Who Are the Top Contenders For The 2022 Breeders Cup?

The Breeders Cup is a horse racer’s last hurrah of the year, making it a long-awaited event for fans worldwide. The top horses will compete in 14 races on November 4 and 5, 2022. Moreover, it’ll take place at the Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky.

If you want to get back in horse betting action, it’s a must to research the top contenders of the race to make an informed decision in betting. For this year’s Breeders’ Cup, here’s the list of potential contenders to bet on:

Flightline

Flightline, an American Thoroughbred, takes on the top spot. Although this racehorse recently made his racing debut on April 24, 2021, he still took on the top spot in the Grade I Malibu Stakes in 2021 and the Metropolitan Handicap the following year.

Flightline is trained by John Sadler, a horse trainer who has racked up 2,400 wins since he earned his license in 1978. Not only this, Flightline’s jockey, Flavien Prat, has also made his name in this league. In 2022 alone, Flavien Prat placed first 198 times.

With this overwhelming background in breed, trainer, and jockey, Flightline remains the top contender in this year’s Breeders Cup.

However, it’s best always to be wary of other horses and new faces since you never know what may come up during the race per se. Moreover, you should do your best to get updated and learn about the top horses in the game. When it comes to the 2022 Breeders Cup, anything is possible.

Epicenter

Epicenter is a 3-year-old colt expected to make the headlines in this year’s Breeders’ Cup. His trainer, Steve M. Asmussen, comes from a long history of horse racing enthusiasts.

His three-decade career has turned him into a top trainer, earning the Eclipse Award as an outstanding trainer in 2008 and again in 2009.

Additionally, the jockey that will ride Epicenter will be Joel Rosario, a pro at 14. Joel Rosario has been the leading jockey since his time in the Dominican Republic, and he continues to stay on top even in the United States.

Aboard Epicenter, Rosario reigned the Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course last August 27. With this in mind, this pair is undoubtedly one to look out for.

Life Is Good

Life is always good, especially when you’ve made quite a career debut by leading from start to finish. This Bay Colt did that on November 22, 2020, at Del Mar when he finished a runaway 9 ½ -length romp.

In addition, Life Is Good is trained by Todd Pletcher, a renowned trainer that has developed ten champions like Uncle Mo, Lawyer Ron, English Channel, Wait a While, and Left Bank, to name a few. Also, the jockey that will ride Life Is Good will be John Ortiz Jr., a rider from a family of jockeys.

With Pletcher and Ortiz Jr. on this team, you can expect Life Is Good to make headlines. This bay colt, along with Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr., dazzled and dominated the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes in 2022 – winning 3 million dollars.

Taiba

If you know about the 2017 Horse of the Year, Gun Runner, then you will know his son, Taiba. This chestnut colt made his career debut in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, where he earned 100 qualifying points on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Likewise, Taiba marked another Grade 1 win at the Pennsylvania Derby with his Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert.

Bob Baffert has climbed to the top of the racing world as a trainer of four Quarter horse champions.

After transitioning to thoroughbred racing, Baffert won the Eclipse Award four times, with the most recent award in 2015. He even has a record of six Kentucky Derby-winning horses. Bob Baffert continues to awe horse racing fans worldwide, especially with the firsts of 3,247 in his entire career.

Olympiad

Olympiad is the last bay colt to look out for. Having raced from 2020 to 2022 built this colt with experience and skill. Likewise, Olympiad has raced at Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, and Keeneland.

He won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2022, a Grade 2 Stephen Foster in 2022, and even a Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes in 2022. Olympiad has had an experience of a lifetime, and you’re sure to expect him to bring that experience to this coming race.

Likewise, with Junior Alvarado riding the bay colt, you’re sure to hang onto your seat. Junior Alvarado made his first big splash in 2008 at Arlington, winning 81 races and ultimately finishing eighth in the standings.

But Alvarado didn’t stop there since he still keeps up wins in significant races. In 2022, Alvarado did quite a job piloting the Olympiad to win the 104th Jockey Club Gold Cup run.

Final Thoughts

Horse racing offers a thrill of a lifetime. Here, you can experience the excitement by watching the races or take it up a notch by betting on the horses.

Nonetheless, whether you’re just watching or betting, knowing the top contenders is a must to keep you updated on the 2022 Breeders Cup.