Bob Ehalt and Tom Pedulla became fast friends when they met on their first day at Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1970. Bob introduced Tom to Thoroughbred racing soon after that.

They have had their rough moments at the track, with Tom taking exception when Bob repeatedly smacks him on the back with a program as one of their horses launches an all-out stretch drive. Much to Tom’s chagrin and the amusement of onlookers, Bob has been known to call for security as they cashed a $27 trifecta. They have owned a number of slow horses together and can often be seen carrying on at the track as if they never left their teenage years.

Their take on the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic:

PEDULLA: Bob, I picked Forever Young last year and I feel even better about him now. After he missed by a couple of noses to be third in the Kentucky Derby, he proved himself on the international stage with a Saudi Cup victory and a solid third-place effort in the Dubai World Cup. We both know I can be thick-headed — and this may be the latest example of that — but I see him as the best of the best in what is a strong Classic field even with Sovereignty’s scratch. I feel so strongly about Forever Young that he was my selection even before Sovereignty was sidelined.

EHALT: The scratch of Sovereignty removed some of the luster from the Classic, but didn’t change my picks. Remember the late 1970s? When you were going through your Ziggy Stardust phase and cruising around Riverdale like a rock star in your light blue Pinto?  We learned very good 3-year-olds could not beat very good older horses. Affirmed could not beat Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid could not beat Affirmed. The same applies for pretty good 3-year-olds and older horses. I’m going with the older generation. It’s a really a coin flip to decide a winner and you know me. Value rules so I’m trying Mindframe, who is undefeated this year with a jockey aboard from start to finish. He’s the best price of my picks and very capable of winning. Few are as good as Todd Pletcher as having a quality horse ready for a huge effort off a layoff.

Defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone (Eclipse Sportswire)

PEDULLA: We know how incredibly difficult it is to repeat in the Classic. Tiznow is the only one to accomplish that, back in 2000 and 2001 and before we both turned gray. Now that we are older and so much wiser — or so we say — I do not see defending champion Sierra Leone pulling a Tiznow. Even with trainer Chad Brown pulling a rabbit out of his hat.

EHALT: Rabbit or no rabbit, Sierra Leone will run a big one here. He showed he loved the track last year and he lost all chance in the Jockey Club Gold Cup mishap. I see this as a replay of the Stephen Foster Stakes with Mindframe-Sierra Leone running 1-2.

PEDULLA: Bob, I think we can agree that Fierceness is one of the most unpredictable horses we covered in our long careers. Seventh in the 2023 Champagne Stakes, wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Runs away with the Florida Derby, 15^th in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Fifth in the Whitney Stakes, rules the Pacific Classic Stakes in his most recent start. That inconsistency makes it impossible for me to pick him higher than third.

EHALT: Fierceness can win the race and I would not be surprised. He’s that good. I just believe he will face a lot of early pressure and that may cost him at the end.

Pedulla predicts a win for Forever Young (Eclipse Sportswire)

PEDULLA: I would feel better about Mindframe if he had not lost his rider in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Yes, he ran around like the rest of them but I cannot qualify that as a race. That means his last true race occurred on June 28, when he won the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. Given those circumstances, I give Journalism the nod for fourth. I have immense respect for Journalism and his connections. They competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown and did not hesitate to test him against older horses in the Pacific Classic, where he was second best to Fierceness. And giving a leg up to new pilot Jose Ortiz is always a good idea.

EHALT: I am normally very big on the Japanese runners, but I am wary of Forever Young’s campaign. There were a lot of questions about his activity this summer and he was third in the Classic last year. I can see him slipping to fourth this year.