DEL MAR, Calif. – In the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar, Johannes finished a stout second. His trainer, Tim Yakteen, believes the 5-year-old comes into this year’s Mile every bit as good as last year.

A head behind him a year ago came Notable Speech, who closed from farther back than Johannes, a fine third in his North American debut. His trainer, Charlie Appleby, believes Notable Speech, a 4-year-old now, comes to this Mile a better horse than he was last year.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Reef Runner had returned to the barn after winning a $70,000 handicap at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park in early August when trainer David Fawkes declared a goal for the autumn.

“We’re going to the Breeders’ Cup,” Fawkes told his assistant, Israel Hernandez.

Reef Runner starts in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with a leading chance in a ultra-competitive field of 12.

The win on Aug. 3 was Reef Runner’s first start since March, ending a seven-race losing streak. Reef Runner was gelded earlier this year.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Every time one looked up it seemed like another gaggle of Breeders’ Cup runners were passing by the grandstand, going in one direction or another, many to and from the starting gate or paddock, on the main track and over the turf course as well at Del Mar on Wednesday. This was the busiest morning here by far with all the players currently on the grounds and the first Breeders’ Cup races just 48 hours away.

DEL MAR, Calif. – It was only in the last 50 to 75 yards of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 5 that Minnie Hauk yielded her lead to Daryz, eventually losing by a head.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sweet Azteca and Tamara do not have a chance to recapture their former glory, after all.

The two favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint both were scratched Saturday morning, leaving a field of seven. Fee Blanche was scratched early in the week.

Sweet Azteca and Tamara, Grade 1 winners in 2024 and 2023, appeared to have resuscitated their careers. Both were coming off sharp wins and were listed 2-1 and 7-2, respectively, in the Filly and Mare Sprint, race 4 Saturday. In their absence, trainer Bob Baffert has a stranglehold on the race.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Last year, a horse whose connections were intending to run in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic instead detoured to the $1 million Dirt Mile and won the race.

When Full Serrano goes for a repeat in the Dirt Mile on Saturday at Del Mar, he will be facing a horse whose connections are found in similar circumstances.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Conducted’s smart win in a maiden race at Santa Anita earlier this month did not merit a pre-entry in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on Friday at Del Mar, though, is more than a suitable alternative.

Conducted, trained by O.J. Jauregui, led throughout the maiden race on Oct. 4, winning by 6 1/4 lengths. The victory was flashy enough for Mike Iavarone and his wife, Jules, to privately buy a majority share in the colt, partially owned by Dan Eplin and Arthur Spencer.

Starship Impulsive’s four-race winning streak came to an end when she switched to synthetic against older rivals last month, but she should find herself right at home in the $75,000 Cellars Shiraz Stakes on Friday at Gulfstream Park. Back against other 3-year-old fillies, she will return to the grass as a likely favorite in the field of 11.

“She’s doing excellent, couldn’t ask more,” trainer Steven Dwoskin said. “You know, she gives us everything we ask for and looks like she enjoys doing it.”

The broodmare Pray for Leslie will be looking to pull a coast-to-coast stakes double over the next few days when Spa Prospector runs Friday in the $150,000 Tempted at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct and Praying sees action Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar.

The half-sisters run for different connections, with Spa Prospector going for Greg Tramontin’s Greenwell Thoroughbreds and trainer Tom Amoss. The Tempted is slotted as the second race on a card that includes the $150,000 Pumpkin Pie.