The Post continues its profiles of each of the eight Breeders’ Cup races to be run today at Curchill Downs. The Countdown spotlights potential nice-price winners as handicapped by reporter Ed Fountaine and thoroughbred racing columnist Ray Kerrison. Today we conclude with the Classic. Good luck.

RACE 8 CLASSIC

ANALYSIS: This is it, the race everyone has been waiting for, the $5 million extravaganza that will seal Bernardini’s reputation as one of the best horses to look through a bridle this century – or expose him as a classy little wannabe who couldn’t handle the big rough-and-tumble league of older horses.

It won’t be easy for Bernie. He’s up against Lava Man, who has won seven straight in racehorse time, the brilliant Argentine-bred Invasor, who has won all three Grade 1 starts in the U.S., a bunch of tough old warhorses and two British imports, George Washington and David Junior, who might be two of the best horses racing anywhere in the world.

So the table is set for a thriller, a truly international dogfight pitting the best against the best from both sides of the Atlantic-and both coasts of the U.S.

LIVE LONGSHOTS: I’m taking a position against Brother Derek (hasn’t won since last April), Lawyer Ron (won’t get the trip) Perfect Drift (never wins the big ones) and Suave (he’s still looking for his first Grade 1 win). The rest are live, more or less.

THE BET: I’m rooting for Bernie but at short odds I’ll bet against him.

If the odds are generous enough, I’ll send it in on Giacomo, Flower Alley and Premium Tap, all listed at a luscious 30-1.

CLASSIC FIELD

PP HORSE JOCKEY ODDS

1. Brother Derek Solis 30-1

2. Premium Tap Prado 30-1

3. Bernardini Castellano 1-1

4.George Washington Kinane 10-1

5. Lawyer Ron Valenzuela 20-1

6. Perfect Drift Gomez 20-1

7. David Junior Spencer 10-1

8. Lava Man Nakatani 6-1

9. Giacomo Smith 30-1

10. Flower Alley Velazquez 30-1

11. Invasor Jara 5-1

12. Suave Desormeaux 30-1

13. Sun King Bejarano 15-1