aug. 31, he ran third in the Woodward at the Spa, only a length behind the winner. He's had a pretty tough campaign, but he always shows up and runs his race. Yoshida should be set for a great stretch run here. Top contender. 6) ELATE Morning line odds: 6/1 Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: Jose Ortiz Record: 18 starts (7-7-2) Earnings: $2,328,775 This five-year-old mare is a perfect three-for-three at this 1 ¼-mile distance and has been off the board only twice in 18 starts. Concerns are she enters the Classic off two straight losses at short odds, and she faces males for the first time. She's capable of hitting the board in her swan song, but everything would have to unfold just right for her to grab the top spot. Minor contender. 7) HIGHER POWER Morning line odds: 6/1 Trainer: John Sadler Jockey: Flavien Prat Record: 14 starts: (5-1-5) Earnings: $836,648 Last seen running an even third in the Awesome Again Stakes on Sept. 28, finishing some 7 ½ lengths behind the winner. He did have an excuse in that race, as he stumbled at the start, and he held well for third. In his previous race in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, [he romped](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horseracing/2019/08/17/upset-city-9-1-shot-higher-power-wins-1m-pacific-classic/39976311/) by 5 &frac14 lengths. That was his best effort to date, and if Prat can get him out of the gate without incident, he might enjoy a good stalking trip. The top spots seem a reach Saturday, but he could be considered for the lower awards. Minor contender. 8) McKINZIE Morning line odds: 3/1 Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Joel Rosario Record: 13 starts (7-5-0) Earnings: $2,298,560 This talented runner will most likely be the favorite in the Classic, and he's been awfully tough this year. Peeling off victories in the Malibu, the Alysheba and the [Whitney Stakes](https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/235051/mckinzie-storms-to-whitney-stakes-score) in the last 10 months and running first or second in 12 of 13 career races makes him a player. He also loves Santa Anita, as he's never been out of the exacta in seven attempts over this course. McKinzie is classy, tough and in good form. Top contender. 9) MONGOLIAN GROOM Morning line odds: 12/1 Trainer: Enebish Ganbat Jockey: Abel Cedillo Record: 16 starts (3-2-3) Earnings: $579,141 This four-year-old gelding enters this race from a 2 ¼-length win over McKinzie in the Awesome Again Stakes on Sep. 28 at odds of 25/1. If you like McKinzie as the favorite here, you'd have to be a bit concerned about this horse. But Mongolian Groom's last win before beating Mac, was seven races ago in February, when he won a $57,000 allowance contest. It should be noted that his owners ponied up a late nominating fee of $200,000 to get this horse into the Classic. Not out of the question, but a tough horse to back. Passing. 10) VINO ROSSO Morning line odds: 10/1 Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. Record: 14 starts (5-1-3) Earnings: $1,503,125 Poor Vino crossed the wire first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup by a hard-fought nose over Code of Honor but was [disqualified](http://www.brisnet.com/content/2019/09/code-honor-placed-first-jockey-club-gold-cup-dq-vino-rosso/) for repeatedly bumping his rival in the stretch. He took the Gold Cup over this course in May, before running third in his next race in the Whitney Stakes, behind McKinzie and Yoshida. He's been keeping good company with Grade 1 horses for the last four races and should be respected off those efforts. Contender. 11) CODE OF HONOR Morning line odds: 4/1 Trainer: Shug McGaughey Jockey: John Velazquez Record: 9 starts (5-2-1) Earnings: $2,298,320 This fellow is on a three-race win streak, two of them in Grade 1 events at this distance. He's only been off the board once in nine starts and managed to run fourth after being bumped at the start in that race. The bottom line is this fellow has never run a bad race, has matured and turned into a monster. Shug has taken his time with this horse and it shows. As good as these horses are in the Classic, they've taken turns beating each other and there are no world-beaters in this field. I believe Code of Honor powers up in the stretch, gets rolling like a freight train and prevails. The pick. ## Breeders' Cup Classic selections No. 11 CODE OF HONOR, 4/1 odds. Edge in tight contest No. 5 YOSHIDA 8/1. One solid customer No. 8 McKINZIE 3/1. Should be right there No. 10 VINO ROSSO, 4/1. In fine form No. 6 ELATE, 6/1. Could make it tough for the boys No. 7 HIGHER POWER, 6/1. A good start will help __Bookmark us__: [Coverage of key horse races](https://www.betchicago.com/horse-racing-odds)