John Sadler’s Flightline opens as the unsurprising 3-5 favorite to lead the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic odds at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday, Nov. 5. He will start from the No. 4 spot. Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Classic is set for approximately 5:40 p.m. ET.
Flightline has been untouchable, winning all five of his races by a combined margin of 62 ¾ lengths. Two stalls away is Steve Asmussen-trainee Epicenter (5-1), whose consistent pace may be the best horse to challenge the undefeated colt. The Westwind Farms-bred colt has finished no worse than second in its last seven graded stakes, including two straight wins in Saratoga.
Another contender to hand Flightline his first loss is Life is Good (6-1) who is coming back to the Breeders’ Cup where he won the Dirt Mile in 2021. In his last five races, he has claimed victory in four, including the last three graded stakes.
Bob Baffert is also back at the Breeders’ Cup with Taiba (8-1) starting in the first position. After finishing 12th at the Kentucky Derby, Taiba has jumped back into the national spotlight with a strong finish in the Haskell Stakes and a win in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Joining them in the field is fan favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (20-1), who will start in the No. 8 stall. The three-year-old just barely missed out on winning the Lukas Classic Stakes and is in a familiar position as the underdog.
Starting next to Flightline in the fifth stall is Doug O’Neill’s popular colt, Hot Rod Charlie (15-1), who won the 2022 Lukas Classic Stakes and will be looking to improve on his fourth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Olympiad (10-1) had his graded stakes win streak broken at four races with a fourth-place finish at the Whitney Stakes in Saratoga, but he recovered to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup a month later. And if you want a long shot to root for, look no further than Todd Pletcher’s second horse in the Classic, Happy Saver (30-1), who finished fourth in the Lukas Classic Stakes but finished second in five straight graded stakes before that.
Related: 2022 Breeders’ Cup TV schedule
NBC Sports is home to the 2022 Breeders’ Cup, providing comprehensive race coverage and analysis live on TV, Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app before, during and after. Coverage kicks off with Future Stars Friday on November 4, from 2-6 p.m. on USA Network, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. NBC Sports will resume coverage the following day on USA Network, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app beginning at 1:00 p.m., with the broadcast jumping to NBC and Peacock from 3:30-6 p.m.
Related: What to know about the 2022 Breeders’ Cup
2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic odds and post positions
As of Wednesday, November 2nd
1. Taiba (8-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
2. Life is Good (6-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
3. Happy Saver (30-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
4. Flightline (3-5)
Trainer: John Sadler
Jockey: Flavien Prat
5. Hot Rod Charlie (15-1)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
6. Epicenter (5-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
8. Olympiad (10-1)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
9. Rich Strike (20-1)
Trainer: Eric Reed
Jockey: Sonny Leon