HorseRacingNation.com NewsWire

Zipse: Try to repeat like Rebel’s Romance in Breeders’ Cup

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 06:12:52 GMT

In the 41-year history of the Breeders’ Cup there have been 29 horses to win at the world championships more than once. I expect that number to grow in 2025.

Rebel’s Romance is one horse who cannot add to the total of 29, because he already is on the list. Trainer Charlie Appleby has the grand gelding pointing for the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Saturday. The winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) last month is going as good as ever, and the 7-year-old will have a big shot to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf for a third time after victories at Keeneland in 2022 and at Del Mar last year.

Rebel’s Romance races Saturday in Turf Classic.

Where Rebel’s Romance already has turned the trick, there are several other horses who look to be in good shape as they approach the opportunity of winning for a second time at the Breeders’ Cup.

The Distaff has been a relatively fertile ground for repeat winners. This year Thorpedo Anna will look to join the likes of Bayakoa, Royal Delta, Beholder and Monomoy Girl, all two-time winners of the rich and prestigious race for females. Coming off an ultra-game win in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga, the 2024 horse of the year will have one final prep at either Keeneland or Delaware Park before taking her shot at a repeat victory.

The richest race in American racing, the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is the crown jewel of the championships, and it has proven to be very difficult to win more than once. Tiznow did it with a pair of gutsy efforts, but he remains the only one. Last year’s winner Sierra Leone is in good form to make a run at it this year. A troubled trip led to a second-place finish last time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), but it will send the late-running son of Gun Runner to Del Mar in with a solid chance against a loaded field.

White Abarrio, the 2023 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, would be only a long shot this year, so his connections wisely decided to go for the Dirt Mile instead. The winner of the Pegasus World Cup (G1) early this season should not be ignored when he cuts back in distance and drops into the easier spot.

Surprisingly, no Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner ever has gone on to win another race at the championships. That could change this year.

Fierceness, who won the 2023 edition on his way to an Eclipse Award, was a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last season and will be a strong contender again this year after his impressive win over the track in last month’s Pacific Classic (G1).

Bob Baffert-trained Citizen Bull, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile a year ago and then was named the champion 2-year-old male, has had an up and down season. He announced himself a contender for the Dirt Mile on Nov. 1, however, with an easy victory in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

The Dirt Mile may have three former Breeders’ Cup winners in the race this year. Although I already have mentioned White Abarrio and Citizen Bull, it may be Full Serrano who is the one to beat. The defending race winner looked great in cruising away from his competition in a recent allowance race at Del Mar in his first start of the year. He is expected to start in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Saturday as a final prep for the Dirt Mile or possibly the Classic.

Although he has yet to run in the U.S. yet this year, do not forget about Straight No Chaser. The 2024 champion sprinter won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia in February but finished eighth in the Golden Shaheen (G1) in Dubai after that. Owned by the MyRacehorse syndicate and trained by Dan Blacker, the winner of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint is working well in advance of next Sunday’s Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), which would serve as a prep for a chance to repeat at Del Mar.

Last but not least, the winner of last year’s Juvenile Turf is likely to return this year in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Aidan O’Brien-trained Henri Matisse has not won a race since the France guineas (G1) in May but continues to run solid races against the world’s best milers. The classy son of Wootton Bassett seems well suited for the U.S. style of turf racing and should be a big threat to win a second time at Del Mar.

Winning at the Breeders’ Cup once is tough enough. Doing it a second or even third time places you in rarified air. Here is a complete list of those special 29 horses.

Bayakoa: Distaff, 1989, 1990
Beholder: Juvenile Fillies 2012; Distaff 2013, 2016
Cody’s Wish: Dirt Mile 2022, 2023
Conduit: Turf 2008, 2009
Da Hoss: Mile 1996, 1998
Elite Power: Sprint 2022, 2023
Goldencents: Dirt Mile 2013, 2014
Golden Pal: Juvenile Turf Sprint 2020, Turf Sprint 2021
Goldikova: Mile 2008, 2009, 2010
Goodnight Olive: Filly & Mare Sprint 2022, 2023
Groupie Doll: Filly & Mare Sprint 2012, 2013
High Chaparral: Turf 2002, 2003
Knicks Go: Dirt Mile 2020, Classic 2021
Lure: Mile 1992, 1993
Midnight Lute: Sprint 2007, 2008
Miesque: Mile 1987, 1988
Mizdirection: Turf Sprint 2012, 2013
Modern Games: Juvenile Turf 2021, Mile 2022
Monomoy Girl: Distaff 2018, 2020
Ouija Board: Filly & Mare Turf 2004, 2006
Rebel’s Romance: Turf 2022, 2024
Royal Delta: Distaff 2011, 2012
Roy H: Sprint 2017, 2018
Secret Circle: Juvenile Sprint 2011, Sprint 2013
Stephanie’s Kitten: Juvenile Turf Fillies 2011, Filly & Mare Turf 2015
Stormy Liberal: Turf Sprint 2017, 2018
Tiznow: Classic 2000, 2001
Wise Dan: Mile 2012, 2013
Zenyatta: Distaff 2008, Classic 2009

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Baeza, Gosger get their chance

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:00:07 GMT

This is the 10th installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Overshadowed by Sovereignty and Journalism in their six most important starts combined, Baeza and Gosger will get their chance to win a big one of their own Saturday at Parx in the Grade 1, $ 1 million Pennsylvania Derby.

Baeza has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the field of 10. The half-brother to classic winners Mage and Doornoch comes into the 1 1/8-mile test off a strong second behind the division-leading Sovereignty in Saratoga’s Jim Dandy (G2) eight weeks ago.

The John Shirreffs-trained colt ran well in three straight Grade 1 races after breaking his maiden nicely at Santa Anita. He finished second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), then third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes behind Sovereignty and Journalism before his solid run in the Jim Dandy.

Although Baeza is still looking for his second career victory, the handsome son of McKinzie and Puca is a deserving favorite on Saturday. Since the Jim Dandy, in which he was beaten by only a length, he has continued to work well in California. Most recently he went a strong six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:11.60 before shipping to Parx.

