By Alan Carasso
A total of 207 pre-entries from around the globe–including some 58 from overseas-based gallopers–was announced Wednesday afternoon for the 14 races comprising the 42nd running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
The GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic is the richest of the weekend's contests at $7 million and has attracted 11 pre-entries, headed by Godolphin's dual Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who will look to make the 10-furlong contest his fourth Grade I conquest and give him a leg up on Horse of the Year honors to go with his likely laurels at champion 3-year-old honors. Back to defend his title is 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), this year's winner of the GI Whitney Stakes, and also back are the two classy horses that rounded out the minors 12 months back in the form of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Fierceness (City of Light)–the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and making the final start of his career before heading off to Ashford Stud to begin his second career–and Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), winner of a G1 Saudi Cup for the ages this past February and returning to Del Mar off a successful prep at home early this month.
In addition to the swan-songing Fierceness, Repole Stable is also represented by 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Mindframe (Constitution), who is campaigned in partnership with St Elias Stable and looking to become a treble Grade I winner at three different distances this season. Joining Sovereignty as part of a tremendous class of sophomores in 2025 is Journalism (Curlin), thrilling winner of the GI Santa Anita Derby, GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes; and the multiple Classic-placed Baeza (McKinzie), who celebrated a coming-out moment of sorts in the GI Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20.
'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Locked (Gun Runner) is a second Classic starter for his sire and one of four overall from the Todd Pletcher barn, alongside GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Antiquarian (Preservationist). GI Goodwood Stakes upsetter Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) represents the always-dangerous Bob Baffert shedrow and the field is completed by Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief), who is entered to ensure a good pace for stablemate Sierra Leone.
“The incredible group of horses pre-entered for this year's Breeders' Cup reflects the unmatched quality and global prestige of the World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “The divisions are loaded with champions, classic winners, and international stars. We are deeply grateful to the owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, and teams, whose dedication and care make it possible for these extraordinary Thoroughbreds to put on an incredible show.”
Fleming continued, “Our thanks also go to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for their partnership, to our nominators for their vital support, and to the passionate fans and bettors whose enthusiasm continues to drive our sport forward. We can't wait to deliver another unforgettable edition of the World Championships at Del Mar.”
Del Mar–“Where the Turf Meets the Surf”–will host the Breeders' Cup for the fourth time, following a record-setting 2024 edition that achieved a new global wagering benchmark of $203.7 million. Horses from five continents–Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America-have been pre-entered, including 58 from abroad. Contenders hail from Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, Ireland, France, Japan, Peru, South Africa, the United States and Uruguay.
Additionally, 46 individual pre-entered horses qualified through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In– an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the World Championships.
Post positions for all 14 championship races will be assigned Monday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. ET.
One Of Eight Previous Winners, Rebel's Romance Leads Foreign Invasion
Demonstrative of the depth of the pre-entries–officially, the connections of 191 individual horses paid up on Wednesday–no fewer than eight horses with previous Championship weekend wins to their credit are back to attempt to pad their resumes next weekend.
Chief among those is Godolphin's outstanding Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will try to win the $5-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf for a record third time, having saluted at Keeneland in 2022 and again right here at Del Mar 12 months ago. As he did three years back, the 7-year-old won the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in his penultimate appearance prior to the Turf, but whereas he doubled up in Germany in 2022, this time around he made light work of an overmatched bunch in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths.
Rebel's Romance | Sarah Andrew
It may not be a straight-forward task for the veteran given the presence of Ballydoyle's 3-year-old filly sensation Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Beaten on her career debut last October, the €1.85-million ($1,955,860) Goffs Orby graduate rattled off five straight, including the G1 Oaks at Epsom and in Ireland before handling older females in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. She was run down in the final few strides by Daryz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) when last seen in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5, and the fact she has been given the green light to press on by her connections is a highly positive sign.
Other pre-entries with prior Breeders' Cup success under their belt include: Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}), Straight No Chaser (Speightster) and White Abarrio (Race Day).
Godolphin Also With Live Chances In Turf Routes
Rebel's Romance is surely the marquee attraction where it comes to Godolphin's overseas-based turf runners, but Sheikh Mohammed's operation will have chances in the two other Saturday contests run over a mile and further.
Beaten less than a length into third when favored last November, Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks to atone in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. His form has been solid, particularly of late, as he flashed home to just miss in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August ahead of a soft victory after a tardy dispatch in the GI Rogers Woodbine Mile last month.
Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) came running to just miss winning the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last year as a 3-year-old and counts this July's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes as her first European elite-level score. She faltered as the favorite in her last two, but is left out at the bettors' peril. Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal) was a far less-exposed sort prior to her first race in North America in the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes in August, with a Group 3 win on the Newcastle synthetic her high-water mark theretofore. She put a real scare into She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) at Woodbine last time, missing by a head after bombing the start.
Sophomore Fillies Set To Shine In Distaff
In the absence of defending champion, the newly retired 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard and Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff figures a wide-open affair, with a trio of Grade I-winning 3-year-old fillies a threat to their older rivals.
Versatility has been the key word for D J Stable's Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), who is a two-time Grade II winner and a nose second in the GI Belmont Oaks on the grass this year, but has also made a big impression on the dirt. A romping winner of the rained-off GIII Wonder Again Stakes, she defeated GI Kentucky Oaks victress Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Alabama Stakes and just missed to Gin Gin (Hightail) in the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes last time. The progressive Clicquot (Quality Road) exits a narrow victory over Dry Powder (Gun Runner) in the GI Cotillion Stakes and GI CCA Oaks heroine Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) is also in with something of a puncher's chance with a repeat of that effort.
Nitrogen | Sarah Andrew
Spendthrift Looks To Dominate 'Future Stars Friday'
Spendthrift Farm 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard Ted Noffey and Tommy Jo, both by the all-conquering Into Mischief, will be tough to take down in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, respectively, the two $2-million contests that anchor the 'Future Stars Friday' card on Halloween at the seaside oval.
Each trained by Todd Pletcher, they padded their resumes in the Keeneland preps in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes, the latter the beneficiary of the disqualification of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Percy's Bar (Upstart).
Also carded on the Friday program and each carrying purse money of $1-million are the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf.
Among sires with Breeders' Cup pre-entries, Taylor Made's Not This Time leads the way with 10, seven in the 2-year-old races led by Breeders' Futurity runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Blackout Time. Gun Runner and Into Mischief are each represented by eight pre-entries.
Ted Noffey | Sarah Andrew
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
