2024 Breeders’ Cup Contenders

As always, the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic will be the focal point of bets for a lot of players. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is run over 1¼ miles, is for horses aged three and up, and will go a long way to crowning the 2024 Horse of the Year. 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio does not return, and the field will be wide open. City of Troy has not tried the dirt before, though Aidan O’Brien was confident enough to pre-enter him only in this race and not the Turf as well, and he has been named the morning-line favorite. Fierceness has bounced back into top form as of the Travers, and faces older for the first time. Japan-based Forever Young returns to the United States after a close third in the Kentucky Derby. Derma Sotogake, also based in Japan, was second in this race last year and will try to recapture the magic. Arthur’s Ride and Highland Falls have been exciting new faces at the top level this year, and will try to spring the upset.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Contenders

The Breeders’ Cup Classic drew an oversubscribed field: 14 in the main field, plus one entrant on the also-eligible list.

This race always brings the best of the world’s turf horses against the best American and Canadian horses, and overseas horses have dominated this 1 ½-mile grass race in recent years. Rebel’s Romance, who won this race in 2022, lost his way in 2023 but has been back with a vengeance in 2024, and shapes as a possible favorite for Charlie Appleby. Jayarebe hasn’t run at the top level since he was two, but conquered older in the Prix Dollar (G2) and is on the rise. John and Thady Gosden have opted to run Emily Upjohn, Group 1 placed in her last two starts, against males in the Turf. Aidan O’Brien entered a pair for this race, Coronation Cup (G1) winner Luxembourg and the Group 1-placed Wingspan. Shahryar was third in this race last year and comes in with a better prep season this time around. Among the Americans, Far Bridge has improved since stretching out to this trip, making him the best stateside hope.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Contenders

A field of 13 passed the final entries for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The Breeders’ Cup Turf covers a mile on the grass. With turf miles being one of the prestige divisions abroad, contenders from Europe typically do well in this race, though there are frequently live contenders based in North America as well. Favorites in futures betting include Porta Fortuna, the American-owned but Irish-trained filly who has stepped up beautifully against older company, and Notable Speech, the 2000 Guineas (G1) winner who will try to make it four straight Breeders’ Cup Mile wins for trainer Charlie Appleby. Diego Velazquez shows improving recent form for Aidan O’Brien, Carl Spackler is the top American miler from the barn of Chad Brown, who also brings Chili Flag to the starting gate. More Than Looks was not far beaten last year for former Brown assistant Cherie DeVaux, and has hit the board twice behind Carl Spackler since his return.

Breeders’ Cup Mile Contenders

The final entries for the Breeders’ Cup Mile feature an international field of 12. At most will run with the Friday scratch of Ramatuelle by veterinarians.

A six-furlong dash on the dirt: blink and you miss this six-furlong race! American speed merchants perennially take center stage, and that looks likely once again in 2024. The betting board should be exciting, however: unlike in 2023, when Elite Power dominated the division, there is no clear leader this time. Mullikin should be well bet given his four-win streak, which includes a score in the Forego (G1). Straight No Chaser will try to repeat his dominant final prep in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), while Federal Judge will try to run back to a similarly dominant tune-up in the Phoenix (G2). The Phoenix has been a live enough prep in recent years that he was named the morning-line favorite. Dr. Venkman is a strong local who turns back, Nakatomi is a millionaire who always threatens for a share, and Raging Torrent toppled star sprinter The Chosen Vron in his final prep.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint Contenders

The Breeders’ Cup Sprint drew a field of 11 of the leading dirt sprinters in the world.

Once won by the amazing Zenyatta, this 1 1/8-mile race brings together some of the best fillies and mares on the dirt. After the retirement of Idiomatic for a knee injury announced two days after the pre-entries came out, Thorpedo Anna will be a heavy favorite. The Kentucky Oaks winner has not lost to a filly all year long: her only defeat was a narrow second behind major Breeders’ Cup Classic Fierceness in the 1 ¼-mile Travers (G1). Unbeaten and untested Awesome Result makes her first start out of Japan. Raging Sea is getting good at the right time, Candied can get a piece second off the layoff, and Sugar Fish is a fast-improving West Coast sophomore for Jeff Mullins.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Contenders

With the defections of Idiomatic and Musical Mischief from the pre-entries, and then the Wednesday defections of Batucada and Miss New York, eight are expected to run in the Distaff.

