Whereas racing at Keeneland in the course of the upcoming weekend takes the highlight with eight “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup races scheduled over its three-day Fall Stars weekend, there are 12 extra qualifying preps on faucet in New York, California, and France as effectively, which makes for a really spectacular first full weekend of October in North American horse racing.
The winner of every Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence race receives an computerized berth to the corresponding World Championships occasion, with entry charges waived and journey bills supplied. The 41st annual Breeders’ Cup is about for Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in Southern California.
Santa Anita hosts three “Win and You’re In” preps on Saturday, whereas 4 extra extra are slated for Belmont on the Large A in New York from Friday to Sunday. As well as, there are 5 Problem Sequence races scheduled on an enormous Sunday card at Longchamp in France, headlined by the celebrated Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Get pleasure from this ultimate preview of “Win and You’re In” qualifiers and different huge races for the weekend, as we proceed to depend down (just one month away!) to Breeders’ Cup 2024.
Champagne Stakes
The place: Belmont on the Large A (Aqueduct), Queens, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5
Learn how to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Why it’s essential: First held in 1867, the Champagne, presently contested at one mile, has been the important thing race for New York-based horses pointing to the Breeders’ Cup. 5 juveniles have gained each the Champagne and the BC Juvenile in the identical 12 months: Fly So Free (1990), Timber Nation (1993), Struggle Cross (2007), Uncle Mo (2010), and Shanghai Bobby (2012). On high of that, a number of also-rans within the Champagne improved to win the Juvenile of their subsequent begin – three examples being Rhythm in 1989 (runner-up within the Champagne), Good Magic in 2017 (ditto), and Fierceness in 2023 (see under).
Finest winner in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: Uncle Mo will get a slight edge over Struggle Cross among the many 5 twin winners. The latter horse, owned by Robert LaPenta and educated by Nick Zito, was unbeaten and dominant at 2 however tailed off at 3 whereas solely racing 3 times, after which died earlier than establishing himself as a stallion. Uncle Mo likewise was hampered by well being issues and couldn’t totally understand his potential after an excellent 2-year-old season, however he did win two extra stakes races at age 3 and misplaced a 3rd by a nostril. His 2-year-old races have been one thing to behold, because the Indian Charlie colt romped by 14 ¼ lengths in his Saratoga debut, routed the opposition within the Champagne by 4 ¾ lengths, after which was equally spectacular within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, coasting to a 4 ¼-length victory. Uncle Mo has since develop into one of many main sires in North America.
Final 12 months’s outcomes: The 2023 Champagne Stakes was held on a sloppy, sealed monitor as rain pelted the New York Metropolis space. Fierceness was despatched off because the 0.55-1 post-time favourite primarily based on a dominant maiden win at Saratoga, however the colt by no means factored, ending seventh of eight starters and 20 ¼ lengths behind winner Timberlake. Nevertheless, the Repole Secure-owned colt rebounded within the FanDuel BC Juvenile at Santa Anita Park to romp by 6 ¼ lengths and earn the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male. He’s presently one of many favorites in subsequent month’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional.
2024 area: Chancer McPatrick, unbeaten by two begins together with a win within the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, headlines this 12 months’s Champagne, which additionally options Mo Plex, unbeaten winner of the Sanford Stakes and Humorous Cide Stakes, and Saratoga maiden winners Tip High Thomas, Uncaged, and Government Order.
American Pharoah Stakes Introduced by DK Horse
The place: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5
Learn how to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Why it’s essential: This race was first held in 1970 and has gone by three identify adjustments to presently honor 2014 race winner and 2015 Horse of the 12 months American Pharoah. That budding famous person gained what was on the time named the FrontRunner Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths however missed the Breeders’ Cup, whereas Texas Purple, who completed third within the FrontRunner, dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his subsequent begin. 5 horses in whole have gained the American Pharoah Stakes and the BC Juvenile in the identical 12 months, beginning within the inaugural World Championships 12 months of 1984 with Chief’s Crown. The others are Capote (1986), Nyquist (2015), Recreation Winner (2018), and Corniche (2021). Final 12 months’s winner, Muth, completed second to Fierceness within the FanDuel BC Juvenile.
