In the oversubscribed Breeders' Cup races, the field was determined first by including horses who had secured automatic berths through the “Win and You’re In” program, then horses who had earned points in graded stakes throughout the year, that combination totaling half the field (seven runners in 14-horse fields, six in the Juvenile Turf Sprint). The rest of the field was determined by an international panel of racing secretaries. Once the full field was set, the remaining runners were placed on a list in order of preference of the panel. Those horses can only get in if there are defections from the main body of their race

In the Classic, for instance, Accelerate, Discreet Lover, and Pavel got in via the “Win and You’re In” program. The next four spots – Axelrod, Lone Sailor, McKinzie, and Mind Your Biscuits – went to the horses with the most points who were declared as having the Classic as their first preference.

Bravazo would have been in the Classic on points, but he was pre-entered with the Dirt Mile as his first preference, and thus was relegated to being ranked by the panel per the following Breeders’ Cup rule:

“Once a horse has been ranked among the maximum number of starters, as applicable, in its race of first choice at pre-entry, its ranking in its race of second choice will be based only on the judgment of the Panel regardless of the number of points earned in American and/or Canadian Graded Stakes Races.”

As a result, Bravazo is currently ranked 15th for the Classic, ahead of, in order, Gunnevera, Seeking the Soul, Collected, and Toast of New York, with the panel preferring Catholic Boy, City of Light, Mendelssohn, Roaring Lion, Thunder Snow, West Coast, and Yoshida.