Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday Turf Preview: November 3, 2023

The Breeders’ Cup is often referred to as the “World Championships of Horse Racing”. The big day is less than a month away. In the lead up to the event Betting News will be taking a closer look at each division to help you do your homework for the 2023 event being held at Santa Anita Park.

The Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup is a prestigious and annual event that holds a special place in the heart of horse racing enthusiasts and the horse racing industry as a whole. Established in 1984, the Breeders’ Cup has become one of the most significant events in the sport, drawing top thoroughbreds, jockeys, and trainers from around the world.

Here’s a closer look at what makes the Breeders’ Cup so important to horse racing.

The Breeders’ Cup is a two-day horse racing extravaganza held in the United States during late October or early November. In 2024 it will be held on November 3rd and 4th.

Divisions to be Won

It features a series of championship races across various distances and categories, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Turf, Sprint, and Distaff, among others. These races are known for their immense talent and purse money often exceeding millions of dollars, making them some of the richest horse races globally. The significant incentives attract top talent, ensuring that only the best horses and horsemen compete.

World Championships

One of the most critical aspects of the Breeders’ Cup is its international appeal. On a typical day from race tracks around the country you might see the occasional turf horse with some ties to Europe or a dirt runner from Central America.

However at the Breeders’ Cup with so much on the line, countries from around the world will send their top classes horses to compete. This makes the event a true world championship and presents a challenge for the horses and bettors alike.

The Races

The Breeders’ Cup is a series of 14 races which are designed to give the top horses a prove their supremacy in the condition that suits them best.

The races are divided over the two days racing with the 5 juvenile races occurring on Friday and the 9 older horse races occurring on Saturday. Additional races will be carded to fill out the racing programs so that each day features a total of roughly 14 races but the Breeders’ Cup events will blocked together for betting interest.

Future Stars Friday

*Races have yet to be carded and may appear in a different order on the actual card.

1. Juvenile Turf Sprint: A 5 furlong (about 1,000 meters) race on the turf for two-year-old horses.
2. Juvenile Fillies Turf: A one-mile (about 1,600 meters) race on the turf for two-year-old fillies.
3. Juvenile Fillies: A 1 1/16 mile (about 1,700 meters) race on the dirt for two-year-old fillies.
4. Juvenile Turf: A one-mile (about 1,600 meters) race on the turf for two-year-old colts and geldings.
5. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: A 1 1/16 mile (about 1,700 meters) race on the dirt for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Championship Saturday

*Races have yet to be carded and may appear in a different order on the actual card.

1. Filly & Mare Sprint: A seven-furlong (about 1,400 meters) race on the dirt for fillies and mares aged three years and older.
2. Mile: A one-mile (about 1,600 meters) race on the turf for horses aged three years and older.
3. Distaff: A 1 1/8 mile (about 1,800 meters) race on the dirt for fillies and mares aged three years and older.
4. Turf Sprint: A 5 furlong (about 1,000 meters) race on the turf for horses aged three years and older.
5. Dirt Mile: A one-mile (about 1,600 meters) race on the dirt for horses aged three years and older.
6. Turf: A 1 1/2 mile (about 2,400 meters) race on the turf for horses aged three years and older.
7. Sprint: A six-furlong (about 1,200 meters) race on the dirt for horses aged three years and older.
8. Filly and Mare Turf: A 1 1/4 mile (about 2,000 meters) race on the turf for fillies and mares aged three years and older.
9. Breeders’ Cup Classic: A 1 1/4 mile (about 2,000 meters) race on the dirt for horses aged three years and older. This is the most prestigious and richest race of the Breeders’ Cup.

Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday Turf Preview

In the first installment of Breeders’ Cup

The Friday races will feature only 2 year old horses. These are the upcoming stars of racing. For those more familiar with other sports, these are the stars of the rookie class. It is their first year competing at this level. With the regular season done these runners have shown some level of promise and will look to lock in rookie of the year honors in their respective divisions.

Next year we will some of these runners emerge as superstars while others will end up as 1 year wonders and look very average as the rest of the competition catches up in the 2024 campaigns.

*The races have not yet officially taken entries yet so the horses listed are just probable and may choose other races or not enter the race.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

The Juvenile Turf Sprint was a new addition to the Breeders’ Cup in 2018. Since its inception the race has largely belong to the Americans. US based horses took the first 4 runnings of the race with prolific turf sprint trainer Wesley Ward bringing home the title in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The American success was often attributed to the fact that US trainers and breeders look for early speed while European races tend to focus on horses with a strong finishing kick. In these short races, this meant that the Americans were more likely to find the front and avoid traffic trouble.