While the queens of the dirt compete in the Distaff, the matriarchs of the turf stretch out to 1 ⅜ miles for this race. Horses based outside North America have dominated the winners’ circle in recent years and look strong once again, though it should be a particularly interesting betting race in pari-mutuel pools with perennial divisional force Chad Brown not entering any horses in this race. The morning-line favorite is War Like Goddess, the seven-year-old Bill Mott stalwart who finished third in this race three years ago at Del Mar but has tried males the last two years. Beautiful Love, part of Charlie Appleby’s U.S.-based satellite string this summer, has run well in two straight at 1 ⅜ miles; he also enters Cinderella’s Dream, who has won two straight but has yet to face older. Aidan O’Brien sends out Group 1 winner Content; Ylang Ylang was also entered from his Ballydoyle-based string but was scratched late Tuesday. winners Content and Ylang Ylang from his powerful Ballydoyle-based string, while Kevin Attard brings Moira, the Canadian superstar who finished third in this race last year.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Contenders

The final entries for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf featured 12 horses originally, but at most 12 will run after the scratch of Ylang Ylang:

Middle-distance dirt specialists shine in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run over a two-turn configuration at Santa Anita. After Cody’s Wish winning the 2022 and 2023 versions in stylish and heartwarming fashion, and earning an Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year after his 2023 victory, the field is more wide-open in 2024. Preakness winner Seize the Grey showed up with his best on Pennsylvania Derby (G1) day, and his Pat Day Mile (G2) win proves he can go shorter yet. Bob Baffert charge Muth disappointed last out in the California Crown (G1), but he turns back to the distance at which he won the Shared Belief over this course two back. Saudi Crown and Skippylongstocking are middle-distance runners with plenty of class and experience. Domestic Product, a three-year-old making his last start before going to stud, will try to prove he is as effective at two turns as at one.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Contenders

Though the race was oversubscribed at pre-entry time, a full field of 14 entered on Monday, with no also-eligible entrants.

Goodnight Olive won this seven-furlong dirt race in both 2022 and 2023, but she has been retired. There are many good horses in the division, but no one has arisen to be quite as consistent and dominant as she was. This means the Filly & Mare Sprint should be a strong betting race this year. Vahva looked like the rising star of the division early in the year, with a victory in the Derby City Distaff (G1), though others may have caught up. Society broke through at the Grade 1 level last out in the Ballerina, beating Vahva confidently, and stablemate Zeitlos is another fast one for Steve Asmussen. Ways and Means found the Kentucky Oaks too long, but has been a rising star at one-turn trips for Chad Brown, who also conditioned Goodnight Olive. Locals Pleasant, One Magic Philly, and Kirstenbosch like Del Mar enough to have a say, as well.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Contenders

A field of ten fillies and mares was entered into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, though only nine are expected to run after the Thursday scratch of Pandora’s Gift.

Especially after the recent rebuilding of the turf sprint division in the United States, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint has become one of the most exciting, wide-open, and classy races of the entire festival. It is a grass race in which stateside runners and international shippers have been able to shine. Cogburn is the leader of the American turf sprint division and should be the favorite, though he still has to prove he can cut back to a flat five furlongs against a field this good. Big Invasion was second in this race last year, Motorious tries to defend his home turf, and Star of Mystery has been running against older horses throughout the year despite being a sophomore filly. Bradsell had to scratch last year but has put together another strong season and should love five furlongs, Big Evs goes for a second Breeders’ Cup win after taking down the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year. 

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Contenders

The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint field is limited to 12. The final draw features an overflow field: the 12 in the main, plus three on the also-eligible list waiting for scratches.

