Breeders' Cup: Walden-trained runners look like contenders in Mile, Turf

Over the course of 48 hours last week, trainer Will Walden won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Oct. 1 at Belmont and the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile two days later at Keeneland. That’s a major accomplishment for a trainer who only turns 35 on Oct. 17, and both winners appear to be among the stronger North American-based contenders for their respective Breeders’ Cup races.

Rhetorical captured the Turf Mile at Keeneland for the second year in a row, and on Oct. 31 will try to better his creditable fourth-place finish last fall at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Minaret Station finally broke through in the Turf Classic with an overdue first win of 2026 and ran well enough – earning a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure – to suggest he’ll be more than an afterthought in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“Hopefully, we didn’t use up all our luck last weekend,” Walden said.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP MILE: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more

One might say Rhetorical got a little lucky at Keeneland, where he was gifted the easiest of leads, sauntering through his opening half-mile in 49.76 seconds while under no pressure.

“It’s pretty tough for a horse of his caliber not to look pretty good going 49 and change,” Walden said.

But look what Rhetorical did later in the Turf Mile: He blistered his seventh furlong in 10.95, putting the race to bed, and ran his last quarter in 22.28. That’s strong stuff for a horse capable – even comfortable – leading on a stronger pace.

The key to Rhetorical – in all his races, not just the BC Mile – is not necessarily leading, but racing along in the clear, Walden said. Rhetorical doesn’t like getting stuck behind and among horses and can become too aggressive when that happens.

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Rhetorical has hit bumps in the road this year. He got the wrong trip in the Maker’s Mark Mile in April and after a smashing score in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill developed a fungal infection in a hoof that lingered through the summer. He finally looks like himself again, and Walden knows how to keep Rhetorical on top of his game once he gets there. Rhetorical doesn’t work in company, Walden not wanting him to be too aggressive, and while he races without blinkers, he trains in a set of cheater blinkers, lest he not breeze aggressively enough. Exercise rider Edgar Quinteros works with Walden’s string at Turfway but drives to Churchill to breeze Rhetorical.

“Those two really get along. They can go four weeks in a row rattling off the same work,” Walden said.

Even while Minaret Station, just a 4-year-old, raced competitive over middle distances this past spring, Walden predicted the colt would hit a higher level when given a chance in three-turn contests over longer trips. Spot on. Minaret Station missed by a half-length in the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green and by three-quarters in the 1 1/2-mile Christophe Clement before kicking home a half-length winner last week. All those starts came in slow-paced races that compromise late-running Minaret Station; Walden hopes for a stronger tempo in the BC Turf.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP TURF: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more

“He’s faced nothing but short fields, and they’ve all come up pretty slow paces – and he’s a horse that would definitely prefer a faster one,” Walden said. “As far as weight, demeanor, he hasn’t lost a pound throughout the racing season. He thrives on the job.”

Both horses will do all their major training toward the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill, and both have proven themselves over autumn turf at Keeneland, which is not for every horse. As a 2-year-old two Octobers ago, Minaret Station landed the Bourbon Stakes. Moreover, neither horse put forth an especially taxing effort last week.

“I’d say they both had pretty ideal preps,” Walden said.

That provides latitude for Minaret Station and Rhetorical to improve at the Breeders’ Cup. They’ll need to.

European contingent unclear

The degree of European participation in the Mile and the Turf won’t be nailed down until Oct. 18, with British Champions Day held Oct. 17 at Ascot. The Queen Elizabeth II over one mile figures to yield a runner or two for the Mile, while horses in the 1 1/4-mile Champion could come for the Turf or the Mile.

Bay City Roller finished second in the Arc on Sunday and runs in the Champion, but his connections still have every intention of coming for the Turf, while Ombudsman’s status for the Turf won’t be determined until after the Champion.

Ten Bob Tony could wheel back in the Mile after the QE II, while Aidan O’Brien has two Champions Day runners, Gstaad and Constitution River, who might be considered for the Mile.

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