As any racing fan knows, large fields in Breeders' Cup races are common. That also means horses with large odds can pull surprises in front of the massive crowds watching at the track or on television.

Plenty of longshots have captured a Breeders' Cup event going back to the inaugural event back in 1984. But nine years after Hollywood Park hosted this new championship day, the biggest longshot in Breeders' Cup history made Santa Anita Park his stage.

A total of thirteen horses made up the field for the 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic. Along with the fact this was the first time since 1986 that Santa Anita had hosted the Breeders' Cup, the Classic itself featured a Southern California flavor. The last three Pacific Classic champions were part of the lineup: Best Pal (1991), Missionary Ridge (1992) and Bertrando (1993). Trainer Bobby Frankel saddled a combined entry in Bertrando, Marquetry and Missionary Ridge, and both Bertrando and Best Pal were California-breds. Joining them were fellow local horses Diazo, Marquetry and Pleasant Tango, which gave Southern California a sizable amount of representatives in the day's main event.

But the Classic also lured Thoroughbreds shipping from the East. Colonial Affair, Devil His Due, Kissin Kris, Miner's Mark and Wallenda were all part of the lineup, as were international horses Arcangues (pronounced Ar-Kong) and Ezzoud.

The local horses took in the most money. The entry of Bertrando (ridden by Gary Stevens), Marquetry (teaming with Kent Desormeaux) and Missionary Ridge (piloted by Eddie Delahoussaye) went off favored at 6-5. Next was Best Pal and Corey Black at 9-5. The opinions on which Southern California horse would win differed, but the clear expectation was the local crowd would see a familiar face in the winners' circle after the ten furlongs were run.

At the start of the race, they saw a familiar face shoot right to the front. Bertrando left post seven and was immediately taken to the inside after getting clear of the field. Marquetry was in second when they wrapped up the first two furlongs, and Best Pal, Diazo and Ezzoud were all in the mix to make up the top five.

Bertrando had the inside as he rounded the clubhouse turn following a split of :23 1/5. Marquetry was second on his outside, and they led a strung out field into the backstretch after a half-mile of :46 4/5. The dark by Bertrando and the brown Marquetry both looked determined as they headed down the Santa Anita backstretch. Diazo was closely tracking Marquetry while Ezzoud continued on in fourth on the inside. Best Pal stayed in the mix in fifth, not far from his fellow Cal-bred who was setting the pace.

The Classic's opening six furlongs were run in 1:11 1/5. Bertrando went into the far turn, still pursued by Marquetry. Diazo was on third on Marquetry's outside. Ezzoud fought on in fourth while Best Pal still battled on while facing some company. Heading down the stretch, Bertrando still led while near the rail. He put some distance between himself and Marquetry as the wire loomed. But coming from out of the pack was Arcangues, who had been off the pace since before the first quarter-mile was completed. Emerging between Marquetry and Ezzoud, Arcangues suddenly had second place as Bertrando tried to wire the field over a track he knew very well.

With jockey Jerry Bailey asking for more, Arcangues picked up the pace. At the sixteenth pole, he caught up to Bertrando and moved past his rival, finishing strongly to shock the sport of Thoroughbred racing with a win in the Classic at astronomical odds of 133-1 with a final time of 2:00 4/5. After a career largely spent in France, Arcangues surprised everyone in his North American debut as he gave Bailey his second Classic win in three seasons and trainer Andre Fabre his first.

But Arcangues walked away with more than just the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 6, 1993. He also became the biggest longshot to ever win a Breeders' Cup race. More than thirty years later, no one has come close to challenging Arcangues for that distinction. The win was worth $269.20 on a $2 ticket.

Although Southern California fans did not get to see one of their local heroes win, the Classic was not a total loss. Bertrando did finish in second to complete a campaign that saw him be named Champion Cal-Bred Older Male and Cal-bred Horse of the Year. Moreover, Marquetry completed the superfecta to give Southern California two of the top four spots in the Classic.

But the race will always belong to Arcangues. Seven years after Santa Anita added another historical moment to its storied timeline by hosting its first Breeders' Cup, the sequel delivered a plot twist as Arcangues made history of his own as the longest shot to stand in the winners' circle after any Breeders' Cup race.