A top-class international field of 13 contenders was entered Oct. 30 for the 40th running of the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to be run Nov. 4 as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Santa Anita Park for a record 11th time.
The 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic is topped by morning-line favorite Arabian Knight (3-1), campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables and trainer Bob Baffert, with Blue Rose Farm’s Arcangelo (7-2) the second choice on the morning line. Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co.’s Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Ushba Tesoro (4-1) opposes in his United States debut in the richest of 14 championship races worth more than $31 million in purses and awards to be run over two days Nov. 3-4.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be televised live by NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV. Five championship races will be run on “Future Stars Friday,” all for 2-year-olds, while the Saturday card features nine championship races anchored by the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
A total of 175 horses were entered including five returning champions: Caravel , Cody’s Wish , Elite Power , Goodnight Olive , and Twilight Gleaming . There are 48 international contenders from five countries who traveled to the United States to prove their mettle in the global showcase.
Arabian Knight, a 3-year-old winner of three of four career starts and most recently victorious over older horses in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 12.
“It’s a long run to the turn. I would have liked to have been in the middle; you always like to be in the middle in Breeders’ Cup races. Whatever. We’re there,” said Baffert, adding he was surprised about the favorite role. “It’s a good field. We got it. You know, I don’t worry about anything that is not in my control. I have won races out of horrible post positions I didn’t like and I have lost from some good ones. At least I didn’t get the rail!”
Trained by Jena Antonucci, Arcangelo has won his past four starts that includes victories in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1). Javier Castellano has the mount from post 1.
Co-third choice on the morning line at 4-1 is Ushba Tesoro, the runaway winner of the Dubai World Cup in March. Freshened for six months after that victory by trainer Noboru Takagi, Ushba Tesoro easily won his comeback race Sept. 27 in Japan under Yuga Kawada, who has the mount Saturday from post position 8.
Also at 4-1 on the morning line is C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio . Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio enters off a 6 1/4-length victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1) under Irad Ortiz Jr., who retains the mount Saturday from post 3.
Completing the field are Bright Future (post 11, 10-1), Clapton (post 7, 20-1), Derma Sotogake (post 5, 20-1), Dreamlike (post 10, 30-1), Missed the Cut (post 4, 30-1), Proxy (post 13, 12-1), Saudi Crown (post 6, 12-1), Senor Buscador (post 9, 30-1), and Zandon (post 2, 12-1).
Idiomatic Carries Win Streak into Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Juddmonte’s Idiomatic (5-2), daylight winner of the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) and Spinster Stakes (G1) in her past two starts, is the morning-line favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles with a field of 11. Trained by Brad Cox, Idiomatic has won her past four starts and will start from post 4 with Florent Geroux aboard.
Co-second choices at 4-1 are Adare Manor and Clairiere .
Clairiere in the post parade before her win in the Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park
Michael Lund Petersen’s Adare Manor has won her past five starts for trainer Bob Baffert, a streak topped by a 5 1/4-length victory in the Oct. 1 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Juan Hernandez has the mount from post 5.
Stonestreet Stables’ Clairiere, who was beaten a head in a three-horse photo in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland, has two grade 1 victories this year for trainer Steve Asmussen. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 9.
European Standouts Take On Breeders’ Cup Turf
European standouts Mostahdaf and Auguste Rodin , who have combined for five group 1 victories this year, top the morning line of a 13-horse field for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) to be run at 1 1/2 miles.
Auguste Rodin wins the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse
Shadwell Stable’s Mostahdaf (5-2), winner of the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) and Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) in his past two starts, is trained by John and Thady Gosden. Jim Crowley has the mount Saturday and will exit post 9.
Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Westerberg and trained by Aidan O’Brien, Auguste Rodin (3-1) won the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) in his most recent start. Leaving from post 5, Auguste Rodin will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
Songline Favored in Breeders’ Cup Mile
Sunday Racing’s Songline is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T). A three-time grade 1 winner and earner of more than $6.2 million, Songline will depart post 10 under Keita Tosaki in the field of 14.
