2023 Breeders’ Cup Betting: Geaux Rocket Ride and Mage Out of BC Classic

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On Monday, the entrants draw for the Breeders’ Cup Festival of Racing, which takes place over two days on Friday Nov 3 and Saturday, Nov 4.

Before draws for a single race, the signature event, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, has already lost two of their top projected entrants, Geaux Rocket Ride and Mage.

Keep reading to find out why Geaux Rocket Ride and Mage won’t run in Saturday’s Classic along with the latest BC pre-draw news.

Check out Breeders’ Cup Classic horse racing odds, analysis, and free picks for the November 4 race.

2023 Breeders’ Cup Betting: Geaux Rocket Ride and Mage Out of BC Classic | MyBookie Horse Racing Preview

2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships | 40th edition of the Thoroughbred horse race
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
Saturday, November 4th, 2023
NBC/Peacock

2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic Race | 6:40 pm ET
Distance and Surface: 1 ¼ miles on dirt
Purse: $6,000,000

2023 Breeders’ Cup News Before Monday’s Draw

Geaux Rocket Ride is out and so is Derby winner Mage

Richard Mandella’s Geaux Rocket Ride would have gone off the second choice in the betting behind Belmont and Travers star Arcangelo to win the BC Classic.

On Friday, Geaux Rocket Ride stumbled in midstretch during a workout and suffered a condylar fracture. Jockey Mike Smith pulled the Mandella three-year-old up as soon as possible and held up the leg while waiting for a horse ambulance.

There’s no word on whether Geaux Rocket Ride will or did survive a weekend surgery. For sure, the talented runner’s racing career is over.

Mage, the Kentucky Derby winner, doesn’t want to run. Trainer Gustavo Delgado said the horse has no appetite, which is a sign a vacation is in order. It makes sense because Mage has had a tough 2023, winning the Derby and then Preakness, Haskell, and Travers.   

Senor Buscador and Zandon become top closers in the Classic

Because Geaux Rocket Ride had to scratch, the two best closers in the race become Chad Brown trained Zandon and Senor Buscador from the Todd Fincher barn.

Zandon heads to the Classic after having won the Grade 2 Woodward at Belmont Park in the last. The third place finisher in the 2022 Kentucky Derby turned on the jets in the Woodward at the top of the stretch to easily roll by Film Star and Law Professor.

Zandon takes a major step up in class but should benefit from what will be a fast pace.

Senor Buscador will also benefit. Buscador is a straight up closer, often rallying from as far back as 11 lengths at the first call. Buscador loves west coast Buscador won the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar this year and finished third in the Awesome Again Stakes on Sep 30.

If the pace is right, Senor Buscador could pull off a major upset victory.

Pletcher waiting until the last moment to decide Dreamlike’s BC race

Todd Pletcher didn’t rush three-year-old colt Dreamlike to the Triple Crown. Instead, Pletcher allowed Dreamlike to work his way into Breeders’ Cup contention.

Pletcher thinks so much of his three-year-old that he ran Dreamlike in the Grade 2 Woodward before the Gun Runner sired colt had broken the maiden.

Dreamlike almost caught Saudi Crown in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. The race was at 1 1/8 miles. Pletcher has yet to decide if he will run Dreamlike in the Classic or in the Dirt Mile.

If Todd goes to the Dirt Mile, Dreamlike must beat Cody’s Wish. But if Pletcher goes for the Classic, Dreamlike gets to take on many of his peers, Arabian Knight, Saudi Crown again, and  Arcangelo. The guess here is that since Dreamlike appears to be crying out for more ground, Todd will enter his up and coming three-year-old into the Classic.  

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