Often the stepping stone to great things, this race will most likely produce both the juvenile champion as well as the early favorite for the next May. Despite having to deal with a tougher pace scenario, Breeders’ Futurity winner East Avenue is the morning-line favorite. Another horse likely to be hot in the betting is Chancer McPatrick, who has racked up a pair of top-level wins for trainer Chad Brown. Bob Baffert always has a slew of talented juveniles in his barn, and he has three in this race: Citizen Bull, Gaming, and Getaway Car. Ferocious has been a buzz horse since the auction ring, though keeps finding one too good in stakes company. Jonathan’s Way and McKinzie Street have some upside at a price.  

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Contenders

A field of 10 passed the entry box for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

This is a one-mile turf race in which European shippers and North America-based horses tend to trade blows at the top, making it an exciting betting opportunity. New Century and Al Qudra have been trading blows all season, with New Century getting the most recent round in the Summer (G1) at Woodbine, and they continue to battle at the top of the market in this. Aomori City has to bounce back from his last, but trainer Charlie Appleby—who also trains Al Qudra— is well-proven in this race. Aidan O’Brien, another star in this race, pins his hopes on a masterpiece from Henri Matisse. Satono Carnaval is a wild card from Japan, a Group 3 winner who has not raced in a few months. The best American hope is Zulu Kingdom, the undefeated runner for Chad Brown.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Contenders

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf is expected to have 12 runners after the scratches of Minaret Station and Tenacious Leader on Wednesday. Also-eligible entrants Kale’s Angel and Sabertooth were also scratched Wednesday, and are expected to run on the undercard.

The winner of this race gets the catbird seat for the two-year-old filly championship, and also becomes an early favorite for the . Immersive, coming out of a victory in the two-turn Alcibiades (G1) for trainer Brad Cox, is the morning-line second choice but as the two-turn Grade 1 winner, may be preferred come post time. However, Scottish Lassie hadn’t yet broken her maiden before the Frizette (G1), but has been named the morning-line favorite after she won impressively over Snowyte, and that race is a key prep. After the scratch of Non Compliant, Bob Baffert still has front-running Nooni, who may get a good pace setup. La Cara won at a mile last out and is bred to love even more distance, and Japan-based American Bikini has figured it out impressively in her last two starts, making her the best international hope.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Contenders

Ten horses entered the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but at most nine will run after the Tuesday defection of Non Compliant.

United States-based horses had a hold on top honors in this race between 2014 and 2021. Aidan O’Brien snapped that streak in 2022, though Chad Brown brought it back stateside in 2023 with Hard to Justify. Brown returns to the fray with Virgin Colada, who has come close in her last two but still seeks her first stakes score. Aidan O’Brien entered a trio: the heavy morning-line favorite Lake Victoria, last-out Rockfel winner Bubbling, and the experienced Heavens Gate. Fiery Lucy has solid form through Heavens Gate, while Natalma (G1) runner-up Vixen, Miss Grillo winner Scythian, and Jessamine winner May Day Ready are among the better North American hopes.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Contenders

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf drew an oversubscribed field, 14 in the main field plus three on the also-eligible list. All of the main field stayed in so the also-eligibles were scratched.

The newest of the Breeders’ Cup races, horses based in the United States won the first four editions of this, but international runners are making up for lost time. Charlie Appleby won with Mischief Magic in 2022, while Michael Appleby took it down with Big Evs in 2023. Michael Appleby goes for two straight with Big Mojo, the Flying Childers (G2) runner-up, but that one will have to turn the tables on Archie Watson’s Aesterius. Other major overseas runners include Shareholder, who should get the firmer ground he wants, Ecoro Sieg, who has shined in two starts, going six furlongs in Japan, and Ides of March and Whistlejacket, a surprising pair of sprinters for the usually route-oriented Aidan O’Brien barn. The most interesting North American runners include the gritty Governor Sam for George Weaver and the inexperienced but improving Gate To Wire for Todd Pletcher.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Contenders

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint drew an overflow field of 12 horses plus two on the also-eligible list. With the Tuesday scratch of Out On Bail, Pali Kitten drew into the main field. Smash It did not get in and was scratched Friday.

The 41st edition of the Breeders’ Cup is coming up on November 1 and 2 at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California. No matter where you are, you can be a part of the action by watching and wagering on the action. From draw day to the final photo finish, you can watch all the action on FanDuel Racing, and get all the information you need to know before you bet on FanDuel TV.

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