The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic never disappoints when it comes to attracting the world’s best horses. But this year, in particular, it is truly an international classic. Ten of the very best dirt horses in America will face the challenge of three stars from Japan and Europe’s City of Troy, who is considered by many to be the best horse in the world but will be racing on dirt for the first time in a true classic of a horse race.

Saturday’s Grade 1 Longines Classic at Del Mar will be shown nationwide on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

1. Forever Young (6-1): Japanese star was undefeated until he came to the United States for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and lost by two noses while finishing third. Since the first Saturday in May, he won the Oct. 2 Japan Dirt Classic and has to be viewed as a major player here.

JOCKEY: Ryusei Sakai; TRAINER: Yoshito Yahagi

2. Highland Falls (20-1): Blossomed in the 1 ¼-mie Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes when he pressed the pace of Whitney Stakes winner Arthur’s Ride and then powered home. Might bounce off that huge effort, but in case he doesn’t, he merits a close look.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Brad Cox

3. City of Troy (5-2): This is a very tough spot to ask the European superstar to race on dirt for the first time. If he makes a smooth adjustment to dirt, he will be very hard to beat. Backing him at this price offers little value when you compare the pluses and minuses of a brilliant international champion whose dirt form is a mystery.

JOCKEY: Ryan Moore; TRAINER: Aidan O’Brien

4. Mixto (30-1): He won the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes over this track and at the BC Classic’s distance, but that was at 22.20-1 odds. Will need to take another step forward to be a contender here.

JOCKEY: Kyle Frey; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

5. Senor Buscador (30-1): He won the Saudi Cup and was third in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, giving him gargantuan earnings of over $12.7 million. Has yet to return to that form since arriving back home. His fifth in the California Classic Stakes Presented by SirDavis American Whisky dulls enthusiasm for him.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Todd Fincher

6. Derma Sotogake (20-1): Japanese sensation was a fast-closing second at 26.20-1 in last year’s BC Classic, losing by a length. Since then in three starts, he’s been no better than fifth. Adds blinkers here and perhaps that might spark another big effort at a huge price.

JOCKEY: Christophe Lemaire; TRAINER: Hidetaka Otonashi

Ushba Tesoro (Eclipse Sportswire)

7. Ushba Tesoro (12-1): He was supposed to be the Japanese runner who would make some noise in last year’s BC Classic but he finished fifth. He’s since finished second in three 2024 starts, including a head loss in the Saudi Cup. Looms a major threat here.

JOCKEY: Yuga Kawada; TRAINER: Noboru Tagaki

8. Pyrenees (30-1): An interesting longshot. Was second in both the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Stephen Foster Stakes. A similar effort could land him a spot at the bottom end of the superfecta.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux

9. Fierceness (3-1): He put to rest his in-and-out tendency with a victory in the DraftKings Travers Stakes. Shoots for three in a row here. If he can stay on the winning track and duplicate his Travers effort, he will be difficult to beat.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

10. Tapit Trice (30-1): Cannot be ignored off a fast win in the Woodward Stakes. Was no threat in the Jockey Club Gold Cup before that, but on his best try he can make his presence felt. Having  Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle certainly helps his cause.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

Sierra Leone (Anne M. Eberhardt/BloodHorse)

11. Sierra Leone (12-1): Great consistency and he always attracts a ton of money at the betting windows. Was third in the Travers in his last start and also in the Belmont Stakes, and lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose. Was well-bet in each of them and maybe, at double-digit odds, this is the time he turns in a winning effort.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown

12. Arthur’s Ride (15-1): Toss out a fifth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and he’d be a main contender off a compelling win in the Whitney Stakes. Tough to decide which Arthur’s Ride will see come Saturday.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Bill Mott

13. Newgate (20-1): A typical Breeders’ Cup longshot. Won the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino earlier this year and most recently was third by a head in the California Classic Stakes. Yet he’s 20-1. There are things to like about him, but that can be said of virtually everyone in the field.

JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

14. Next (8-1): If the Classic was 2 ¼ miles, he’d be the favorite. But America’s top marathoner will have to contest a faster pace than he normally sees and beat the best field he has ever faced. It’s a tall order, but if anyone can do it, it’s him off his last seven wins by a combined margin of 91 ½ lengths.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: William Cowans

15: Rattle N Roll (also-eligible, 30-1): Will need a defection to draw into the field and will be up against it if he does, considering he’s only made one start in 13-plus months, a third in the Lukas Classic Stakes on Sept. 28.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Kenny McPeek

THE PICK: Sierra Leone

LIVE LONGSHOT: Newgate

SUPERFECTA: 11-9-3-1