The day racing followers and horseplayers await all 12 months for is nearly right here. The Breeders’ Cup Saturday program will function the worldwide equine and human stars of horse racing, all able to sq. off in 9 championship races on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
The occasion will probably be headlined by the richest horse race in North America, the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional.
Tv protection on NBC and Peacock will function 2 1/2 hours of reside programming from 3:30 – 6 p.m. ET / 12:30 – 3 p.m. PT that includes 4 Breeders’ Cup races ending with the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. Peacock will present continued protection of the ultimate 4 Breeders’ Cup races beginning at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. These races may even stream reside on BreedersCup.com and Breeders’ Cup social media channels. USA Community will televise reside protection from 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT protecting one undercard race and the primary Breeders’ Cup race. FanDuel TV will televise the primary three undercard races and all of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races, besides the Traditional.
Listed below are a few of the particulars it’s essential learn about Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races.
$1 million PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash
Distance: 7 furlongs on filth
Submit time: 3 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3, Decide 5
Background: The Filly & Mare Dash debuted in 2007 when the Breeders’ Cup expanded previous eight races for the primary time. In 17 prior editions of the Filly & Mare Dash, no horse has gained the race wire-to-wire. After no 3-year-old gained the race throughout its first decade of existence, sophomore fillies gained three in a row in 2018, 2019, and 2020. That is related for 2024, a race very prone to function a 3-year-old favourite.
Favorites: High 3-year-old filly sprinter Methods and Means owns three huge wins in a row, together with the Grade 1 Take a look at Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and appears like the actual deal. One other 3-year-old — Southern California-based stakes winner One Magic Philly — can be a number one contender. Society, who might want to buck this race’s bias towards front-runners, has made solely two begins in 2024 however will probably be one of many favorites based mostly on her win within the Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: The horse on this race ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is typically the horse to beat. Irad has gained 4 of the final seven editions of the Filly & Mare Dash with wins in 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023. The Filly & Mare Dash can have a brand new champion in 2024 after the race was dominated the previous two years by Goodnight Olive.
$1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash
Distance: 5 furlongs on turf
Submit time: 3:41 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3, Decide 4, All-turf Decide 4
Background: First held in 2008, seven of the primary 10 runnings of this race have been held at about 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita till the race morphed right into a 5 or 5 ½-furlong sprint the final seven years. At Del Mar, it’s at all times run on the distance of 5 furlongs. Southern California-based trainers as soon as dominated this race, however no SoCal secure has gained it since Peter Miller’s most up-to-date of three wins in 2019.
Favorites: There will probably be loads of actually quick horses within the 2024 Turf Dash, however the race ought to come right down to an influence match-up between America’s finest and Europe’s most interesting. Cogburn has lit up U.S. competitors this 12 months with an ideal 3-for-3 report, whereas Bradsell has been first or second in top-level Group 1 turf sprints in England, Eire, and France at 5 furlongs in his final three races.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: Final 12 months’s Juvenile Turf Dash winner Large Evs will try and grow to be a Breeders’ Cup winner in two completely different divisions, a feat that’s solely been achieved by seven horses in historical past. Golden Pal pulled off the Juvenile Turf Dash/Turf Dash double back-to-back in 2020-’21.
$2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Distance: 1 1/8 miles on filth
Submit time: 4:21 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3, Decide 4, All-dirt Decide 4, Distaff – Traditional Day by day Double
Background: The Distaff, which for a short time in its historical past was additionally known as the Women’ Traditional, has an extended record of Corridor of Fame-caliber fillies and mares amongst its winners, together with champion females like Princess Rooney, Girl’s Secret, Private Ensign, Bayakoa, Paseana, Ashado, Zenyatta, Beholder, Monomoy Lady, and plenty of extra all the best way as much as final 12 months’s winner, 2023 champion older filth feminine Idiomatic.
Favorites: Thorpedo Anna is the clear chief of the 3-year-old filly division based mostly on a number of wins together with the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Saratoga’s Grade 1 Teaching Membership American Oaks. She is going to square-off towards undefeated Japanese invader Superior Consequence, who is available in with a 7-for-7 report and appears to observe within the footsteps of Japan’s Marche Lorraine, who scored an upset within the Distaff in 2021.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: All through its historical past, the Distaff has been a race outlined by its memorable 3-year-old versus older feminine headline matchups, however lately the 3-year-olds have misplaced a little bit of traction. A 3-year-old filly has gained the race solely 4 occasions the final 19 years. This would appear to point that star 3-year-olds appear to have their work lower out for them except there’s a very particular one within the bunch, like Thorpedo Anna seems to be.
$5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Distance: 1 ½ miles on turf
Submit time: 5:01 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3, Decide 4, obligatory payout Decide 6
Background: The $5 million grass function of the Breeders’ Cup card at all times attracts a world subject of turf aces, and this 12 months will probably be no exception with greater than half of the pre-entered horses hailing from abroad, together with as many as 5 from the barn of Aidan O’Brien. Since English Channel gained in 2007, solely three U.S.-based horses have gained the Turf: Little Mike in 2012, Most important Sequence in 2014, and Bricks and Mortar in 2019.