Although Gosger has not faced the big boys as often as Baeza, he showed his class with a pair of strong efforts in his last two starts. The gray son of Nyquist was a convincing winner of the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in April. The win, in only his third career start, was enough for him to earn a spot in the Preakness.

A long shot in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the Brendan Walsh-trainer runner stalked the lead before taking over early in the stretch. He appeared to be a winner but was run down late by Journalism. That classy rival did much the same to Gosger in the Haskell Stakes (G1) with a strong late rush nine weeks ago.

Never worse than second in his career, Gosger has had plenty of time between races and has looked good in the morning at his Churchill Downs base. Like Baeza, he can move from being a fringe player for the Breeders’ Cup Classic to a serious threat by showing that he is still on the improve with a strong effort in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Leading the opposition, and the second choice on the morning line, is Goal Oriented. The Bob Baffert charge finished behind Gosger in the Preakness and the Haskell, but with only four lifetime starts, he is also eligible to move forward. Last time at Monmouth Park, he gave his rival all he wanted in a stretch battle before being passed late by Journalism and Gosger to finish third. Irad Ortiz Jr. will replace Flavien Prat in the saddle for this one.

Several others in the Pennsylvania Derby can be considered factors. Iowa Derby winner Magnitude will look to bounce back after being dismantled by Sovereignty in the 10-furlong Travers Stakes (G1). The same could be said about Ohio Derby (G3) winner Mo Plex, who suffered the wrath of Sovereignty in the Jim Dandy last time.

The promising trio of Big Truzz, David of Athens and So Sandy all make for interesting long shots on Saturday.

A good-looking Justify colt, Big Truzz was impressive winning the Ellis Park Derby last month. David of Athens has made only three lifetime starts but defeated Patch Adams in his debut last year and recently romped in an Ellis Park allowance race.

Finally, the improving So Sandy used a strong allowance victory at Churchill Downs to springboard to a near miss in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga most recently.

After the Pennsylvania Derby, graded-stakes races for older males will be run on Saturday, Sept. 27, in California, Kentucky and New York. Each could play a part in determining the field for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Leading contenders for the three include Full Serrano, Locked and Hit Show.

Full Serrano looked great recently winning against allowance company in his first race since winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last fall. Imported from Argentina, he has proven to be for real in America for trainer John Sadler. A win in the Goodwood (G1) likely would send him to defense of the Dirt Mile but could earn him a shot in the Classic if impressive enough.

Nysos, who was thought to be a leading candidate for the Goodwood, has had no recent workouts and was not nominated to the race at Santa Anita. He seems unlikely to make the Classic at this point.

Locked will try to break a two-race losing streak when he returns in the Woodward Stakes (G2). The Gun Runner colt won the 10-furlong Santa Anita Handicap (G1) impressively and seems to like the track at Aqueduct, which will host the Woodward. A strong bounce-back race here should propel him to a try in the Classic.

Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show could earn a spot in the Classic, but he likely will face a tough field in the Lukas Classic (G2). Mystik Dan and Banishing could be among his top competitors at Churchill Downs. Both of those millionaires would be considered as more serious contenders in the Dirt Mile than they would in the Classic, depending on the outcome next Saturday.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic each week here.

New to the list, First Mission, Full Serrano

Dropped from the list, Phileas Fogg

Classic contender	Most recent result	Likely next race
Antiquarian	1st, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Baeza	2nd, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Chunk of Gold	1st, West Virginia Derby (G3)	9/20, Bourbon Flight Stakes
Disarm	5th, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Fierceness	1st, Pacific Classic (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
First Mission	2nd, Iselin Stakes (G3)	9/27, Goodwood Stakes (G1)
Forever Young	3rd, Dubai World Cup (G1)	10/1, Nippon TV Hai (G2)
Full Serrano	1st, Del Mar Allowance	9/27, Goodwood Stakes (G1)
Goal Oriented	3rd, Haskell Stakes (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Gosger	2nd, Haskell Stakes (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Highland Falls	3rd, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Hit Show	1st, WV Governor’s Stakes	9/27, Lukas Classic (G2)
Journalism	2nd, Pacific Classic (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Locked	3rd, Suburban Stakes (G2)	9/27, Woodward Stakes (G2)
Mindframe	DNF, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Nysos	1st, San Diego (G2)	TBD
Sierra Leone	2nd, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Sovereignty	1st, Travers Stakes (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)

Zipse: Bentornato is back & bound for Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 07:25:09 GMT

Louisville, Ky.

Although it was only a listed stakes, Saturday’s $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs had the feel of a graded one going in. After a dominating victory by Bentornato, it could be the race that produces the winner of this year’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

A sore hoof and then an extended time needed to get him back into race-ready form kept Bentornato away from the races for 10 months. Finally back in the starting gate for trainer Jose D’Angelo, the Florida-bred looked as good as ever as he rolled home a 5 1/4-length winner over Here Mi Song and Skelly in the six-furlong affair.

A 4-year-old ridgling son of Valiant Minister, Bentornato sped the distance in 1:08.43 over a fast track with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons. It was good enough to break the stakes record and fell less than a second short of the Churchill Downs track record set nearly 20 years ago.

Out of Put It Back mare Her Special Way and owned by the Leon King Stable of Khrysselv Mavarez, Bentornato raised his career record to an excellent 10: 6-2-2 with $1,282,180 in the bank. Even more important, he signaled he is on track to make it back to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for the second straight year.

In last year’s championship event at Del Mar, Bentornato was as game as could be as he battled to a narrow, half-length defeat to eventual sprint champion Straight No Chaser. Let go at 28-1 in that one, you won’t see those type of odds on him again anytime soon.

Saturday’s big effort was his first race back since the Breeders’ Cup and rivaled its quality. He did a little bit of everything in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

After breaking well and going right to the lead, he allowed Ortiz to ease him off the blazing early speed of Skelly. Shifting to the outside, he then moved to Skelly with ease through a wicked half in 44.24 seconds. The race’s second choice could not answer the pressure of Bentornato and soon succumbed to the winner.