Finest winner in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: Nyquist dominated his 2-year-old season and prolonged an unbeaten streak right through the 2016 Kentucky Derby earlier than checking in third within the Preakness Stakes – however that mentioned, the most effective among the many above quintet is Chief’s Crown. The son of Danzig first emerged in New York throughout summer season 1984 with three stakes wins together with the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Cowdin Stakes at Belmont Park, after which shipped to California for a two-race go to that noticed him win what was on the time known as the Norfolk Stakes by 1 ½ lengths after which the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park by three-quarters of a size over Tank’s Prospect. The Roger Laurin trainee and Eclipse Award winner as 1984 champion 2-year-old male got here again to win six of 12 begins at age 3 in 1985, together with the Travers Stakes, and he competed in all three Triple Crown races, ending third within the Kentucky Derby, second within the Preakness (by a head to Tank’s Prospect), and third within the Belmont Stakes.
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
The place: Longchamp Racecourse, Paris, France
When: Sunday, Oct. 6
Learn how to watch: FS1, FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Why it’s essential: The Arc, Europe’s premier race for older horses, was formally made a Problem Sequence race in 2019. It has been gained by many legendary turf campaigners by the years, and lots of Arc entrants have made the journey abroad to compete within the Breeders’ Cup. Up till 2018, no horse had ever gained the Arc after which a Breeders’ Cup race in the identical 12 months, however a number of Arc also-rans improved their lot as soon as in North America, examples together with Daylami (gained BC Turf in 1999), Excessive Chaparral (gained BC Turf in 2002 and in 2003, the latter in a lifeless warmth), Shirocco (gained BC Turf in 2005), Conduit (gained BC Turf in 2008 and 2009), and St Nicholas Abbey (gained BC Turf in 2011).
Finest winner in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: Juddmonte Farms’ Allow broke by to win the Arc and the Longines Turf in 2018, cementing her standing as top-of-the-line grass horses of the 21st century. The John Gosden trainee had already gained the English Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Arc as a 3-year-old in 2017. After her neck win over Sea of Class within the 2018 Arc, she shipped to Churchill Downs and defeated one other sensational filly, Coolmore’s Magical, by three-quarters of a size underneath star jockey Frankie Dettori. Allow raced for 2 extra years with continued success earlier than retiring in 2020 having earned greater than $14 million.
2024 area: Auguste Rodin, winner of the 2023 Longines BC Turf at Santa Anita, is entered in a robust area assembled for Sunday’s race that additionally consists of Qatar Prix du Jockey Membership (French Derby) winner Look De Vega and Dubai Responsibility Free Irish Derby winner Los Angeles.
Frizette Stakes
The place: Belmont on the Large A (Aqueduct), Queens, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5
Learn how to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Why it’s essential: The companion race to the Champagne has been much more productive in sending winners on to Breeders’ Cup glory, as 9 fillies have gained each the Frizette and Juvenile Fillies in the identical 12 months, beginning with Meadow Star in 1990 and adopted by Flanders in 1994, Storm Track in 1996, Storm Flag Flying in 2002, Indian Blessing in 2007, My Miss Aurelia in 2011, Jaywalk in 2017, Echo Zulu in 2021, and Simply F Y I final 12 months. As well as, star performers Open Thoughts (1988) and My Flag (1995) ran second within the Frizette after which gained the Juvenile Fillies.
Finest winner in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: We’ll need to put aside the superior Private Ensign from this dialogue, because the Corridor of Famer gained the Frizette in 1986 however didn’t run within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, as an alternative returning at age 3 and 4 to compile an ideal 13-for-13 profession that ended with a win within the 1988 Distaff that’s nonetheless talked and written about at present. Among the many 9 listed above, it’s a troublesome name to select between Meadow Star, Storm Flag Flying, Indian Blessing, My Miss Aurelia, and Echo Zulu. Had Meadow Star retired after her win within the 1991 Mom Goose Stakes – aka “the Mom of all Gooses” – she can be a simple selection as that win was the 11th in her first 12 begins. However the Carl Icahn-owned filly would go winless in her ultimate eight races, so with that in thoughts, we’ll go along with 2007 winner Indian Blessing. The Bob Baffert trainee gained all three races at 2 by a mixed 13 ¼ lengths, after which racked up seven extra graded stakes in 2008 and 2009, three of them Grade 1s.
