The Japanese contingent is bigger than ever, the Europeans are tall and mighty and California horses will try to best the North Americans in the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships, this year at Del Mar in California.
The draw for post positions for the 14 races on Friday and Saturday will be drawn this evening at 7 p.m. Eastern.
MOIRA, expected to be the lone Canadian-bred in the Cup, and Full Count Felicia give Woodbine’s red-hot trainer KEVIN ATTARD a nice hand in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Friday’s card is Future Stars Friday with all two-year-old races. Woodbine’s leading trainer Mark Casse has several entered in the Breeders’ Cup including Dream On in the Juvenile Turf and Woodbine Mile (G1) winner Win for the Money.
FOREVER YOUNG, who just about won the Kentucky Derby (G1), USHBA TESORO, DERMA SOTOGAKE and the unbeaten mare AWESOME RESULT are just some the tough runners who have arrived from Japan.
From Europe, the brilliant CITY OF TROY will try the Classic and trainer Charlie Appleby has already said NOTABLE SPEECH will be tough to beat in the Mile.
Awesome Result, trained by Yasutoshi Ikee, in the paddock in preparation for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California on October 27, 2024. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) notes from Oct. 27
Sunday Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Notes by Jennifer Hoyt
Horse: Arthur’s Ride
Trainer: Bill Mott
Set: 7:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: Worked 4f in 49 under assistant trainer Neil Poznansky.
Planned Activity: Will walk the shedrow Monday although Mott said he might take him to the track.
The Quote: “He can be very lazy by himself. Usually, if we want a good work, we will work him in company. When he is by himself, he is not going to do any more than you ask him to do. He finished up nicely and galloped out good. We will see how he is behaving tomorrow and decide whether we will take him to the track.” — Bill Mott
Horse: City of Troy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Set: Quarantine Barn
Morning Activity: Per the International Racing Bureau, City of Troy was the first horse led into the barn from Ballydoyle’s 11-strong Saturday evening ship-in. The trip from touchdown at San Diego International Airport to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s barn area took approximately two hours.
Planned Activity: Scheduled to make his first appearance on track Tuesday morning.
Horse: Derma Sotogake (JPN)
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
Set: 6:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: He went out for an easy exercise on the main track
Horse: Fierceness
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Morning Activity: In transit from New York to Del Mar
Planned Activity: TBD per Pletcher
The Quote: On changing plans and running him in the Aug. 24 Travers (G1) following his victory in the July 27 Jim Dandy (G2): “The four weeks he had between the Jim Dandy and the Travers, it would have been impossible not to try the Travers. Just the way he trained, the way he was behaving, the way he looked you could just tell he was thriving. His breezes were outstanding, and his energy level was everything you’d look to see. He convinced us that running in the Travers was the right move.” – Todd Pletcher.
Horse: Forever Young (JPN)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: He went out for an easy exercise on the main track.
Horse: Highland Falls
Trainer: Brad Cox
Morning Activity: Walked the shedrow at Churchill Downs
Planned Activity: Ships Monday
Horse: Mixto
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Kyle Frey
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Worked 5f in 1:00.40 on his own under Frey.
Planned Activity: Walk day Monday.
The Quote: “I thought he worked well and with the Breeders’ Cup here it made more sense to have his final work at Del Mar instead of Santa Anita. It was a really good morning for all of my horses.”
Worth Noting: Among the 27 workers for O’Neill Sunday morning at Del Mar were Katonah (Dirt Mile, 5f in 1:01 before the renovation break) and Raging Torrent (Sprint, 5f in 1:02.40 after the break). Antonio Fresu will have the mount Saturday on Raging Torrent and Frankie Dettori has the call on Katonah.
Horse: Newgate
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Morning Activity: Worked a bullet 5f in :58.80 at Santa Anita under exercise rider Juan Ochoa.
Planned Activity: Shipping from Santa Anita to Del Mar on Monday.
The Quote: “I have always worked him with blinkers, and I am going to leave them on for this race. He had them earlier in his career; I want him to be a little more focused. Very happy with the work; he looked great today. I just wanted to sharpen him up. We’re all good.” – Bob Baffert
Horse: Next
Trainer: Doug Cowans
Morning Activity: Walked his barn at Turfway Park under tack
Planned Activity: Ships to Del Mar
Horse: Pyrenees
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Morning Activity: Walked at Keeneland after posting a 4f work there Saturday.
Planned Activity: Scheduled to ship to Del Mar Monday.
Horse: Rattle N Roll
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Morning Activity: After working 5f at Churchill Downs Saturday, walked shedrow
Planned Activity: Traveling from Churchill Downs to Del Mar Monday.
The Quote: (Jockey Brian Hernandez has ridden Rattle N Roll in 19 of his 22 career starts) “Brian is not riding. His agent (Frank Bernis) gave the call away to ride Pyrenees because I had not decided if I was going. I would never ask Brian to get off, so we have Jose Ortiz.” – Kenny McPeek
Horse: Senor Buscador
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Jockey: TBA
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Backtracked to finish line then galloped 1 3/8m under Dennis Means
Planned Activity: Gallop at 7:45 Monday
The Quote: “He’s good this morning. I may back him up and go a bit further with him tomorrow.” –– Dennis Means, assistant to Fincher
Horse: Sierra Leone
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Set: Belmont Park
Morning Activity: Scheduled to ship in from New York to California on Sunday. The Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner had his final work on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Planned Activity: To get off the plane and go into the barn.
The Quote: “He did a little something easier this week, by design, but he’s all good. I’m very, very pleased with him.” –– Chad Brown
Horse: Tapit Trice
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Morning Activity: In transit from New York to Del Mar
Planned Activity: TBD per Pletcher
The Quote: “The one thing that I think he has done this year is he’s become a little more confident,” Pletcher said. “There was a time where we felt like he wanted to be outside in the clear and that he needed a certain kind of trip.
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