“This was all Bentornato,” Ortiz said. “He broke sharp, and I wanted to take him back to get outside. Once I was able to get outside, he just took off. He’s a really impressive horse and did a lot of that on his own.”

Although he was a long shot last fall at Del Mar when facing older horses for the first time, Bentornato has been an impressive horse from the start.

He began his career with four wins in a row at Gulfstream Park. The streak included three stakes and was broken narrowly when he stretched to two turns in his final race as a 2-year-old.

Voted Florida’s top juvenile male of 2023, he was shipped to Saudi Arabia to make his sophomore debut in February 2024. In what we now know to be a key race, Bentornato faded to third while going a mile against the classy pair of Forever Young and Book’em Danno in the rich Saudi Derby (G1).

After the long trip, Bentornato did not race again for six months. Returning last August he was a game second in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial going seven furlongs at Charles Town.

Following that solid effort he finally cut back to three-quarters of a mile for the first time in more than a year and was a determined winner of the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx. That would be his final race before his strong performance in the Breeders’ Cup.

Bentornato's last three races were at his favorite distance of six furlongs, and they were his three best. Sent off as the 17-10 favorite, Saturday’s victory was his fifth stakes win overall. As for what is next, it could be straight to the Breeders’ Cup. His trainer hinted that he might not run again before Del Mar.

“Our goal is to get back to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and this was a great spot to get him back to the races,” D’Angelo said. “We’ll see how he comes out of this race to see if he needs another start before the Breeders’ Cup, but he seems to be a horse that may not need to have another start.”

With an admirable blend of being able to go very fast early and still having something in reserve to fight all the way to the wire, there is good reason why this $170,000 2-year-old-in-training purchase is so formidable and consistent at the distance.

With Book’em Danno, the current leader of the division, questionable to make the trip out west for the championships, Bentornato might go from being a long shot in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint to being the one to beat this year.

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: 3-year-olds or older horses?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 08:17:01 GMT

This is the ninth installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Rolling to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on a four-race winning streak, including a demolition job most recently in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, Sovereignty is poised to be a strong favorite when the starting gate opens at Del Mar in 7 1/2 weeks. As Journalism recently found out, however, the task of beating older horses on the big stage is far from routine.

Sent off as an overwhelming Pacific Classic (G1) favorite at 2-5, the three-time Grade 1 winner Journalism ran his usual good race but could make no headway into the lead of his older rival. The champion Fierceness was much too strong down the Del Mar stretch. It was a testament to the advantage of tactical speed and physical maturity.

Although the nation’s second-best sophomore came up short in his first attempt against older horses, more will be expected of Sovereignty. He defeated Journalism in both their meetings, he is perfect in three starts at the 1 1/4-mile trip, and the son of Into Mischief looked visually stunning in his last victory.

That last factor might be the least important of the three, but it may be the biggest reason his odds dip below 2-1 in the nation’s richest race. With a strong group of older horses pointing for the $7 million race, the task of the Bill Mott-trained star should not be taken lightly.

History sides with the older horses in the race, but sophomores have held their own. In the 41 prior editions of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, older runners hold a 27-14 advantage over their younger counterparts.

Most recently, Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Forever Young ended a three-year drought for sophomores by running 1-2-3 in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. All three are expected back this year as potent older runners and among the strongest competition to Sovereignty.

Some of the most highly regarded 3-year-olds in recent memory have had mixed success at the World Championships.

In 2015, the Triple Crown champion American Pharoah had no problem dispatching his older competition, but the group behind him that afternoon at Keeneland did not have much bite.

One year later, it was Arrogate who used a romping win in the Travers to springboard into the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a meeting with the older champion California Chrome. The 5-year-old was a clear favorite, but his younger rival proved too much in the closing strides, and Arrogate was a half-length winner.

In 2006, Bernardini, who is the broodmare sire of Sovereignty, came into the end-of-year Classic as a red-hot favorite off consecutive impressive wins in the Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup. But the 11-10 choice had no answer for the strong late drive of the older Invasor that afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Other highly anticipated 3-year-olds to go down to defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic include Easy Goer at 1-2 in 1989 and Fusaichi Pegasus at 6-5 in 2000. In both of those years, sophomores dominated the proceedings and came out on top anyway as Sunday Silence and Tiznow bested the favorites.

Part of a standout crop of sophomores back in 2007, Curlin emerged in the Monmouth slop with a big win. The son of Smart Strike earned his first of back-to-back horse-of-the-year awards when leading 3-year-olds to five of the top six spots in that edition of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In 1992, it was A.P. Indy who went out a winner in his final career start. The 3-year-old champion delivered with the biggest performance of his career when winning the Classic at Gulfstream Park over the older Pleasant Tap.

One last noteworthy clash of 3-year-olds against older took place in 1987, when two Kentucky Derby winners hit the wire together. In the narrowest of margins, it was the favored 4-year-old Ferdinand who came out on top against his strong younger rival Alysheba in a Classic to remember.

What does all this history teach us? Top 3-year-olds can prove themselves with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and in Sovereignty we certainly have a good one. When the older horses are strong, however, the scales might tip slightly toward them. It looks like this year’s edition should be classic indeed.

The next important race on the Classic trail will be Sept. 20 at Parx Racing. Although there will be no Sovereignty or Journalism in the field, the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) will boast a deep and talented group of 3-year-olds.

The 1 1/8-mile test should add a sophomore or two to the big one at Del Mar. Although still in search of his first stakes victory, the John Shirreffs-trained Baeza likely will be the betting favorite a week from Saturday.

The handsome son of McKinzie and Puca has finished second or third in four consecutive graded stakes since breaking his maiden, with only Sovereignty and Journalism finishing ahead of him in the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy. Baeza made Sovereignty work a bit in the Jim Dandy, and he continues to look good in morning workouts in California.