Despite the domination, the tables turned in 2022 with European trainer Charlie Appleby taking down the crown for Godolphin Racing. In 2023 the conditions at Santa Anita are likely to favor the traditional angle of early speed, but the bulk of the field will be from over seas.

Juvenile Turf Sprint Contenders

Records will be listed as Career Starts-1st-2nd-3rd

Valiant Force (Ireland)

• Record: 4-1-1-0
• Regular Jockey: A Murray
• Trainer: K Stott
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes at Ascot

Geologist (United Kingdom)

*Also possible in the Juvenile Fillies Turf

• Record: 6-2-2-1
• Regular Jockey: H Doyle
• Trainer: A Murphy
• Key Race(s): Won a Koln Winterkonigin Trial in Germany, 12th in lone graded stakes try

Amidst Waves (USA)

• Record: 5-3-1-0
• Regular Jockey: J Rosario
• Trainer: G Weaver
• Key Race(s): Won the Bolton Landing at Saratoga, 2nd in the Indian Summer at Keeneland

Dorothy Lawrence (United Kingdom)

• Record: 7-1-3-1
• Regular Jockey: D Tudhope
• Trainer: K Burke
• Key Race(s): Won a Class 4 Irish Maiden Stakes

Mansa Musa (United Kingdom)

• Record: 4-1-2-0
• Regular Jockey: C Hayes
• Trainer: D Dias
• Key Race(s): Won a Class 2 British Maiden Stakes

Tiger Belle (Ireland)

• Record: 5-3-1-0
• Regular Jockey: C Demuro
• Trainer: A McGuinness
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 3 Prix D’Arenberg at Longchamp

Big Evs (United Kingdom)

• Record: 5-3-1-0
• Regular Jockey: T Marquand
• Trainer: M Appleby
• Key Race(s): Won Grade 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster and the Grade 3 Molecomb at Goodwood

Crimson Advocate (USA)

• Record: 3-2-0-1
• Regular Jockey: J Velazquez
• Trainer: G Weaver
• Key Race(s): Won the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 2 Queen Mary at Ascot

No Nay Mets (USA)

• Record: 4-3-0-0
• Regular Jockey: P Lopez
• Trainer: G Weaver
• Key Race(s): Won the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park and the Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial, 9th in the Grade 2 Norfolk won by Valliant Force.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

The Juvenile Fillies Turf is very similar to the Turf Sprint in a lot of ways. It is a relatively new addition to the Breeders’ Cup making its first appearance in 2008. Also, like the Turf Sprint the race has been largely dominated by American based trainers. A final similarity is that the Europeans took a step toward leveling the stats with a win in 2022 when Aidan O’Brien won with Meditate.

Unlike the Turf Sprint the 2023 contenders are much more evenly split between European and US based horses.

Juvenile Fillies Turf Contenders

Records will be listed as Career Starts-1st-2nd-3rd

She Feels Pretty (USA)

• Record: 2-2-0-0
• Regular Jockey: J Velazquez
• Trainer: C Devaux
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine

Carla’s Way (United Kingdom)

• Record: 4-2-1-0
• Regular Jockey: J Doyle
• Trainer: S & E Crisford
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 2 Dubai Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket

Opera Singer (Ireland)

• Record: 4-3-1-0
• Regular Jockey: R Moore
• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp and the Grade 3 Flame of Tara Stakes at the Curragh

Dreamfyre (USA)

• Record: 3-3-0-0
• Regular Jockey: H Berrios
• Trainer: O Jauregui
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 3 Surfer Girl at Santa Anita and the Grade 3 Sorrento at Del Mar

Gala Brand (USA)

• Record:
• Regular Jockey: J Ortiz
• Trainer: B Mott
• Key Race(s):

Angiolleta (USA)

• Record: 3-1-0-1
• Regular Jockey: A Fresu
• Trainer: D O’Neill
• Key Race(s): 7th in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl at Santa Anita won by Dreamfyre

Flattery (USA)

• Record: 3-2-0-1
• Regular Jockey: J Hernandez
• Trainer: P Eurton
• Key Race(s): Won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf and took 3rd in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl at Santa Anita won by Dreamfyre

Life’s An Audible (USA)

• Record: 3-1-1-0
• Regular Jockey: I Ortiz
• Trainer: T Pletcher
• Key Race(s): 2nd in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo from Belmont at the Big A

Memorialize (USA)

• Record: 3-1-2-0
• Regular Jockey: M Franco
• Trainer: H Motion
• Key Race(s): 5th in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo from Belmont at the Big A

Gold Lightning (USA)

• Record: 2-1-0-0
• Regular Jockey: J Rosario
• Trainer: B Cox
• Key Race(s): 6th in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont at the Big A

