Sadler’s Flightline and Pletcher’s Malathaat & Nest Are Poised to Dramatically Impact Racing History as Climax to the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Championship Series

Today marks the culmination of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup series — the most prestigious race in North America, which has drawn a field of eight super horses.

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by Dr. Gregory Beroza aka HorseDoc ‘Talking Horses’

Currently, the fastest Thoroughbred racehorse on the planet, Flightline, trained by John Sadler, is entered into the $6,000,000 Longine Breeders’ Cup Classic as the 3-5 odds undefeated 5 for 5 favorite. This is the most prestigious race in North America and has drawn a field of eight super racehorses, all of whom have earned at least $1 million dollars to date.

The Classic is contested over 1-1/4 miles on the dirt with eligible horses being 3-year-olds and up. Each of the entries have also won highly contested Graded Stakes races. The competition includes several Hall of Fame trainers and jockeys, each vying for an opportunity to boost their historic status. The winner of the Classic is usually a pre-emptive winner for ‘Horse of the Year’ honors. That horse will be forever engraved in the annals of racing history as a ‘World Champion.’ Many of the trainers and jockeys competing in this race have already won Breeders’ Cup races, and most will manage several other contestants during the two-day extravaganza of world talent. Flightline will be ridden by his regular jockey Flavien Pratt.

While the odds are spread out from 3-5 for the favorite Flightline to 30-1 for Happy Saver, other than a potential break out from the pack by Flightline along with any competitors that can keep up with him, literally any one of the contestants could have a significantly powerful day, as Rich Strike did this year in the Kentucky Derby, and acquire an unexpected victory. It is probable that a select few of the horses with both speed and stamina will make it together to the finish wire to create a historic win. This will be the equivalent of North America‘s 2022 Superbowl of racing to determine the year’s best Thoroughbred horse. It will be a sports event well worth watching and will be televised on NBC and Peacock on today from 3:30 to 6pm ET.

Flightline. Photo by A.Coglianese-NYRA.

Horses entered in the ‘Classic’ and their current odds:

The $2 Million dollar Breeders’ Cup Distaff will be run at a distance of 1-1/8 miles on the dirt. It drew a field of eight extremely talented 3-year-old and up fillies. Seven of the entrants are Grade 1 stakes winners, and six of them have earned over $1 Million dollars in purses. Both trainers Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen each have two fillies in the race. Pletcher’s entrants include favored winner Nest currently at 9-5 odds with a close second favorite in Malathaat at 3-1.

Nest. Photo by C.Durland-A.Coglianese-NYRA.

Malathaat. Photo by C.Durland-A.Coglianese-NYRA.

Chad Brown trained Flatter is a close 3^rd place choice at 9-2 odds. Asmussen trained Clairiere is another close contender at 4-1 odds and his second entry Society is 5^th in contention at 6-1 odds. Like to the Classic, any of the Distaff contestants are capable of upsetting the odds and finishing first. Interestingly, both of Pletcher’s entrants were sired by the great Curlin who won the Classic in 2007  and was trained by Asmussen. Curlin is also the sire of Asmussen’s entry Clairiere. Three of the Distaff entrants are sired by Curlin.

Horses entered in the ‘Distaff’ and their current odds are:

Society, the second of Asmussen’s Distaff entries was sired by Gun Runner whom he trained to win the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Additionally, Gun Runner was the sire of Taiba, Baffert’s entry in the Classic. It is apparent that between the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Distaff, we will see this year’s competition amongst the Best-of-the-Best talent of horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners for World Best titles and purses.

Dr. Beroza, aka HorseDoc, has published an amazing 33-minute video and Podcast through his www.WuzUpDoc.com Media network. The ‘Classic’ and ‘Distaff’ races are highlighted. Several experts are interviewed in advance of the races:

Contributors include: Track Announcer Tom Durkin; Trainers Doug O’Neill, Gary Contessa, Carlos Martin, David Duggan, Dr John Kimmel; Jockeys Jorge Velasquez,

Javier Castellano, Junior Alvarado, and others. Coverage includes significant commentary about Flightline, Hot Rod Charlie, Olympiad, Malathaat, Nest, and others. Additionally, there is historic mention of John & Jan Nerud, Cozzene, and Dr. Fager. Please check these out and sign-up for additional broadcast updates.

Dr. Gregory A. Beroza, DVM, DACVS, DABVP has been a practicing veterinarian and consultant for 42 years; and HorseDoc® ‘Talking Horses’® media host, author, and consultant since 2007. Dr. Beroza is a multimedia host and broadcasts his productions, including a new Podcast, via his WuzUpDoc Media website: www.WuzUpDoc.com. He can be found on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and other social media sources.

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