Thu, 10/31/2024 - 14:02

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: A Beach Bomb win would blow up the tote board

Barbara D. Livingston

South Africa import Beach Bomb has room to improve for trainer Graham Motion while making her third start in the U.S.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fourteen years ago, trainer Graham Motion saddled Shared Account to upset the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at 46-1.

In the 2024 edition, Motion trains longshot Beach Bomb, who is listed at 20-1 on Del Mar’s morning line.

Bred in South Africa and owned by Gaynor Rupert’s Cayton Park Stud, Beach Bomb was a multiple Group 1 winner in her homeland before being shipped along with 11 other South African-based horses to North America earlier this year.

Thu, 10/31/2024 - 12:55

Breeders' Cup Saturday: Appleby, Yahagi look to keep good times rolling at Del Mar

By David Grening

Susie Raisher

Forever Young trains on Thursday at Del Mar ahead of Saturday's $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

DEL MAR, Calif. – On day 2 of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, two trainers will attempt to do something they’ve never done while two trainers will attempt to continue to do what they’ve always done.

Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:35

Breeders' Cup Mile: Head looks to add sixth jewel to family crown with Ramatuelle

By Marcus Hersh

Julie Wright

Ramatuelle prepped for the BC Mile with a dazzling victory in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Christoper Head never wanted to become a jockey. Not interested when he was young enough for an early start, not the right weight when he might’ve gotten interested. In his early 20s, he studied computing and languages. That came at the urging of his father. The algorithm generating his family history pushed him away from computers. The Heads are coded to work with horses.

Thu, 10/31/2024 - 10:45

Breeders' Cup Classic: O'Brien has won nearly all of them, but not the Classic

By Marcus Hersh

City of TroyAidan .O'Brien at DMR Oct 29 2024

Debra A. Roma

Aidan O'Brien has won 18 Breeders' Cup races since 2001 but has come up empty in the Classic. He has 5-2 morning-line favorite City of Troy in Saturday's race.

DEL MAR, Calif. – After Giant’s Causeway took a tough, narrow loss to Tiznow in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, his 31-year-old trainer Aidan O’Brien surely imagined, even if he’d hesitate to admit it now, that before too long he’d win a Classic.

One year later, O’Brien saddled his first Breeders’ Cup winner, Johannesburg, who transitioned from European turf racing to American dirt and won the Juvenile. O’Brien has since won 17 more Breeders’ Cup races.

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 20:55

Breeders' Cup: Fresu taking it one step at a time as he seeks first BC win

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Jockey Antonio Fresu will be aboard Motorious in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Saturday at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The list of countries reads like a deluxe worldwide cruise, or the itinerary of a high-ranking government official.

The United States, Italy, France, England, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia.

Those are the countries where jockey Antonio Fresu recalls riding in his 13-year career. A native of Italy, Fresu is more settled of late. In the last 18 months, Fresu has been based in Southern California, developing a reputation as a big-race rider.

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 20:15

Breeders' Cup Saturday: City of Troy has the rep, but other foreigners may have the goods

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s City of Troy could be an underlay despite never having run on the dirt.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Well, they’ve done it. Five Breeders’ Cup races Friday, nine more Saturday, and in every one of them at least one entrant from a distant land.

“World Championships” still rings hollow – a vast number of the world’s best Thoroughbreds don’t travel for the Breeders’ Cup – but the “world” part has come to fruition. And not just in the European sense, part of the Breeders’ Cup from the event’s inception. Nineteen horses shipped here from Japan, and the more you look at the races, the more it looks like they’ll have a say. The Europeans, too.

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 15:58

Batucada, Miss New York scratched from Breeders' Cup Distaff

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Miss New York has been scratched from the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Batucada and Miss New York, both longshots, have been scratched out of Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar, bringing the field for the race down to eight horses.

Trainers Saffie Joseph Jr. (Batucada) and Jorge Delgado (Miss New York) both said their horses were scratched by the Breeders’ Cup veterinarians.

“The vets weren’t satisfied with her, I’ll respect their decision and scratch her,” said Joseph, who will still be represented in the race by Honor D Lady.

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 15:05

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Turf runners take spotlight

By Mike Welsch

Debra A. Roma

Big Mojo breezes a half-mile in 50.91 seconds on Wednesday morning at Del Mar.

Del Mar
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Weather: Clear
Track: Fast
Turf: Firm
Temperature: 54°

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 13:57

Breeders' Cup Turf: Gosden keeping Emily Upjohn at her best distance

By Steve Andersen

Dubai Racing Club

Emily Upjohn will take on males in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Cup Turf rather than face fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles in the filly and Mare Turf.

DEL MAR, Calif. - As a two-time Group 1 winner, Emily Upjohn fits in the Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Saturday.

The race choice for Emily Upjohn is more of a surprise.

A 5-year-old, Emily Upjohn will start against males in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles and not in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles. Trainer John Gosden said the longer race was the difference maker.

“She wants a mile and a half,” Gosden said on Wednesday morning. “It is her best distance.”

Wed, 10/30/2024 - 13:10

Breeders' Cup: All Dirt Pick 4, All Turf Pick 4 to have higher takeout rates

By Matt Hegarty

Del Mar.Breeders' Cup scenic Oct 23 2024

Barbara D. Livingston

The All Dirt Pick 4 and the All Turf Pick 4 were offered with a "player friendly" 15 percent takeout last year at Santa Anita.

Takeout rates for the various bets being offered on Friday and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races will mirror those offered by Del Mar during its regular fall meet.

As a result, win, place, and show bets will have a takeout of 15.43 percent. Daily double bets will have a takeout of 20 percent, while other two-horse exotics, such as the exacta, will have a takeout rate of 22.68 percent.

All other bets, including trifectas, superfectas, and multi-race bets like the pick three, pick four, pick five, and pick six will have a takeout rate of 23.68 percent.

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