The Breeders’ Cup is one of the most highly anticipated premier annual events in the horse racing industry. It comprises 14 races for thoroughbred horses of different ages, all with their own set of rules.
Generally, the 2022 Breeders’ Cup is an extremely high-stakes event with a total of nearly $31 million up for grabs for jockeys, trainers, and associated parties to potentially win.
Since the sport of horse racing has moved into the mainstream in recent years, the sport now has a bigger audience than ever before. And with this sort of popularity comes some clear favorites out on the racetrack.
Here are the top 5 contenders to win the Breeders Cup in 2022.
Life Is Good
Life is Good is one of the definitive top contenders to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic this year.
This four-year-old colt made his debut in November 2020 at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert and has two solid years of racing behind him. Here, he seized command and had a distinct advantage over other competitors until his winning margins were cut short by Medina Spirit.
In the Grade I Pegasus World Cup in January 2022, Life is Good had an early advantage on the backstretch and pushed through for an impressive victory at Gulfstream Park.
Following this victory, he finished in fourth place in Dubai (March 2022). Yet, after having achieved victory in three Grade I races in a row and four of five outings in 2022, Life is Good looks set to remain on top form.
Flightline
This racehorse looks like a standout contender for this year’s Breeders’ Cup. With the help of his talented trainer, John W. Sadler, and talented jockey Flavien Prat, there’s no telling how this racehorse will perform throughout each of his races!
Sadler has achieved over 2,600 racehorse victories since taking out his trainer’s license in 1978. Prat is also a Group 1 race winner and a Champion Apprentice Jockey in France.
Following on from an impressive performance in the Pacific Classic, his most recent race, Flightline finished over 19 ¼ lengths ahead of his closest rival! Such a performance is comparable to the famed Thoroughbred Secretariat, who reigned victorious in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.
With a great trainer and jockey on hand, Flightline is predicted to perform exceptionally well and clinch a couple of major wins at the Breeders Cup 2022.
Epicenter
As yet another racehorse appears to be in exceptional form recently, it won’t come as a surprise if Epicenter continues to push through to victory.
Although the three-year-old colt has come up pretty short on three occasions this year, he’s never been off-pace. Epicenter has won the four races in his seven different outings. As a result, he has lots of fans anticipating his performance in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Epicenter is one of five impressive candidates for world-renowned trainer Steve Asmussen who possesses the ability to help his horses peak at just the right time. Along with jockey Joel Rosario, the best rider in the whole of the Dominican Republic, Epicenter looks set for success.
Many recent betting trends are also tipped in favor of Epicenter due to amazing results in the past.
Olympiad
This talented thoroughbred has won multiple first-place finishes in recent races. Due to his 2022 success so far, Olympiad has established himself as a true contender for a win at this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Olympiad is known for consistently cruising at high speed and even set a track record at Fair Grounds in February, standing at 1:42.01 for 11/16 miles. Sure, there are other fast contenders for the Breeders’ Cup 2022, yet Olympiad is truly mesmerizing to watch on the racetrack.
He stumbled in Grade I stakes at Saratoga but redeemed himself later in the game to win the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Coupled with the safe hands of legendary horse trainer Bill Mott, and the talents of Junior Alvarado, a decorated jockey, the four-year-old is a sure rising star!
Cyberknife
Renowned for his athleticism and striking looks, this colt will be one to watch at the 2022 Breeders’ Cup. He’s ready to put in his best effort and looks set to get a good position out of the gate.
In 2022, Cyberknife earned six starts and four wins alone. He’s trained by Brad H. Cox who, although not a household name, has many impressive racehorse wins under his belt.
Spurred on by the addition of talented jockey Florent Geroux, who has won multiple awards during his career competing in Grade I races, we can expect nothing but greatness from three-year-old Cyberknife.
Yet with a powerhouse like Flightline on the racetrack, Cyberknife will likely have some stiff competition during this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Summary
These are just a few of the top contenders to win the Breeders Cup 2022. All of these racehorses have achieved impressive 202 victories to qualify for the Breeders’ Cup. With talented trainers and jockeys rallying behind them, there’s no telling which of these horses will emerge completely victorious this year.