Among his top challengers at Parx, the graded-stakes winner Gosger and the lightly raced Goal Oriented both are expected to make the trip. Most recently, the pair battled down the entire stretch in the Haskell Stakes (G1) only to be passed late by Journalism. Gosger was also narrowly denied victory by that one in the Preakness.

Adding to the strong depth of the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, the field also is expected to include the West Virginia Derby winner Chunk of Gold, Iowa Derby winner Magnitude, Indiana Derby winner Tip Top Thomas, Ohio Derby winner Mo Plex and the Ellis Park Derby winner Big Truzz.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic each week right here.

New to the list: None

Dropped from the list: None

Classic contender	Most recent result	Likely next race
Antiquarian	1st, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Baeza	2nd, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Chunk of Gold	1st, West Virginia Derby (G3)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Disarm	5th, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Fierceness	1st, Pacific Classic (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Forever Young	3rd, Dubai World Cup (G1)	10/1, Nippon TV Hai (G2)
Goal Oriented	3rd, Haskell Stakes (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Gosger	2nd, Haskell Stakes (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Highland Falls	3rd, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Hit Show	1st, WV Governor’s Stakes	9/27, Lukas Classic (G2)
Journalism	2nd, Pacific Classic (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Locked	3rd, Suburban Stakes (G2)	9/27, Woodward Stakes (G2)
Mindframe	DNF, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Nysos	1st, San Diego Handicap (G2)	9/27, Goodwood Stakes (G1)
Phileas Fogg	7th, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	9/27, Woodward Stakes (G2)
Sierra Leone	2nd, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)	11/1,

Zipse: Fionn and Destino d’Oro give Cox potent turf twosome

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 07:23:21 GMT

With the promise of a first meeting between Fionn and Destino d’Oro looming, the Grade 3, $2 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational might be the race I have been looking forward to most of all this summer at Kentucky Downs.

If you enjoy turf racing and big fields, Kentucky Downs offers an embarrassment of riches in more ways than one. With big purses the rule, the European-style oval offered an excellent Saturday afternoon card of quality grass racing. Wednesday it will be more of the same with the Dueling Grounds Oaks bringing together a loaded field of 3-year-old turf fillies.

It’s a strong division overall this season, and two of the best hail from the barn of Brad Cox. Fionn is already a Grade 1 winner and deserves top billing. But her stablemate Destino d’Oro might be every bit the young grass filly that Fionn is.

At Kentucky Downs you often can expect the unexpected, but the Cox pair have so much going for them of late they will be tough to beat in a deep and talented field of 12 running 1 5/16 miles Wednesday.

The 2-1 morning-line favorite, Fionn demonstrated her class last time out when she caught Nitrogen on the shadow of the wire to capture the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) during the Saratoga July 4 festival of racing.

Not only was the win her first in Grade 1 company, but it also was achieved in a course-record time of 1:44.84 for the nine furlongs. The dark bay daughter of Twirling Candy needed to run that fast to give the leading 3-year-old filly in the nation her lone loss this season in seven starts.

Nitrogen since flattered that form when she came back to score a decisive victory on the dirt in the Alabama Stakes (G1). There are no plans to run on the dirt for Fionn, who has a sparkling career record of 7: 5-1-1 running exclusively on the grass for owners George Messina and Michael Lee.

Her thrilling victory in the Belmont Oaks avenged Fionn’s only loss of the year when she finished third behind Nitrogen in the Appalachian Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. After that defeat she came right back to close with a flourish to win the Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Like her stablemate, Fionn will be stretching in distance and using the rich race at Kentucky Downs as a prep for an expected start in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) on Oct. 11. Top rider Flavien Prat once again will be given a leg up in the Dueling Grounds Oaks.

Meanwhile, her stablemate Destino d’Oro does not yet possess the credentials of Fionn, but it looks like only a matter of time for the daughter of Bolt d’Oro.

She also comes into Wednesday’s test off an impressive win in her most recent start. Still lightly raced, Destino d’Oro had shown little early speed in her first career starts. In winning the Pucker Up Stakes (G3) last month at Ellis Park, the bay filly showed off a new running style that proved unstoppable to her competition.

Sitting right off the early pace in a big field, the race favorite exploded when asked by rider Luan Machado and romped home a 3 3/4-length winner at the Henderson, Ky., oval. It was the most impressive race yet for Destino d’Oro, who has been very good in each of her four career starts.

Like Fionn, Destino d’Oro’s performance was further validated by the clock, which revealed a 1:45.64 final time for the nine furlongs over firm turf at Ellis Park.

A standout winner at Kentucky Downs in her career debut last August, Destino d’Oro came right back to fly home and just miss in a three-horse photo in the Jessamine Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in her only other start at 2.

Owned by Steve Landers Racing, the $185,000 2-year-olds-in-training purchase didn’t make it back to the races until June 19, but she picked up right where she left off with an electrifying last-to-first win in a Churchill Downs allowance race.

Destino d’Oro was even more impressive in earning her first graded-stakes victory. Given her newfound tactical speed demonstrated in the Pucker Up, the impressive young filly should allow Machado to place her anywhere he wants in the added distance of the Dueling Grounds Oaks.

At 9-2 on the morning line, she offers an interesting alternative to her more accomplished stablemate Wednesday.

There are several other good, young, turf fillies in the Dueling Grounds Oaks, but the Cox-trained pair of Fionn and Destino d’Oro appear to be the top two. Anything but a victory by one of them would be a surprise.

It promises to be an excellent race on the unusual course at Kentucky Downs and one that will likely lead to bigger things to come for both Fionn and Destino d’Oro.

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Fierceness bounces back

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:43:12 GMT

This is the eighth installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Regarded as two of the strongest fields among Breeders’ Cup Classic preps, neither the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar nor the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga went entirely as planned this past weekend.

Saturday in California, the highly regarded Nysos was scratched the day of the race because of a hoof bruise, leaving Journalism and Fierceness to be the two clear choices in the Pacific Classic. The defection took a bit of luster off what was anticipated to be a three-horse showdown. Trained by Bob Baffert, Nysos now will be pointed to the Goodwood Stakes (G1) on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

Fierceness, who went off as the second choice in the race, almost never made it to the second furlong at Del Mar after he ducked in sharply toward the temporary rail shortly after the start. His rider, John Velazquez, almost fell off but the Hall of Famer was able to regain his balance and move Fierceness into contention the first time past the stands.