Favorites: The Turf will function loads of abroad expertise together with a really acquainted face, 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Insurgent’s Romance. He had a sub-par season in 2023 however is again with a vengeance this 12 months with three Group 1 wins to his credit score. He’ll attempt to grow to be solely the third two-time winner of the Turf and first since Conduit in 2008-’09. British-based coach Brian Meehan will search his third profession Breeders’ Cup Turf win with enhancing 3-year-old Jayarebe. American hopes relaxation primarily on the shoulders of Far Bridge, who comes into this race off consecutive Grade 1 wins within the Resorts World On line casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga and the Joe Hirsch Turf Traditional Stakes at Belmont on the Large A.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: Coach Aidan O’Brien ended a six-year drought on this race when he gained with Auguste Rodin final 12 months to present him seven profession wins within the Turf plus six seconds and 5 third-place finishes. If O’Brien wins the Turf once more, he’d construct upon his report to be the primary coach ever to win a Breeders’ Cup race eight occasions. He can accomplish that with any one among his entrants, Illinois, Luxembourg, and Steady, plus Content material and Wingspan, who each are cross-entered within the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf.
$7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional
Distance: 1 1/4 miles on the filth
Submit time: 5:41 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3, obligatory payout Decide 5
Background: The Traditional is the showcase race of the day. With a handbag of $7 million, the Traditional is among the world’s richest races and can have the very best purse of any race run in North America. The world’s finest filth horses compete on the basic distance of 1 ¼ miles in a race that impacts a number of Eclipse Award divisions, together with older filth male, 3-year-old male, and Horse of the 12 months. A who’s who of American greats from the previous 40 years have gained this race together with Sunday Silence (1989), Cigar (1995), Tiznow (2000-’01), Curlin (2007), Zenyatta (2009), American Pharoah (2015), Gun Runner (2017), and Flightline (2022) simply to call a number of.
Favorites: The sphere of contenders in 2024 is deep and various. The Traditional will function the winners of so most of the 12 months’s prime filth races for older horses, together with Arthur’s Trip (gained the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes), Highland Falls (Grade 1 Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes), and Senor Buscador ($20 million Saudi Cup). Essentially the most gifted horse within the race could also be 3-year-old DraftKings Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, final 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner who obtained his profession again on the successful observe this summer season at Saratoga capped-off by his victory within the Grade 1 Travers.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: Many foreign-based horses have tried to win the Breeders’ Cup Traditional via the years and, with a few notable exceptions, they’ve been unsuccessful. The final horse to do it was Raven’s Move in 2008 when that 12 months’s Traditional was run on an all-weather floor. The one international winner of this race on a dust observe was again in 1993 when Arcangues posted the largest upset in Breeders’ Cup historical past, paying $269.20 to win on a $2 guess. Regardless of all of that, a few of the prime 2024 Traditional contenders will probably be delivery in from abroad, together with Metropolis of Troy, who has been one among Europe’s prime horses this 12 months and may very well be robust to beat if he handles his first-ever project on a dust observe. Japan-based Derma Sotogake, Ushba Tesoro, and Ceaselessly Younger are also all thought of critical contenders. Ceaselessly Younger simply missed successful the 2024 Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve by a head.
$2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Distance: 1 3/8 miles on turf
Submit time: 6:25 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3, Decide 4
Background: First held in 1999, the Filly & Mare Turf marked the Breeders’ Cup’s first enlargement from its authentic seven-race program. For greater than a decade, this race has been dominated by two teams of horses: 1) foreigners, which have gained seven of the final eight together with final 12 months’s winner, Inspiral, or 2) horses skilled by Chad Brown, which have gained the race 4 of the final 12 years. Brown will probably be with out an entrant in 2024. The final North American horse not skilled by Brown to win the Filly & Mare Turf was Good Shirl for Roger Attfield approach again in 2011.
Favorites: Content material doesn’t enter the Filly and Mare Turf with the type of type that you’d anticipate to make her the favourite on this race since each of her final two races resulted in huge defeats, however each of these races have been on delicate turf. Content material gained her most up-to-date race on firmer floor within the Pertemps Community Yorkshire Oaks and can get robust help on Del Mar’s agency turf course. Coach Charles Appleby can have 3-year-old Cinderella’s Dream prepared after two wins in New York this summer season.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: Full Rely Felicia beat the final two Canadian Horses of the 12 months, Fev Rover and Moira, in her huge wire-to-wire win final day trip at Woodbine when she opened up a 19-length lead on the sector at one level within the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes and by no means regarded again. She may make use of related techniques on this spot. Veteran 7-year-old mare Battle Like Goddess, who owns 12 profession wins and completed third versus males within the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2022, will push her profession earnings previous the $3-million mark with a end of sixth or higher.
