9:40 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Dirt) 1m 2f

The finale of a two-day extravaganza, the $6 million classic promises 10 furlongs of chess and chase.

Mike Smith rides Taiba from the rail. A three-year-old who could be just getting good, he’ll try to keep a lane on the rail, just off the leaders.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will need to dole out the speed of Life Is Good. A natural frontrunner, the four-year-old will try to clear Taiba on the rail and force favorite Flightline, two stalls over, to do more than he wants.

John Velazquez is the most definitive jockey of our era. The Hall of Famer won’t have to decide much on Happy Saver, a one-dimensional closer. Ride for fourth money, you might be third…

Flavien Prat has the spotlight on his back, the bullseye on his belly aboard the undefeated Flightline from post four.

The son of Tapit has won five races by a combined 62 3/4 lengths. No, that’s not a typo. A free-running, high-cruising freak, Flightline drew well in post four, outside the speed of Life Is Good and inside the closers.

Tyler Gaffalione aboard Hot Rod Charlie will keep tabs on Flightline the best he can from one stall over. Stalk the speed, hope they go torrid in front of you, get first run on the closers. Simple on paper, more complicated on dirt.

Joel Rosario aboard Travers winner Epicenter won’t get fancy. He’s patient by nature and will simply slide in and be part of the peloton. And then hope the three-year-old can continue his gradual progression of improvement.

Junior Alvarado has more options than some, he’ll try to track Flightline aboard the Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Olympiad.

Sonny Leon will drop Rich Strike from the outside post, save ground and try to shock the world. Hey, it happened on the first Saturday in May.

SELECTIONS: 1 Flightline, 2 Olympiad, 3 Epicenter.