Journalism, who went off as the heavy favorite in his first try against older horses, showed absolutely no early speed and was detached from the rest of the field early under regular rider Umberto Rispoli.

Stuck behind the leaders for the early stages of the race, Fierceness took advantage of an opening between horses and shot the gap to strike to the lead as the field approached the far turn. Journalism had moved up but was still well behind his rival as he swung wide for his late run.

As they turned for home, it briefly looked like Journalism had a chance to gain on Fierceness, but the older horse had gotten the jump and was much too strong. Easily holding his younger rival at bay, Fierceness crossed the wire an impressive 3 1/4-length winner.

The race was a classic bounce-back performance for the winner, who had looked dull when finishing fifth in the Whitney (G1) in his start before. The champion now has run three big races in as many tries in Southern California and must be considered a major threat again in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Meanwhile, Journalism ran another good race, but his ability to beat the very best on Nov. 1 is in serious doubt after suffering his third straight second-place defeat at the 1 1/4-mile distance.

Although Fierceness was able to avoid disaster in the Pacific Classic, the field for the Jockey Club Gold Cup was not so lucky.

Phileas Fogg made a sharp move to the inside a few jumps out of the starting gate and started a chain reaction under rider Kendrick Carmouche. Every horse to his inside was bothered to varying degrees. Phileas Fogg was disqualified from third and placed seventh.

Antiquarian, who had been a bit unlucky in his two previous starts when finishing second in both the Blame Stakes (G3) and the Suburban (G2), reversed his fortune Sunday in a roughly run race. The 4-year-old son of Preservationist was clear of all the problems to his inside and turned in a strong performance to win at odds of 13-1 under rider John Velazquez, who had an amazing weekend.

Mindframe took the worst of it, unseating rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Thankfully, the talented Constitution colt eventually was wrangled by a Saratoga outrider and came out of the ordeal healthy. He now is expected to go straight to the Classic. Although banged up a bit, Ortiz was able to avoid serious injury.

White Abarrio, who briefly had two riders on him as Ortiz was knocked onto his back, ran on well, all things considered. It’s remarkable that his rider, Edgar Zayas, was able to stay aboard during the incident. The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner now is expected to run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile this year.

Bumped twice early and then having to avoid a fallen Ortiz, Sierra Leone got off to a terrible start as the favorite of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He then was fanned extremely wide when turning for home before rallying strongly to get up for second. His next start will be in defense of his Classic victory last fall at Del Mar.

Highland Falls and Disarm also were bothered early in the running of the 1 1/4-mile race. Given all the trouble for most of the horses in the race, it’s hard to come away with any concrete conclusions from what we saw Sunday at Saratoga.

The next noteworthy race on the Breeders’ Cup Classic trail will be the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing. Restricted to 3-year-olds, the 1 1/8-mile test is expected to be led by Baeza.

The John Shirreffs trainee has finished second or third in four consecutive graded stakes since breaking his maiden, with only Sovereignty and Journalism finishing ahead of him in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy (G2).

Gosger and Goal Oriented, who battled down the entire stretch in the Haskell only to be passed late by Journalism, are expected to be among the top threats to Baeza in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Other contenders expected to show up at Parx include the West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Chunk of Gold, Indiana Derby (G3) winner Tip Top Thomas, Ohio Derby (G3) winner Mo Plex, and the Ellis Park Derby winner Big Truzz.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic each week right here.

New to the list: None

Dropped from the list: White Abarrio

Classic contender	Most recent result	Next likely race
Antiquarian	1st, Jockey Club Gold Cup	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Baeza	2nd, Jim Dandy Stakes	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby
Chunk of Gold	1st, West Virginia Derby	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby
Disarm	5th, Jockey Club Gold Cup	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Fierceness	1st, Pacific Classic	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Forever Young	3rd, Dubai World Cup	10/1, Nippon TV Hai
Goal Oriented	3rd, Haskell Stakes	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby
Gosger	2nd, Haskell Stakes	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby
Highland Falls	3rd, Jockey Club Gold Cup	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Hit Show	1st, WV Governor’s Stakes	9/27, Lukas Classic
Journalism	2nd, Pacific Classic	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Locked	3rd, Suburban Stakes	9/27, Woodward Stakes
Mindframe	DNF, Jockey Club Gold Cup	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Nysos	1st, San Diego Handicap	9/27, Goodwood Stakes
Phileas Fogg	7th, Jockey Club Gold Cup	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Sierra Leone	2nd, Jockey Club Gold Cup	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic
Sovereignty	1st, Travers Stakes	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic

Zipse: Ordóñez rides wave with Del Mar winner Om N Joy

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 07:23:56 GMT

Hail to the titans of the training game. Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, Brad Cox and … Aggie Ordóñez?

She never may be a household name like Bob Baffert or Chad Brown, but the veteran California-based trainer is in the midst of her best year yet and is currently riding a winning wave with unlikely rising star in Om N Joy.

On an afternoon at Del Mar dominated by big-name trainers with big-name horses, Ordóñez had her moment in the sun Saturday as Om N Joy came rolling down the stretch to get up and win the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes on Pacific Classic day at the seaside oval.

The daughter of jockey turned trainer Pete Anderson, who rode Forego in his first nine career races including a fourth-place finish in the 1973 Kentucky Derby behind Secretariat, Ordóñez has been training horses for more than 20 years. California-bred filly Om N Joy is the best horse she ever has had.

The chestnut daughter of Om was anything but an instant success. Still winless less than six months ago, a surface switch sparked a little bit of magic.

Following four consecutive losses on the turf, Ordóñez decided to bring the big filly back to the main track, and the turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. A maiden after seven career starts, Om N Joy has won five straight races, the last four coming in stakes.

