One of the world's most storied races takes place on Saturday when the starting gate opens in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris. The race, which has been run since 1920, annually brings together the top grass races from around the world, and this year's edition is no exception. Daryz, Maltese Cross and Kalpana are all expected to leave the gate in this $5.7 million race.
Though the race is halfway around the world, American racing fans should take notice. Longchamp has produced four winners of Breeders' Cup races when the event has been held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and this year's Breeders' Cup is set to return to the bluegrass of central Kentucky at the end of October.
This will be the fourth time that the Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland. And the first three editions of the event provide some clues as to which horses may be successful this time around. Let's dig into the numbers.
A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.
In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In 2024, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby.
Menez excels on horse racing's biggest days. In 2024 he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 windfall. Last year he nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score and the winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for a $761.96 jackpot. He hit the late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day for $915.48. In the Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout. And earlier this year he struck big on Fountain of Youth day, hitting the late Pick 5 for $4,648.
GET VEGAS EXPERT PICKS FOR NFL, MLB, NBA, CBB, GOLF, NHL, HORSE RACING AND MORE - PLUS ADVANCED COMPUTER SIMULATIONS, WINNING TOOLS, AND MORE!