$2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Dash
Distance: 6 furlongs on filth
Submit time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double, Decide 3
Background: The Dash is an “authentic seven” Breeders’ Cup race that has at all times been held at its present six-furlong distance. Jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. have had a monopoly on this race within the 2020s, with Irad successful in 2023-’24 aboard Elite Energy and in 2020 aboard Whitmore. Jose gained in 2021 aboard Aloha West. In two prior editions of the Dash at Del Mar, the winners have been Aloha West and Roy H (2017). Aloha West was based mostly within the Midwest and was exiting a second-place end in his last prep within the Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland whereas SoCal-based Roy H exited a win within the Santa Anita Dash Championship Stakes.
Favorites: The 2024 Dash is loaded with contenders and is a race any of the principals can win based mostly on their finest effort. Mullikin is 4-for-4 this 12 months and exiting a Grade 1 win in Saratoga’s Forego Stakes. Skelly has been at or close to the highest of the division all 12 months, however he’s settled for second in three in a row, together with within the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, the place he misplaced to Nakatomi, who’s again within the Dash this 12 months after a strong third-place Dash end in 2023. Federal Decide and Raging Torrent each have surging type and might’t be ignored.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: The Dash within the decade of the 2010s was a race principally dominated by pace horses that raced on or near the lead (not more than 3 ½ lengths again at any time). The final 4 runnings of the Dash, nevertheless, have been gained by late runners together with Elite Energy, who closed from seventh to win in each of the final two editions. Whitmore got here from seven lengths out of it to win in 2020, and Aloha West was victorious in 2021 after getting off to a tardy starting and needing to rally from mid-pack. A number of of this 12 months’s prime challengers are pace horses anticipated to contest the tempo. Will the Dash arrange for one more off-the-pace runner in 2024? Nakatomi positive hopes so.
$2 million Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Mile Offered by PDJF
Distance: 1 mile on turf
Submit time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5, double
Background: As one of many authentic seven Breeders’ Cup occasions, and with a $2 million purse, the Mile is assured to attract a world all-star subject. It appears that evidently the North American horses used to carry their very own on this race far more often than they’ve not too long ago as European connections have gained 5 of the final six years. Coach Charles Appleby and Godolphin gained the final three years with jockey William Buick aboard all three winners: Grasp of The Seas in 2023, Fashionable Video games in 2022, and Area Blues in 2021. You possibly can hardly cross out the People when scoping out the Mile winner, nevertheless, as a result of horses based mostly in North America have gained the race 22 occasions with a listing of winners that features a few of American middle-distance turf legends like Lure, Da Hoss, Battle Chant, and Clever Dan.
Favorites: Probabilities for a fourth straight win for Appleby in 2024 will relaxation with Notable Speech, a a number of Group 1 stakes winner this 12 months who ought to recognize Del Mar’s agency turf. The massive-name American contender within the subject will probably be Chad Brown’s Carl Spackler, who topped the turf mile division with wins within the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga this summer season and within the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland this fall. The Southern California dwelling staff will probably be nicely represented by Johannes, who is an ideal 4-for-4 this 12 months.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: The front-runner or any horse concerned within the early tempo virtually by no means wins the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Apart from Corridor of Famer Lure in 1992-’93, no different pacesetter has ever gained the Mile down via its lengthy historical past. Tepin in 2015 was as near the tempo as any horse since Lure when she pressed the tempo only a size behind the early chief. She joined Kip Deville in 2007 and Goldikova in 2008 as Mile winners who’ve employed the pace-pressing operating model. While you have a look at the historical past of the Mile, you’ll discover that the overwhelming majority of the winners used a late-closing or a stalking operating model en path to victory. Within the final 15 editions of the Mile since 2009, solely Tepin and World Approval in 2017 have been inside three lengths of the entrance on the first name. Final 12 months’s winner Grasp of The Seas closed from twelfth in a 13-horse subject.
$1 million Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile
Distance: 1 mile on filth
Submit time: 8:25 p.m. ET
Wagering Menu: Win/place/present, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, tremendous hi-5
Background: This race was first held on the 2007 Breeders’ Cup, however the Dust Mile has extra not too long ago gained in stature the previous few years to actually grow to be one of many headline occasions of the Breeders’ Cup program because of marquee winners like Metropolis of Mild in 2018, Knicks Go in 2020, Life Is Good in 2021, and particularly Cody’s Want back-to-back in 2022-’23.
Favorites: Maybe not the favourite, however the horse to beat might change into Home Product, who exits a win for coach Chad Brown in Saratoga’s seven-furlong, Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes and likewise has gained this season round two turns.
Attention-grabbing Storylines: Seize the Gray, the winner of the 2024 Preakness Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby, will attempt to put his title into rivalry for the 3-year-old Eclipse Award if he can add a 3rd Grade 1 victory within the Dust Mile.
