2012 Breeders Cup Classic Ante Post Part 1

The bookmakers have released the first edition of the odds for the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic – the de facto championship of North American racing. It's an extremely interesting line-up and the odds are totally indicative that this is a truly wide-open race. A pair of three-year-olds are punching above their weight for completely contrasting reasons and remain among the leading fancies for this prestigious $5,000,000 race.

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Chantal Sutherland and Game On Dude remain the slim betting choice from the bookmakers and a 7/1 price is very long odds on a favourite. The price would likely have been a hair shorter – probably much more in the 5/1 range if the seven-year-old son of Awesome Again had been able to hold off Dullahan in the closing stages of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic last weekend at Del Mar. Instead, they were gunned down in the final 1/16 by a horse four years his junior, and one of the last remaining from this year's crop of Triple Crown contenders.

Game On Dude isn't pointed at any other major races and was able to muster a second place in this one last year at Churchill Downs. He's set to contest this one at his home base in Southern California and the only thing that may keep him from lining up is injury. If he makes it into the gate, expect to see him closer to 2/1.

This is a great price if you fancy him.

Camelot is amongst a trio of contenders who are priced at 8/1. The top selection from this year's Classic season in Britain has still got a date in the St Leger, where he's seeking to complete the British Triple Crown. Connections have brought horses to the Classic before and may be looking to fill the Frankel gap by bringing over another well-fancied runner. 

A Grade 1 win on dirt against the best American handicap horses would add some pop to his already hefty stud fee.

Fort Larned is also in the mix here and he's one that most in North America didn't really think was capable of holding his own at this level, but he's been able to prove the doubters wrong while wining the prestigious Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Prior to that he'd taken a Grade 3 at much more blue collar Prairie Meadows over the well-respected Successful Dan.