After rattling off rallying victories against fellow California-breds in the Evening Jewel, Melair and Fleet Treat, the first of which had given Ordóñez her first ever stakes victory, the cleverly named filly was ready to move up into open company.

Among her opposition in the Torrey Pines was Baffert-trained Tenma. The Grade 1 winner already had four graded-stakes victories under her belt and would go off as the heavy 7-10 favorite. The streaking Om N Joy would be sent to post as the 4-1 third choice in the field of seven.

After breaking sharply, rider Kent Desormeaux eased off the gas pedal and allowed Om N Joy to drop back to sixth place up the Del Mar backstretch.

Patiently waiting to make his move, Desormeaux swung his charge to the far outside turning into the stretch and confidently urged her home to a well-measured, half-length score. The final time for the one mile over the fast track was 1:36.99.

Not only was this a fifth consecutive win overall for Om N Joy, but her four straight stakes wins have come at four different distances racing at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

“I should know better than to worry about a thing with Kent aboard,” Ordóñez said. “She looked comfortable and started inching up on them, and I knew she hadn’t laid it down yet.”

Veteran rider Desormeaux, who has had more than his share of ups and downs during a star-crossed career, is part of this developing story. The 55-year-old jockey has ridden Om N Joy in each of her four stakes victories. Clearly the two have confidence in each other.

On return to the winner’s circle, Desormeaux and Om N Joy were greeted with applause by a large and happy group of connections led by Ordóñez.

Out of Hard Spun mare Margie’s Minute, Om N Joy is a homebred for Connie and Jerry Baker and is owned in partnership with Michael Golovko and Terrence Scanlan.

With Saturday’s victory, Om N Joy raised her career record to 12: 5-0-4 with earnings of $401,140. More importantly, the late-running filly has proven herself against open company as she continues to improve for her unheralded barn.

A jubilant Ordóñez celebrated her first career graded-stakes victory as a trainer, doing so in the winner’s circle by praising the state-bred filly who is taking her to new heights.

“When she drops that head and reaches, she just motors. It’s really a beautiful thing to see,” Ordóñez said. “Some girls like diamonds. Some girls like jewels. I like that kind of stride on a big red mare.”

The champion Fierceness would become the biggest star of the day a few races later with an impressive win over Journalism in the Pacific Classic (G1) for big-name trainer Pletcher, but there can be room for more than one good story, and there is still a place for the little guy in racing. Or in this case, a little Aggie.

There were plenty of good stories on Saturday at Del Mar, and among my favorites were Torrey Pines winner Om N Joy and her trainer Aggie Ordóñez.

Breeders’ Cup Classic watch: Sovereignty strengthens case

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:15 GMT

This is the seventh installment of a weekly Horse Racing Nation feature tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

There are two huge Grade 1 races on the Breeders’ Cup Classic trail this week, but no matter what happens on Saturday in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar or Sunday in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, it will be nearly impossible to top the show put on by Sovereignty during the weekend.

Granted, it was a short and suspect field that he beat in Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1), but the big horse could not have looked any better winning by 10 lengths over Bracket Buster while running one of the fastest editions in the history of the prestigious race at Saratoga.

Zipse: Sovereignty leads memorable Spa day.

Managed with patience and care by his Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Sovereignty has blossomed into one of the more impressive 3-year-olds we have seen in recent memory. With the Breeders’ Cup Classic scheduled to be his next race, he will ship to Del Mar as the favorite as he takes on older horses for the first time.

As good as Sovereignty has looked in his four-race winning streak, the big test at Del Mar will be anything but a foregone conclusion. His opposition in the 1 1/4-mile classic will be strong and will be shaped by the two big Grade 1 races on the docket this weekend.

Saturday’s Pacific Classic will give three top contenders a run over the track and at the distance ahead of the Breeders’ Cup. It also will be the first marquee matchup to see how the top sophomores stack up against their older male counterparts.

Bob Baffert-trained Nysos will be the likely favorite in the 35th edition of the race. A winner of five of his six career starts, the 4-year-old son of Nyquist comes into his biggest test yet off two uncomplicated victories in Southern California.

Two starts back he romped home in the seven-furlong Triple Bend (G3) at Santa Anita before easily winning the San Diego Handicap (G2) last time. That latest victory came at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar in his longest race to date. Unbeaten in two starts over the track, he will be tested for stamina on Saturday.

Michael McCarthy-trained Preakness winner Journalism also should get plenty of betting support Saturday. In seven consecutive graded-stakes starts, the flashy son of Curlin has won five times and finished second twice.

His only two defeats in that stretch came at the hands of Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Most recently, he kicked it in late to get up and win Monmouth Park’s Haskell Stakes (G1) in thrilling style.

Fierceness, the 2023 juvenile male champion, is the third big name for the Pacific Classic. Although he comes in off a disappointing fifth-place result in the Whitney (G1), the 4-year-old son of City of Light has bounced back time after time for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The winner of last year’s Travers has gone out to Southern California twice and run big on both occasions, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile two seasons ago and finishing a strong second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

As for the Jockey Club Gold Cup the following day at Saratoga, Mindframe and Sierra Leone will headline the historic, 1 1/4-mile affair. Although Mindframe finished ahead of Sierra Leone in each of their meetings so far, look for Sierra Leone to be the betting choice on Sunday.

A 4-year-old son of Gun Runner, Sierra Leone is rounding into his best form. The winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year has improved with each of his three starts in 2025. Two starts back he closed well to be second behind Mindframe at Churchill Downs. Four weeks ago he put it all together and rallied for the win in the Whitney Stakes (G1).

After success in the Whitney, trainer Chad Brown once again will enter Contrary Thinking in the Jockey Club Gold Cup as a rabbit to set the table for the late run of Sierra Leone. The guarantee of a solid, early pace often has been the difference in winning and losing for the 2024 3-year-old male champion.

Mindframe, on the other hand, is perfect in three starts this season. The lightly raced son of Constitution will return to 1 1/4 miles for the first time since last year’s Belmont Stakes, where he ran a good second to Doornoch in only his third career start.

