Breeders' Cup Classic

Baeza (McKinzie), winner of last term's GI Pennsylvania Derby and an unlucky third after completely missing the break in his 2026 return in the GII Alysheba S. May 1, is aiming to make his next start in a star-studded renewal of the $2-million GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 27. The 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland is also expected to showcase a highly anticipated rematch between 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and 2025 Horse of the Year...

Magnitude (Not This Time) continued preparations for the upcoming GI Stephen Foster S. with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 (12/16) at Churchill Downs Sunday. The Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer has now posted five workouts for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen--all beneath the Twin Spires--since defeating the globe-trotting 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) by a length in front-running fashion in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Mar. 28. "Very impressive horse, continues to train forwardly," Asmussen said. "Have two more scheduled workouts between now...

Doug Cauthen still vividly remembers watching from the tunnel at Del Mar as the field reached the starting gate for the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Classic. When Gun Runner seized the lead and zipped through an opening quarter of :22.50, Cauthen retreated a little further back into the shadows. "I was sweating bullets," Cauthen admitted, laughing at the memory. "They were flying on a track that wasn't really providing a lot of opportunities for horses on the lead. That race was loaded and it was his only other time that...

Coolmore America has assigned stud fees for its three newest additions following last weekend's Breeders' Cup Championships at Del Mar. 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner up and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner--Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon) tops the list at $75,000. "We are honored to announce three new Eclipse Award winners as part of our 2026 stallion roster here at Ashford Stud," said Charlie O'Connor, Director of Sales at Coolmore America. "Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Citizen Bull all arrived safely at their new home...

While most racing fans know about Tiznow and his forever memorable back to back Breeders' Cup Classic wins in 2000 and 2001, most do not know about the relative rarity of being in the money (first, place or show) in more than one Breeders' Cup Classic. California Chrome was third in 2014 and second in 2016. Medaglia d'Oro was second in 2002 and 2003. Alysheba was second in 1987 and won it in 1988. Mucho Macho Man was second in 2012 and won in 2013. Unbridled won in 1990 and...

DEL MAR, Calif -- "I drank too much." Ever the professional, even when feeling a little worse for wear, Yoshito Yahagi was at a 7.30 a.m. press call with his Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn). The latter was looking sparkier than his trainer, but then he hadn't been out late in a Mexican restaurant celebrating the LA Dodgers sealing back-to-back wins in the World Series. "I'm a bit hungover. The horse is in much better condition than me," Yahagi admitted. An avowed fan of baseball, he unzipped his...

DEL MAR, Calif. - All of the heavy lifting has been done and Breeders' Cup 42 is finally here. Who has looked the best during training hours this week at Del Mar? Starting at the top with the Classic. Journalism (Curlin) (Michael McCarthy) has been training like he owns the place in the pre-dawn hours while the Classic's defending winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) (Chad Brown) has served notice after the break. Both cover a ton of ground and have been getting over...

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $7-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, will be scratched. The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form's David Grening. The GI Kentucky Derby, GI Belmont Stakes and GI DraftKings Travers S. hero spiked a fever Monday evening after breezing four furlongs earlier that day. Treated with an anti-inflammatory, there was an outside chance that the Godolphin homebred could still make the race. That ended on Tuesday afternoon. "If it didn't go away, we...

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the imposing 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, has spiked a fever and "there's a possibility that he won't make the race on Saturday," according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. "He had a slightly elevated temperature and that remained through the night," Mott said to a group of media assembled on the Del Mar backstretch during training hours Tuesday morning. "This morning at 5 a.m. and when we got here at 5:30 a.m., he...

Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), looking to cap an historic sophomore campaign, drew post six and was promptly installed the 6-5 favorite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. "No complaints about that," trainer Bill Mott told Brittney Eurton at the post position draw held Monday afternoon in the Del Mar paddock. "There is some speed inside and it gives him a good opportunity to see what is unfolding in the race." Since his win in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty has added victories in the...

Between travelers en route and those already on grounds, Distaff contenders put in their final preps in advance of the World Championships this weekend and connections provide their thoughts on how their charges are doing. Multiple Grade I winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was out on track Monday morning at Del Mar to work four furlongs in :49.80 (5/5) with Neil Poznansky up for the ride. According to his connections, it was all by design and all systems are go. "He went easy. He had an extended gallop and then he...

The horse Contrary Thinking has been pre-entered in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic and, as is generally acknowledged, to serve as a "rabbit" to ensure a lively pace in the race. I do not wish to comment on how Contrary Thinking may or may not affect the race from a handicapping point of view. Rather, as a horse racing fan, my concern is about the negative image his participation casts on one of horse racing's premier races in front of a major audience. The horse racing industry has come a...