2023 outcomes: Simply F Y I skipped by the slop to win the Frizette by 3 ¾ lengths for proprietor George Krikorian and Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott. 4 weeks later, she overcame the far outdoors publish to win the NetJets Juvenile Fillies by a neck over longshot Jody’s Satisfaction and was appropriately honored as champion 2-year-old filly of 2023 on the Eclipse Awards final January.
2024 area: As with the Champagne, 2-year-olds exiting the Saratoga meet headline the Frizette, beginning with Chad Brown-trained Senza Parole, who romped by 7 ¾ lengths in her 6 ½-furlong debut race in late August.
Oak Leaf Stakes Introduced by Oak Tree
The place: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5
Learn how to watch: NBC/Peacock and FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Why it’s essential: This 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies was named the Oak Leaf Stakes till 2012, modified to the Chandelier Stakes, and now has been modified again to its authentic designation. It’s the ultimate West Coast prep for 2-year-old females en path to the Juvenile Fillies, and 6 fillies have gained each the Oak Leaf and Juvenile Fillies in the identical 12 months: Nice Stage (1991), Telephone Chatter (1993), Halfbridled (2003), Candy Catomine (2004), Stardom Certain (2008), and….
Finest winner in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: Simply the most effective twin winner, Songbird exploded on the racing scene in 2015 – first at Del Mar the place she posted a dominant maiden win after which one other blowout within the Del Mar Debutante. Then within the Chandelier/Oak Leaf, she toyed with seven opponents in a 4 ½-length romp. Despatched to Keeneland for a harder project within the Juvenile Fillies, the Rick Porter-owned filly made it look simply as simple, main from gate to wire and successful by 5 ¾ lengths. Songbird educated on to win her first seven begins at age 3 earlier than struggling her first profession defeat by a nostril within the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff to the nice Beholder, actually a end for the ages. Carrying credentials of 13 wins in 15 begins and over $4.6 million in earnings, Songbird joined the Racing Corridor of Fame two months in the past as one of many perfect feminine dust horses of the trendy period.
Miss Grillo Stakes
The place: Aqueduct, Queens, N.Y.
When: Sunday, Oct. 6 (postponed from Sept. 29)
Learn how to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Why they’re essential: Fillies exiting the Miss Grillo have performed very effectively within the Juvenile Fillies Turf, with 5 twin winners: Maram (2008), Girl Eli (2014), New Cash Honey (2016), Newspaperofrecord (2018), and Onerous to Justify final 12 months. All 5 have been educated by Chad Brown, and Maram supplied Brown with the primary of what’s presently 16 Breeders’ Cup wins.
Finest winners in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: Amongst that quartet, the winner is clearly Girl Eli. The fan favourite gained six races in a row to begin her profession (the Miss Grillo and Juvenile Fillies Turf have been numbers two and three) however then was sidelined for over a 12 months and practically misplaced her life when growing laminitis. Amazingly, Girl Eli returned in summer season 2016 and gained 4 extra stakes races into fall 2017, together with three Grade 1s, whereas additionally ending second by a nostril to Queen’s Belief within the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Final 12 months’s outcomes: Miss Grillo winner Onerous to Justify prevailed by a half-length over Life’s an Audible in New York and shipped west to Santa Anita Park the place she defeated Porta Fortuna, a winner this 12 months of three Group 1 races in Europe, by the identical margin within the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Rodeo Drive Stakes
The place: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5
Learn how to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Why it’s essential: This turf race for fillies and mares has despatched a handful of runners to good showings within the Breeders’ Cup, however so far no winner has gone on to seize the Filly & Mare Turf – or the Breeders’ Cup Mile or Turf, for that matter.
Finest winners in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: Advertising and marketing Combine, a flexible and well-traveled Medaglia d’Oro mare owned by Glen Hill Farm, gained the 2012 Rodeo Drive after which completed three-quarters of a size behind Zagora within the Filly & Mare Turf, additionally held at Santa Anita. 4 years later, Avenge gained the primary of two consecutive editions of the Rodeo Drive and in her subsequent begin set the tempo and had sufficient left to complete only a size behind 1-2 finishers Queen’s Belief and Girl Eli (separated by a nostril) within the Filly & Mare Turf, once more at Santa Anita.