He has won two straight Grade 1 races for Pletcher and earned his biggest career win when beating Sierra Leone in the Stephen Foster (G1) nine weeks ago in Kentucky.

While those two will take the majority of the betting dollars in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the field will be deep with good horses. Highland Falls, Disarm and White Abarrio, the three who ran best behind Sierra Leone in the Whitney, are expected back on Sunday.

Highland Falls is the defending winner of this race. Although he failed in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, the son of Curlin has come back in fine fettle for trainer Brad Cox this year. Now 5, he was a strong second in the Whitney after romping in an allowance in his return.

The top two from July’s Suburban Stakes (G2) add to the overall depth of this big race at the Spa. Run at the same 1 1/4-mile trip at Saratoga, Phileas Fogg and Antiquarian both turned in big performances that day with Phileas Fogg holding on to win in a photo.

New to the list: none.

Dropped: Magnitude, Thorpedo Anna.

Classic contender	Most recent result	Likely next race
Antiquarian	2nd, Suburban (G2)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Baeza	2nd, Jim Dandy (G2)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Chunk of Gold	1st, W.V. Derby (G3)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Disarm	3rd, Whitney (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Fierceness	5th, Whitney (G1)	8/30, Pacific Classic (G1)
Forever Young	3rd, Dubai World Cup (G1)	10/1, Nippon TV Hai (G2)
Goal Oriented	3rd, Haskell (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Gosger	2nd, Haskell (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Highland Falls	2nd, Whitney (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Hit Show	1st, WV Governor’s	9/27, Lukas Classic (G2)
Journalism	1st, Haskell (G1)	8/30, Pacific Classic (G1)
Locked	3rd, Suburban (G2)	9/27, Woodward Stakes (G2)
Mindframe	1st, Stephen Foster (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Nysos	1st, San Diego Hcp. (G2)	8/30, Pacific Classic (G1)
Phileas Fogg	1st, Suburban (G2)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Sierra Leone	1st, Whitney (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Sovereignty	1st, Travers (G1)	11/1, Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
White Abarrio	4th, Whitney (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)

Zipse: Champions look the part in 5 Grade 1s at Saratoga

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 06:29:01 GMT

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

It’s not often you see five Grade 1 races in a row, but would the action live up to the anticipation? Saturday at Saratoga the races delivered on the ambitious schedule with heart-pounding finishes and a grand finale that dropped the curtain on a spectacular afternoon of racing.

The smorgasbord at the Spa began with the reigning horse of the year Thorpedo Anna taking on a quartet of Grade 1 winners in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes.

Click here for Saratoga entries and results.

While it’s only natural for fans to want their superstars to win by the length of the stretch – more on that later – there are times when great horses are asked to dig down deep and respond in a way that only champions can.

Sent out after the leaders after going wide around the first turn, there were no breathers for Thorpedo Anna on Saturday. With Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, she pushed the pace in a race with plenty of early speed and quickly took over on the far turn.

The race was far from over, however, as Dorth Vader was rallying from behind. The two would hook up early in the lane and it looked like the graveyard of champions was primed to strike again.

Instead, Thorpedo Anna responded to the challenge and fought back. The two came down to the wire together with the champion earning her seventh career Grade 1 victory by the narrowest of margins.

The result perhaps offered a little payback for Thorpedo Anna’s narrow defeat to Fierceness in the Travers (G1) one year before. And for the unlucky runner-up, Dorth Vader announced herself a real threat in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

What’s more exciting than a head-bobbing finish, how about two of them?

In the Jerkens Memorial (G1), Patch Adams was far from the heavy choice that Thorpedo Anna was, but he was the favorite in a wide-open race of fast 3-year-old males on the strength of a pair of impressive wins in his last two starts.

Where those victories had been easy, his challenge in the Jerkens was not. Captain Cook, a talented long shot who recently had changed barns, ran the race of his life and gave the Brad Cox-trained Patch Adams everything that he wanted.

The Jerkens was a nail-biter to the wire. For the second straight Grade 1 race at Saratoga, the decision came down to a nose as the brave winner prevailed on the rail.

In victory Patch Adams continued his trajectory as the best 3-year-old sprinter in the land, while Captain Cook looks to have found new life as a sprinter without blinkers in the barn of Todd Pletcher.

The females were back at it next in the Ballerina Stakes (G1), and it turned into a family affair.

It was seven years ago when the nice Blame filly Marley’s Freedom shipped east from California for trainer Bob Baffert to earn her first Grade 1 victory with a strong showing in the Ballerina. Saturday she struck gold as a broodmare with exactly the same pattern.

Shipping to Saratoga for the first time as a 4-year-old as her dam had done in 2018, Hope Road proved best Saturday over her top rival Scylla with a decisive, two-length score. And just like Marley’s Freedom, the Ballerina became the first Grade 1 victory in a promising career for the Baffert-trained daughter of Quality Road.

Next came the Forego Stakes (G1), and mighty little New Jersey-bred gelding Book’em Danno.

Already the winner of a pair of sprint stakes at Saratoga this season, the 4-year-old son of Bucchero was the headliner of a field of 10 older male sprinters.

Trained by veteran Derek Ryan, he looked the part warming up before the race and thrust himself immediately into contention as a torrid early pace was set just in front of him.

Splitting horses at the head of the stretch like the seasoned pro that he is, Book’em Danno surged to the lead and held sway the late runs of Scotland and Crazy Mason to win by a measured one-length margin.

Winning the prestigious Grade 1 race set off a joyous celebration for his owners. A small group of friends and family, the Atlantic Six team never has had a horse like Book’em Danno before, and they are enjoying the ride as he has emerged as the top sprinter in the country.

Last but not least, it was the biggest race of the day, and the biggest horse of all.

Where Thorpedo Anna had kicked off the day’s biggest races in thrilling fashion, it was Sovereignty who quite literally stopped the show with a totally different but equally satisfying type of win.

The $1.25 million Travers Stakes on paper looked to be a one-horse show, and Sovereignty made that ring true with a powerhouse display.

