Post Time: What to watch for during next week’s Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships returns to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, for the 40th anniversary of thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious two-day global event.
The two-day racing festival at the Great Race Place had 205 horses, including 46 “Win and You’re In” qualifiers, four former or returning Breeders’ Cup Champions, and 59 international competitors pre-entered into next week’s championship races.
Over the two days, 14 championship races are on tap. Five are set for Nov. 3 and nine on on Nov. 4. Next year’s Breeders’ Cup will stay on the West Coast at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in suburban San Diego. Purses and awards totaling more than $31 million will be handed out.
The Breeders’ Cup will be televised on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and FanDuel TV. The NBC coverage includes an expanded network window from 3:30 to 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 4.
The four returning Breeders’ Cup Champions pre-entered to defend their 2022 titles: Caravel (Turf Sprint), Cody’s Wish (Dirt Mile), Elite Power (Sprint) and Goodnight Olive (Filly and Mare Sprint).
The feature event is the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Over the history of the Cup, 16 Classic winners have gone on to win Horse of the Year, so this year’s mile-and-a-quarter race will likely impact the biggest year-end award.
There were a whopping 18 pre-entries for the Classic led by Belmont and Travers winner Arcangelo, the talented Arabian Knight out of the Bob Baffert barn, and Ushba Tesoro from Japan.
The Classic pre-entries include six sophomores: Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown, UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (JPN) and Pacific Classic runner-up Geaux Rocket Ride in addition to Arcangelo and Arabian Knight.
Friday’s juvenile-filled lineup, named “Future Stars Friday,” includes the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which will provide a first glimpse at next year’s Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
Here are five things to watch in Arcadia:
1. Is there an older horse that can challenge the 3-year-old army in the Classic? The Classic should be an awesome betting race with the six sophomores taking on older horses for the first time. The biggest hopefuls within the ranks of the elders appear to be Whitney winner White Abarrio, Woodward winner Zandon, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future and Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (JPN). The 6-year-old Japanese-bred son of Orfevre is on a six-race tear and ships overseas to take on the American classic horses. The Classic should be a thrilling much-watch race.
2. The Distaff is loaded with talent. The $2 million Distaff will pit Clairiere against Idiomatic and some of the top 3-year old fillies for the first time. Clairiere will look to rebound after stubbing her toe in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Idiomatic, a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin, is 7-for-8 in 2023 and might even draw the favorite’s role. Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, Alabama winner Randomized and CCAO winner Wet Paint are part of the mix of 3-year-olds looking to upset the elder two favorites.
3. Is Cody’s Wish vulnerable in the Dirt Mile? Cody’s Wish will be the big favorite in the Dirt Mile as the defending champ. He returned to winning ways cutting back to 7 furlongs after his disappointing third-place finish in the Whitney at Saratoga. Top contenders to knock off the champ include Practical Move, a late Derby scratch who returned to win at Santa Anita earlier in the month, and Zozos, the Ack Ack winner at Churchill. Charge It, Bright Future and Mage are all cross-entered in the Classic.
4. The Juvenile winner will hop to the top of the Derby list. Last year’s winner, Forte, is already retired after flaming out in the Travers. This year’s winner will accrue 30 Derby points and take over the top of the Derby leaderboard. There were 12 pre-entries, including American Pharoah winner Muth, Champagne winner Timberlake and Del Mar Futurity winner Prince of Monaco, who is trained by Baffert. Todd Pletcher will send Locked, the winner of the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland to the gate as his best chance.
5. Another Elite Power-Gunite showdown looms in the Sprint. They faced off three times in New York already this year, with Elite Power winning the True North at Belmont Park and the Vanderbilt at Saratoga, and Gunite turning the tables in the Forego on Travers day. West Coast stalwart Dr. Schivel will try to break up the party between the rivals in one of the more intriguing races on Nov. 4.
There are plenty of storylines for the two-day festival and the Classic looms as the deciding race for Horse of the Year. The News will be on site in California with online coverage and a handicap of Saturday’s undercard and coverage of the Classic. Post position draws are scheduled for Monday.
Gene Kershner, a Buffalo-based turf writer, is a member of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association, with the X-handle of@EquiSpace.