Godolphin runners Master of The Seas (7-2) and Mawj (4-1) are the second and third morning line propositions.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Master of The Seas exits a tough nose beat in the Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland in his most recent start. Prior to that he won the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) under William Buick, who has the mount Saturday from post 14.
Saeed bin Suroor trains Mawj, who returned from a five-month layoff to win Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) on Oct. 14 going 1 1/8 miles. Oisin Murphy has the mount Saturday from post 6.
Inspiral, Dettori Chase Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Cheveley Park Stud’s five-time group 1 winner Inspiral is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) to be run at 1 1/4 miles. Trained by the Gosdens, Inspiral will be ridden by Frankie Dettori from post 6 in a field of 12.
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg’s Warm Heart , fresh off two group 1 victories at a mile and a half in Europe, is the 3-1 second choice. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Warm Heart will be ridden by Ryan Moore from post 2.
Third choice at 4-1 is Peter Brant’s In Italian , who set the pace before finishing second in this race last year at Keeneland. Trained by Chad Brown, In Italian will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 1.
Returning Champions Stand Out in Divisions
Juddmonte’s Elite Power, one of four defending champions to return to the World Championships, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). A winner of eight of his past nine starts for trainer Bill Mott, Elite Power will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 8 in a field of nine.
Only two horses have won the Sprint in back-to-back years: Roy H in 2017 and 2018 and Midnight Lute in 2007 and 2008.
Also aiming to repeat for Mott is Godolphin homebred Cody’s Wish, the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). A winner of eight of his past nine starts, Cody’s Wish will seek to join Goldencents (2013-14) as the only back-to-back Dirt Mile victor.
Junior Alvarado has the mount on Cody’s Wish, who will exit post 3 in a field of nine.
Goodnight Olive trains this summer at Saratoga Race Course
First Row Partners and Team Hanley’s Goodnight Olive is the 6-5 morning-line choice to defend her title in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) that attracted nine contenders for the seven-furlong affair. She seeks to join Groupie Doll (2012-13) as the only back-to-back winner of the race.
Trained by Chad Brown, Goodnight Olive is a three-time grade 1 winner and has never been off the board in 11 career starts. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 1.
The fourth returning champion is Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Madaket Stables’ Caravel (5-1). Trained by Brad Cox, Caravel turned back the boys in last year’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) as a 42-1 longshot under Tyler Gaffalione, who has the mount Saturday on the gray mare from post 3 in a field of 12.
Live In The Dream trains Oct. 28 at Santa Anita
Favoritism at 9-2 in the five-furlong Turf Sprint goes to Steve and Jolene De’Lemos’ Live In The Dream . Trained by Adam West and ridden by Sean Kirrane, Live In The Dream won the five-furlong Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York in August before finishing fourth after setting the pace in the 5 1/2-furlong Woodford Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 7 in his U.S. debut. He will exit post 5.
Future Stars Look to Shine
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Locked is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), which drew a field of 11 set to race 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Locked will be ridden by Jose Ortiz and exit post 6.
Spendthrift Farm’s homebred Tamara , a daughter of three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder , is the 4-5 morning-line choice for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which drew a field of 13 going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Richard Mandella trains Tamara, who will be ridden by Mike Smith from post 7.
Three $1 million races complete the “Future Stars Friday” lineup. In the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), RP Racing’s Big Evs , a two-time group winner in Europe this year, is the 3-1 morning line favorite for the five-furlong dash that drew a field of 12. Trained by Michael Appleby, Big Evs will be ridden by Tom Marquand from post 4.
In the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty , winner of the Natalma Stakes (G1T) in her most recent start, is the 4-1 morning-line favorite in a 14-horse field. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, She Feels Pretty will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 11 in the one-mile affair.
River Tiber wins the Coventry Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
In the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Westerberg, and Peter Brant’s River Tiber is the 3-1 morning line favorite in a field of 14 for the one-mile test. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, River Tiber has won three of five starts and most recently finished third in two six-furlong grade 1 events. Ryan Moore has the call from post 2.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