Futurity Stakes
The place: Belmont on the Large A (Aqueduct), Queens, N.Y.
When: Friday, Oct. 4
Learn how to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash
Why it’s essential: This turf sprint for juveniles was added to the Problem Sequence in 2018, the identical 12 months the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash was first held.
Finest winner in the course of the Breeders’ Cup period: 4 Wheel Drive is the one horse to this point to win each the Futurity and the Juvenile Turf Dash. The Wesley Ward trainee gained the Futurity at Belmont Park by three lengths after which the Juvenile Turf Dash at Santa Anita by three-quarters of a size, with Irad Ortiz Jr. within the saddle for each races.
2024 area: Underneath Who’s Radar is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in a area of eight juveniles. The Mike Maker trainee gained his debut on dust at Saratoga in July after which completed first going 6 ½ furlongs on turf within the Nationwide Thoroughbred League Juvenile Dash Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 1, solely to be disqualified to second for interference within the stretch.
Breeders’ Cup preps in Europe:
On the Oct. 6 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe undercard at Longchamp, 4 different Problem Sequence races shall be run: the Prix de l’Opera Longines, a prep for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf; the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines, a prep for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash; the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; and the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, a prep for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Of those 4 races, the Prix de l’Opera has had probably the most affect on Breeders’ Cup outcomes. 2020 winner Tarnawa shipped to Keeneland however ran towards males within the Longines Turf as an alternative of within the Filly and Mare Turf and defeated them by a size. On the identical card that day, Prix de l’Opera third-place finisher Audarya posted an upset win within the Maker’s Mark Filly and Mare Turf. The 2022 Filly and Mare Turf was additionally gained by a filly exiting the Prix de l’Opera, as sixth-place finisher Tuesday scored impressively at Keeneland for Coolmore companions and Aidan O’Brien.
Among the many three different Group 1 stakes, horses of notice embody Karakontie, who gained the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in 2013 and a 12 months later scored an upset within the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and Unquestionable, who completed second in final 12 months’s Jean-Luc Lagardere and in his subsequent begin gained the Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Discovered and Wuheida gained the Prix Marcel Boussac in 2014 and 2016, respectively, after which like Karakontie took Breeders’ Cup races the following 12 months at age 3, on this case the 2015 Longines Turf for Discovered and the 2017 Filly and Mare Turf for Wuheida. Earlier on this century, Six Perfections gained the Prix Marcel Boussac in 2002 and the BC Mile in 2003.
The Prix de l’Abbaye was gained by Glass Slippers in 2019, who a 12 months later was additionally a part of a dominant 2020 Breeders’ Cup Saturday for Europeans together with Tarnawa and Audarya. The filly shipped to Kentucky off of a runner-up end within the Prix de l’Abbaye and gained the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash by a half-length.
Different essential weekend races:
The Beldame Stakes for fillies and mares held at 1 1/8 miles on dust at Belmont on the Large A isn’t a Problem Sequence qualifier for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, however its historical past is deeply intertwined with that World Championships occasion. Practically yearly, it appears, a filly or mare comes out of the Beldame and hits the board within the Distaff, and 4 females have gained each races in the identical 12 months: Girl’s Secret (1986), Private Ensign (1988), Lovely Pleasure (1999), and Royal Delta (2012). What a quartet! And the connection remained sturdy final fall as Beldame winner Randomized ran an excellent second to champion Idiomatic within the Longines Distaff.
The Jockey Membership Derby Invitational Stakes, additionally at Belmont on the Large A, was first held in 2019 as a part of the New York “Turf Triple” collection, and in 2021 3-year-old Godolphin-owned gelding Yibir shipped over from England to win the 1 ½-mile race (held at Belmont Park) by a cushty 2 ½ lengths. Coach Charlie Appleby saved Yibir within the U.S. for a begin within the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, and was rewarded with a win at odds of 8.50-1 after the gelding rallied from 13th of 14 runners to prevail underneath William Buick.