Strong victories in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Fountain of Youth (G2) and Jim Dandy (G2) led the big son of Into Mischief to the top of his class for his Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott. He took things to a new level in the signature race of Saratoga.

Biding his time behind the speed of Magnitude and Bracket Buster, Sovereignty and rider Júnior Alvarado patiently waited for the real running to begin. When it did, the opposition fell by the wayside.

Bracket Buster turned out to be much the best of the rest, but the stretch run was all about one of the best sophomore colts we’ve seen in several years here in the United States.

Pouring it on down the lane in front of an adoring Saratoga audience, Sovereignty crossed the wire a full 10 lengths in front while stopping the clock at racehorse time of 2:00.84 for the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles.

The afternoon’s five Grade 1 races began with the horse of the year proving again why she is a champion, and it closed with the passing of the baton to the new horse of the year.

The second half of that statement may not be official for several months, but Sovereignty is well on his way. What a day it was, on a very special Saturday at the Spa.

Breeders' Cup Classic watch: Sovereignty towers over Travers

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:57:10 GMT

This is the sixth installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Although Saturday's Travers Stakes drew its shortest field in more than three decades, the big horse in the field at Saratoga still could have a significant say in what happens in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Sovereignty will be in search of his third consecutive victory at the Spa and fourth overall when he towers over four others in this year’s renewal of the mid-summer derby. The impressive winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes figures to go to post as one of the heaviest favorites in the history of Saratoga’s signature race. Another win here for the Bill Mott and Godolphin charge figures to send him to California as this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite.

The rest might be in competition for second-place money, but the Steve Asmussen-trained Magnitude adds at least a bit of intrigue to the 1 1/4-mile affair.

The speedy son of Not This Time ran away from his competition in his last two starts by a combined 19 lengths. After blitzing the Risen Star (G2) by 9 3/4 lengths in February at Fair Grounds and missing the Triple Crown series because of a physical setback, he returned to romp by 9 1/4 lengths in the Iowa Derby seven weeks ago. He could prove himself worthy of a trip to Del Mar with a strong effort Saturday.

The other three in the Travers, Bracket Buster, McAfee and Strategic Focus, all have some ability, but anything better than second on Saturday would be a major surprise.

On the same afternoon at Saratoga, the reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will return to the oval where she made so much noise last summer. The 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna will be pointed to either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or a defense of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, depending on how she performs in her next two races. The first step happens in Saturday’s Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), where she will break from the outside post 7 against six other fillies and mares.

Refreshed since an easy victory in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs two months ago, the Kenny McPeek-trained star will make her first start at Saratoga since running a bang-up second against the males in last year’s Travers. A good-looking win in the Personal Ensign would strengthen her connections' belief that she belongs in the $7 million Classic on Nov. 1. She will face a quartet of Grade 1 winners Saturday in Dorth Vader, Leslie’s Rose, Raging Sea and Randomized.

The other race this week with a potential starter for the Breeders’ Cup Classic will take place overseas. As a challenge series event, the winner of Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic berth for the big one at Del Mar if the connections choose to come over and try the dirt.

Run on the turf in England, Tepin’s son Delacroix will renew his rivalry with Ombudsman after the pair ran first and second in last month’s Coral Eclipse (G1). Japanese invader Danon Decile also figures to have a big chance in the prestigious race at York Racecourse.

After the Juddmonte International, the next races to offer an automatic berth into the Classic will be next weekend’s Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. Both are contested at 1 1/4 miles and will feature many of the top older horses in training.

The fields are still fluid for both, but the Pacific Classic should include the lightly raced and highly talented Nysos from the barn of Bob Baffert. An easy winner of the San Diego (G2) most recently, he will look to prove his ability to stay 10 furlongs in the $1 million race next Saturday.

Possible opposition to Nysos in the Pacific Classic is led by Preakness winner Journalism and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero White Abarrio. Trainer Todd Pletcher has also said that he could send the champion Fierceness or the Grade 1 winner Locked. A decision on all of them should be made from their respective camps within the next week.

As for the Jockey Club Gold Cup on the following day back east, Mindframe and Sierra Leone are expected to renew acquaintances after finishing first and second in the Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs in June. The former is perfect in three starts this year, and the latter won the Whitney (G1) last time out and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024.

Their competition at the Spa is expected to include the defending race champion Highland Falls, as well as Antiquarian, Arthur’s Ride, Disarm, Phileas Fogg and White Abarrio if he does not ship to Del Mar.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic each week right here.

New to the list: None.

Dropped from the list: First Mission, Most Wanted, Mystik Dan.

Contender	Most Recent Result	Next Likely Race
Antiquarian	2nd, Suburban Stakes (G2)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Baeza	2nd, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Chunk of Gold	1st, West Virginia Derby (G3)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Disarm	3rd, Whitney Stakes (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Fierceness	5th, Whitney Stakes (G1)	TBD
Forever Young	3rd, Dubai World Cup (G1)	10/1, Nippon TV Hai (G2)
Goal Oriented	3rd, Haskell Stakes (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Gosger	2nd, Haskell Stakes (G1)	9/20, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
Highland Falls	2nd, Whitney Stakes (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Hit Show	1st, WV Governor's Stakes	9/27, Lukas Classic (G2)
Journalism	1st, Haskell Stakes (G1)	8/30, Pacific Classic (G1)
Locked	3rd, Suburban Stakes (G2)	TBD
Magnitude	1st, Iowa Derby	8/23, Travers Stakes (G1)
Mindframe	1st, Stephen Foster (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Nysos	1st, San Diego 'cap (G2)	8/30, Pacific Classic (G1)
Phileas Fogg	1st, Suburban Stakes (G2)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Sierra Leone	1st, Whitney Stakes (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Sovereignty	1st, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2)	8/23, Travers Stakes (G1)
Thorpedo Anna	1st, Fleur De Lis (G2)	8/23, Personal Ensign (G1)
White Abarrio	4th, Whitney Stakes (G1)	8/31, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)