BloodHorse Celebrates Breeders’ Cup’s Top Horses, 32-25

With Breeders’ Cup celebrating the 40th edition of its World Championships this year, BloodHorse thought it would be a good time to consider the event’s 40 greatest horses to date.

After receiving nominations from staff and correspondents, we conducted a vote to determine the top 40. Keep in mind that we allowed voters wide latitude in considering “greatness.” While most started with Breeders’ Cup winners—and, for that matter, multiple winners—voters also found room to back courageous runners-up, a few especially accomplished horses that just competed, as well as horses that impacted the event from the breeding side.

Here’s how we see it in the fall of 2023, beginning with horses 32-25.

32. Arazi

Before Favorite Trick earned Horse of the Year honors off his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) victory (see 40-33), Arazi dazzled in 1991. Entered off three straight group 1 wins in France—and six straight stakes wins overall—Arazi blitzed 13 rivals in the Juvenile at Churchill Downs to register a five-length score in his first United States start and first start on dirt. The electric effort would help him land European Horse of the Year honors at 2.

31. Daylami

As BloodHorse put it, Godolphin’s Daylami provided “a mix of gray and glory,” “a blend of majesty and sheer force,” in winning the 1999 Turf (G1T) by 2 1/2 lengths. The performance, his lone North American start that season, impressed enough to land Daylami champion grass horse honors while helping him secure European Horse of the Year.

30. Monomoy Girl 

While she famously drew outside for many of her biggest races, Monomoy Girl made her own luck by seemingly always finding a good stalking position. She won the 2018 Kentucky Oaks (G1) from post 14 before drawing the outside post of 11 fillies and mares in that year’s Distaff (G1) at Churchill. Facing older rivals would not be a problem as she stalked early, then drew off to a clear victory in the stretch. It all looked so easy. For good measure Monomoy Girl served up a virtual replay in the 2020 Distaff at Keeneland, drawing widest in the field of 10 before delivering another decisive win.

29. Galileo

His sixth place in the 2001 Classic (G1) may provide some good trivia on a Saturday night but he makes this list as the most prolific sire in Breeders’ Cup history. From 63 Breeders’ Cup starters, his runners have earned just under $16 million. He’s led by winners Found (2015 Turf), Highland Reel (2016 Turf), Line of Duty (2018 Juvenile Turf, G1T), Magician (2013 Turf), Red Rocks (2006 Turf), and Tuesday (2022 Filly & Mare Turf, G1T). 

28. Da Hoss

We’ll resist the temptation of having Tom Durkin do all our work for this story by repeating his famous calls throughout the years, but in this case, “This is the greatest comeback since Lazarus,” says it all of the two-time Mile (G1T) winner who posted those Breeders’ Cup victories in 1996 and 1998—with just a single start in between those efforts.

27. Unbridled

In the spring of 1990 ABC cameras told the story of what winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) can mean better than any words as they captured trainer Carl Nafzger describing the action to 92-year-old owner Frances Genter before erupting with “He’s a winner, he’s a winner!” and then “You won the Kentucky Derby!” But after that effort, victory eluded Unbridled in his next four stakes races before he again delivered on the biggest stage, rallying from 13th to win the Classic (G1) at Belmont Park. For good measure, he would finish third in the 1991 Classic.

26. Midnight Lute  

The Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) may be the most unforgiving of the now two-day World Championships—one bit of bad luck, one wrong decision, and the opportunity may be lost. So there’s something to be said for repeating in this race, as Midnight Lute did, splashing home for a 4 3/4-length win in 2007 at Monmouth Park and then scoring on a fast track a year later at the Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita. He rallied from eighth of 10 in 2007 and last of eight in 2008.

25. Giant’s Causeway

For years after his duel with Tiznow in the 2000 Classic at Churchill, the game’s most coveted fashion statement would be Ashford Stud jackets promoting Giant’s Causeway as The Iron Horse. While the six-time group 1 winner finished a neck behind Tiznow in the Classic, that gallant performance ensured he would be fondly remembered, as would his three titles as North America’s leading sire and three Breeders’ Cup winners as sire: Bricks and Mortar  (2019 Turf), Man of Iron (2009 Marathon), and Take Charge Brandi (2014 Juvenile Fillies).