The complexion of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint changed significantly last weekend with trainer Derek Ryan’s announcement that division leader Book’em Danno would bypass the race and instead head to the farm to await his 2026 campaign. That news was followed over the next 24 hours with victories by Patriot Spirit in the Grade 3 Vosburgh at Aqueduct and Imagination in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, both Win and You’re In races for the $2 million BC Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
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DRF Past Performances
Wed, 10/01/2025 - 11:39
The expected European shippers for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1 are a diverse cast. They range from a two-time winner of the BC Turf to a gelding who raced over hurdles earlier this year and has yet to win a graded stakes.
Rebel’s Romance, who won the BC Turf at Keeneland in 2022 and at Del Mar last year, will attempt to become the first three-time winner of the richest turf race in the United States. Trained primarily in Britain by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin Racing, Rebel’s Romance won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Saturday.
A trainer with a horse in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the major one-mile contest on Oct. 18 at Ascot in England, recently was quoted saying that the QE II, save for crack miler Field of Gold, was coming up a winnable race this year. Most of the better European milers, he said, seemed to be pointing toward the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Trainers Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher have combined to win the last four runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and eight of the last 15. Both Hall of Fame trainers have top contenders for the 42nd running of the Juvenile to be run Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
While Baffert appears to have a bushel of contenders, Pletcher is likely to go with just one. But Ted Noffey might be the right one.
Wed, 10/01/2025 - 11:10
Last year, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. made the most of an inspired decision when Soul of an Angel cut back in distance late in her 5-year-old season and went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at odds of 19-1. Joseph has a live chance to defend his title at Del Mar in this year’s edition, but like several trainers blessed with options, it is still unclear which horses will represent him in the starting gate.
If the prospective field for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff stays intact, early favorite Thorpedo Anna is not a lock to score a repeat victory next month at Del Mar.
Fourteen fillies and mares are under Distaff consideration, double the number that ran in the mundane 2024 Distaff won by Thorpedo Anna at 2-5. She was lone speed in a field decimated by scratches and early retirement.
Mon, 09/29/2025 - 13:38
Corsia Veloce, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine earlier this month, and Meringue, who won the $996,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Aug. 31, will not start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31.
Corsia Veloce, an Ontario-bred filly by Practical Joke, earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf with her win at 12-1 in the Natalma Stakes at a mile on turf on Sept. 13. Corsia Veloce had one workout following the Natalma, a half-mile breeze on Sept. 24.
Sun, 09/28/2025 - 17:09
ARCADIA, Calif. - What a pleasant problem to have.
California-based jockey Umberto Rispoli has a decision to make soon regarding the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Rispoli is the regular rider of Formidable Man, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 30, and Johannes, who was second in the 2024 BC Mile and won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Michael McCarthy, who trains Formidable Man, and Tim Yakteen, who trains Johannes, both said on Sunday that they expect Rispoli to ride Johannes.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert went to his deep roster of 3-year-olds to win Saturday’s Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita with the lightly raced Nevada Beach.
In doing so, Baffert found an unexpected candidate for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Nevada Beach won his first start in a graded stakes in the $300,500 Goodwood at 1 1/8 miles in his fourth appearance. He has never been tried at 1 1/4 miles, but that was not a concern for Baffert on Sunday morning.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - While Rebel’s Romance, winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic will be prepared for a bid at a third Breeders’ Cup Turf victory, Far Bridge, who finished fourth in the Hirsch, is likely to skip the Breeders’ Cup.