Brocknardini (USA)

• Record: 3-2-0-0
• Regular Jockey: J Rocco
• Trainer: G Weaver
• Key Race(s): Won the Selima Stakes at Laureal Park, 12th in the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine won by She Feels Pretty

Les Pavots (France)

• Record: 3-1-1-1
• Regular Jockey: M Barzalona
• Trainer: F Graffard
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville, 3rd behind Opera Singer in the Grade 1 Prix Marcel Boussac

Porta Fortuna (Ireland)

• Record: 6-4-1-0
• Regular Jockey: O Murphy
• Trainer: D O’Brien
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 1 Cheverley Park Stakes at Newmarket, two time Grade 3 winner

Geologist (United Kingdom)

*Also possible in the Juvenile Turf Sprint

• Record: 6-2-2-1
• Regular Jockey: H Doyle
• Trainer: A Murphy
• Key Race(s): Won a Koln Winterkonigin Trial in Germany, 12th in lone graded stakes try

Laulne (France)

• Record: 3-1-1-1
• Regular Jockey: A Pouchin
• Trainer: Y Barberot
• Key Race(s): 2nd in the Grade 3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly, Never worse than 3rd in a graded stakes event

Austere (USA)

• Record: 2-2-0-0
• Regular Jockey: T Gaffalione
• Trainer: B Walsh
• Key Race(s): Won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies

Kairyu (Ireland)

• Record: 3-2-0-0
• Regular Jockey: L Roche
• Trainer: M O’Callaghan
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 3 Angelesey Stakes at the Curragh

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Unlike the Turf Sprint, the European desire for turf breeding has been very pronounced in the Juvenile Turf over the years. Since its inception in 2007, 11 runnings of the race have been won by European based trainers.

This includes the last 2 editions which were won by Victoria Road (IRE) and Modern Games (IRE) who ran for purse money only in 2021.

It is worth noting however, that the last 3 times the event has been held at Santa Anita, US based trainers have found themselves in the winner’s circle.

Juvenile Turf Contenders

Records will be listed as Career Starts-1st-2nd-3rd

Carson’s Run (USA)

• Record: 3-2-1-0
• Regular Jockey: D Davis
• Trainer: C Clement
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine

My Boy Prince (Canada)

• Record: 4-2-2-0
• Regular Jockey: J Rosario
• Trainer: M Casse
• Key Race(s): 2nd in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine behind Carson’s Run

Endlessly (USA)

• Record: 3-3-0-0
• Regular Jockey: J Hernandez
• Trainer: M McCarthy
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 3 Zuma Beach at Santa Anita and the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at Del Mar

Noted (USA)

• Record: 4-2-2-0
• Regular Jockey: I Ortiz
• Trainer: T Pletcher
• Key Race(s): 2nd in the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland

Unquestionable (Ireland)

• Record: 5-1-2-1
• Regular Jockey: R Moore
• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Key Race(s): 2nd in a Grade 1 at Longchamp and the Grade 2 Gain Railway at the Curragh

Triple Espresso (USA)

• Record: 2-0-1-0
• Regular Jockey: J Ortiz
• Trainer: T Pletcher
• Key Race(s): 5th in the grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont at the Big A won by Agate Road

Tireless (USA)

• Record: 1-0-1-0
• Regular Jockey: L Saez
• Trainer: T Pletcher
• Key Race(s): 2nd in a maiden special weight race at Kentucky Downs.

Agate Road (USA)

• Record: 3-2-1-0
• Regular Jockey: I Ortiz
• Trainer: T Pletcher
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont at the Big A

Air Recruit (USA)

• Record: 3-2-0-1
• Regular Jockey: C Marquez
• Trainer: A Delacour
• Key Race(s): Won the Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park

Capulet (Ireland)

• Record: 3-1-1-1
• Regular Jockey: R Moore
• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Key Race(s): 2nd in the Grade 2 Champions Stakes at Leopardstown and 3rd in the Grade 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket

Iberian (United Kingdom)

• Record: 3-2-1-0
• Regular Jockey: T Marquand
• Trainer: C Hills
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 2 Betfred Champagne Stakes at Doncaster

Indian Run (United Kingdom)

• Record: 3-2-0-1
• Regular Jockey: D Tudhope
• Trainer: E Johnson Houghton
• Key Race(s): Won the Grade 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Check out daily horse racing picks and data from Betting News as well as analysis of key stakes card each and every week.

Breeders’ Cup

We will continue to provide extensive coverage of the horse racing world championships in the lead up to the big days. Check back each week for a break down of the various divisions.

The week before the event we will also provide full card analysis and selections for both days.