The Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic will have a post time of 5:41 p.m. Eastern, or 2:41 local time at the event’s host track, Del Mar in Southern California, and will be followed by four Breeders’ Cup races for the first time in its history, the organization announced on Thursday.
It’s been six years since a West Coast-based horse won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, when Roy H went back-to-back to capture the event in 2017 and 2018 for trainer Peter Miller.
But that somewhat surprising drought could well end come Nov. 2 at Del Mar with the strength of this year’s sprint division concentrated on the Southern California circuit. Six of the top 10 horses on Daily Racing Form’s first list of BC Sprint contenders are currently stabled at Santa Anita, a group led by The Chosen Vron, Prince of Monaco, Straight No Chaser, and Raging Torrent.
Mufasa has returned home to Keeneland following his win in the Vosburgh at Aqueduct and his connections are leaning toward running him back in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Trainer Ignacio Correas said the horse is scheduled to fly to Southern California on Oct. 22.
Mufasa earned a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs for his win in the Vosburgh, which was run at seven furlongs. But the Dirt Mile, which will be a two-turn race at Del Mar, might be the better distance for the horse, Correas said Wednesday.
Grand Sonata will join a rare group if he records a surprise win in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
In the last decade, two winners of the BC Turf have won their first Grade 1 or Group 1 race in the richest grass race in the United States – Talismanic in 2017 and Yibir in 2021. They both won the BC Turf at Del Mar.
The picture for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint should become a bit clearer after four domestic prep races this weekend – but “clearer” is a relative term. An overflowing entry box is likely later this month for the newest Breeders’ Cup race, which has been a popular addition to the program, and the makeup of the field is likely to come down to the final stages of the process.
What we know about the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf these first few days of October is that we don’t know all that much.
The Summer Stakes at Woodbine, the Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct – those key prep races have been run. Sunday, the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland and to a lesser extent the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita should bring further clarity. But what we’re really waiting to take shape is the European contingent, and Sunday’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, which could include as many as three horses ranked in the Juvenile Turf Top 10 this week, ought to help in that regard.
It’s been 20 years since a horse based in California won the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and when Singletary did so in 2004, his success came not in California but at Lone Star Park in Texas. When the 4-year-old colt Johannes, all being well, starts in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, he’ll be racing much closer to home – and racing with a decent chance to become the first California-based Mile winner since Singletary.
Chancer McPatrick and Ferocious, the one-two finishers in last month’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, have gone in different directions, but hope to find their way back toward a rematch in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
In 2022, the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf was contested at 1 3/16 miles. Last year’s edition covered 1 1/4 miles.
That’s too short for War Like Goddess, who opted instead to face males at 1 1/2 miles in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Third in the 2022 Turf at Keeneland, the English Channel mare placed seventh last year at Santa Anita.
