American Pharoah will bring renewed interest to Breeders’ Cup

The $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic figures to be the most anticipated edition ever. That is what happens when you have the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah, scheduled to run.

American Pharoah has not started since running second to Keen Ice in the Travers on Aug. 29. It was the kind of race that would take the starch out of many a racehorse.

American Pharoah and Keen Ice have decided to train up to the Classic, so both colts should be fresh.

If you want to bet the Classic before the Breeders' Cup pre-entry on Monday, Wynn Las Vegas has you covered. They opened their Classic future book a few weeks ago.

American Pharoah remains the favorite at 3-2. He is closely followed by Beholder (3-1), Honor Code (7-1), Tonalist (8-1), Frosted (9-1) and Keen Ice (12-1).

Wynn has 13 potential runners listed overall. One of the early favorites, Liam's Map, was taken off the list after his trainer, Todd Pletcher, said he was being pointed for the Dirt Mile instead.

That was a key change to the race shape of the Classic. Liam's Map looked like lone early speed and a foe to be absolutely feared.

Now the pace looks more moderate, which could greatly benefit the two favorites, American Pharoah and Beholder.

Beholder is a two-time Eclipse champion who, while respected, has not reached the level of popularity of Zenyatta. There is no doubt in this corner she has what it takes to win the Classic.

Beholder took on males in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar and obliterated the best handicap horses in the West. She then had an easy prep win in the Zenyatta at Santa Anita. If she shows up with her "A" game, I think the Classic will go through her.

I've always said you cannot judge the strength of the 3-year-old division until they face their elders. If the three 3-year-olds in the Classic — American Pharoah, Frosted and Keen Ice — do well, it would make their Triple Crown results look even better.

* SPORTS BETTING — New Jersey's fight to offer legal sports betting got a much needed boost from the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday. They have vacated a prior ruling in favor of the NCAA, NFL and the other sports leagues and will rehear the case.

I believe that when the four major sports leagues embraced Daily Fantasy Sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel that they have unwittingly opened the door to legal sports betting. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been open-minded to the idea of legal sports betting. Some time ago he wrote an editorial on the subject for the New York Times.

In the New Jersey case, sports betting would be conducted at the state's casinos and racetracks.

* SILVESTRE DE SOUSA — It is normal to see champion riders from around the world come to the Breeders' Cup. But when I read a news item that British champion Silvestre de Sousa plans on coming over to ride at Aqueduct for the winter, I was more than intrigued.

His agent will be Seth Benzel, a former assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher. De Sousa's main reason for coming to America was to seek a new challenge rather than returning to Dubai for the winter.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick