2015 Breeders' Cup Classic

It was run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:[1] American Pharoah (program #4) was made the 6-5 morning line favorite based on his wins in the Triple Crown and Haskell Invitational.

However, he lost the Travers Stakes in late August, after which his owner Ahmed Zayat had contemplated retiring the horse.

"My gut's saying if the horse showed me he's tailed off, that he's not the Pharoah I know, then there's no question in my mind that the right thing is to retire him," said Zayat shortly after the race.

Therefore, 2015 was the first opportunity for a horse to complete what journalists dubbed the "Grand Slam": winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont and Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year.

[4] Beholder (#10) was second choice on the morning line at 3–1, having won six straight races including an impressive win against males in the Pacific Classic.

[6] Liam's Map, winner of the Woodward Stakes, would have been a strong contender in the Classic but his connections elected to run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile instead.

[3] Without Liam's Map, Smooth Roller and Beholder in the race, American Pharoah was expected to be able to get an unchallenged lead, which would allow him to set a comfortable pace and make it harder for others to close ground.