The Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf is, most of the time, a global showcase, validating the “World” within the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. It’s been dominated by horses delivery in from abroad ever since its first operating as a part of the premiere Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park in 1984. International invaders have gained eight of the final 10 editions of this Grade 1 stakes and it’s a great guess one of many seven entered amongst a subject of 13 will accomplish that this 12 months as nicely Saturday at Del Mar.
The 2024 Longines Turf will go off at 5:01 p.m. ET Saturday, televised nationwide by NBC and streamed on Peacock.
1. Rousham Park (20-1 morning-line odds): Was 4-for-6 in 2023 and earned greater than $1 million in his native Japan however has gone winless in 4 begins this 12 months at age 5, though he did simply miss taking a Group 1 in Japan by neck again within the spring. Prefers agency turf and has a Breeders’ Cup-winning jockey. Might want to step up huge time with a view to be an element.
JOCKEY: Christophe Lemaire; TRAINER: Hiroyasu Tanaka
2. Emily Upjohn (5-1): 5-year-old mare is one in all two females taking up males within the Breeders’ Cup Turf. She’s gained solely one in all 9 begins over the previous two years, though that was a Group 1 on agency turf going 1 ½ miles again in June 2023 with Frankie Dettori within the saddle. Has completed third in her two current begins, each Group 1s at 1 ½ miles in Europe, and may definitely hit the board right here.
JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: John Gosden
3. Shahryar (10-1): One other Japanese shipper, he completed nicely within the stretch to test in third in final 12 months’s BC Turf at Santa Anita Park, and since then has raced solely 3 times with no win. He did end a transparent second to Insurgent’s Romance in March within the 1 ½-mile Longines Dubai Sheema Basic, and based mostly on that race is price an extended look right here.
JOCKEY: Cristian Demuro; TRAINER: Hideaki Fujiwara
4. Luxembourg (12-1): Coolmore runner was in fantastic kind for over a 12 months up till Could, his solely end worse than fourth throughout an eight-race span coming when he was hampered by a fallen horse. He has not impressed in his two most up-to-date begins, nevertheless, ending sixth in a pair of Group 1s. Can publish an upset if he will get again to his greatest – this horse has two Group 1 wins and three runner-up finishes at that stage on his résumé.
JOCKEY: Ryan Moore; TRAINER: Aidan O’Brien
5. Jayarebe (4-1): Intriguing French-bred 4-year-old has gained 4 of seven begins thus far and completed second or third in two others. Jayarebe has not competed in a Grade/Group 1 but nor has he tried a mile and a half, however he enters off of a sport head win in a Group 2 at Longchamp in early October going 1 3/16 miles and nonetheless has loads of upside.
JOCKEY: Sean Levey; TRAINER: Brian Meehan
6. Far Bridge (6-1): Has fulfilled the potential first witnessed in 2023 when he gained the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes by taking two extra at that Grade 1 stage main into the Breeders’ Cup — the Resorts World On line casino Sword Dancer Stakes and the Joe Hirsch Turf Basic Stakes, each at 1 ½ miles. Has paired nicely with Joel Rosario and might be America’s greatest hope for profitable this race vs. the worldwide jet set.
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Christophe Clement
7. Grand Sonata (20-1): Received his first race in over a 12 months – after seven consecutive losses – by rallying after which holding on within the FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes. Would want to enhance off of that effort to have an opportunity on the upset right here, and that’s a tall activity.
JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher
8. Cabo Spirit (30-1): Led gate to wire within the California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Stakes Offered by 1/ST BET at Santa Anita Park in late September to publish a 24.60-1 upset towards California-based grass runners. That occurred at a stage a few rungs beneath this subject (at the least) and was his first win since October 2022, 12 begins again.
JOCKEY: Abel Cedillo; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou
9. El Encinal (30-1): Earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to this race again in December 2023 by upsetting a Group 1 stakes in his native Argentina. He then was transferred to the U.S. and has since completed a well-beaten sixth and 11th in two Grade 2 turf stakes in California. Appears overmatched.
JOCKEY: Armando Ayuso; TRAINER: Francisco Garcia
10. Wingspan (15-1): Joins Luxembourg from the Coolmore barn however compares extra favorably to Jayarebe as a 3-year-old who has solely made six begins and has proven loads of potential with out securing a top-level win in Europe, ending second in a Group 1 at 1 7/16 miles in her most up-to-date race. The Dubawi filly has a superb pedigree and likewise has proven the power to race on or close to the early lead. May hold on for a share right here with the best journey.
JOCKEY: Wayne Lordan; TRAINER: Aidan O’Brien
11. Insurgent’s Romance (5-2): Globe-trotting sensation gained this race two years in the past at Keeneland with a formidable rally that put him 2 ¼ lengths in entrance on the end. Went winless by way of three begins in 2023, together with a race the place he unseated his jockey at Saratoga, however has regained his greatest kind – after which some – at age 6 this 12 months. He’s gained 4 of 5 begins in 2024, together with three Group 1 stakes, whereas racing in 5 totally different nations. A deserving favourite to choose up one other Longines Turf win.
JOCKEY: William Buick; TRAINER: Charlie Appleby
12. Gold Phoenix (15-1): Arguably one of the best California-based long-distance turf horse presently in coaching, he’s 2-for-5 this 12 months at age 6, each of them Grade 2 stakes victories. By no means fired towards Cabo Spirit within the John Henry Turf Championship final out and can want a powerful tempo to match his end in final 12 months’s Longines Turf, the place he completed fourth at 50.60-1 odds.
JOCKEY: Kyle Frey; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato
13: There Goes Harvard (30-1): Has switched between dust and turf racing all through his profession and his solely stakes win was on the previous floor, all the best way again within the Could 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes. Most lately, he rallied to complete second by a size to front-running upset winner Cabo Spirit within the John Henry Turf Championship, an effort that makes him an enormous longshot on this race.
JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy
THE PICK: Insurgent’s Romance
LIVE LONGSHOT: Luxembourg
SUPERFECTA: 11-4-2-3
