Associated Press Breeders Cup Pick 2019

CLASSIC

Purse: $6 million

Distance: 1 miles

Favorite: McKinzie, 3-1 odds

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Record and earnings this year: 2 wins in 6 starts; $1,212,560

McKinzie looks to close out a somewhat disappointing season on a positive note. Not that it’s been a bad year for the Whitney winner. He did run second in each of his four defeats, including the Awesome Again at Santa Anita most recently as the 1-5 favorite. That latest loss prompted a rider change from Mike Smith to Rosario. A dominant win would move McKinzie into the Horse of the Year discussion.

Keep an eye on: Code of Honor (4-1) has come into his own in the second half of the season and can lay claim to the 3-year-old championship with a win here. He’s won three in a row, including the Travers at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont via the disqualification of Vino Rosso. Higher Power (6-1) cruised to victory in the Pacific Classic before stumbling out of the gate in the Awesome Again. He should be right in the mix with a clean trip.