Check out all the Breeders Cup races from the 2023 World Championships taking place at Santa Anita Park in California this week. This end-of-season event attracts the best thoroughbreds to a different racetrack in the USA as hosts every year!
Breeders Cup Races & Schedule for Friday, 3 November 2023
Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 2yos
- Post Time: 9pm GMT Friday, 3 October
- Race Distance: 5 furlongs
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
The World Championships kick off with a 5f sprint on Friday with Mick Appleby’s Royal Ascot winner Big Evs leading the betting. This Blue Point colt has gone from strength to strength since then winning Group races at Glorious Goodwood and Doncaster’s St Leger Festival.
Royal @Ascot winner for @MickApplebyUK! Big Evs wins the Windsor Castle under @jasonhart13! pic.twitter.com/Bj2RoDvaK0
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2023
Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 2yos
- Post Time: 9:40pm GMT Friday, 3 October
- Race Distance: 1m 1/2 furlong
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $2,000,000
The second of the Breeders Cup races is an extended mile contest on the dirt for fillies only, where Tamara is the current hot favourite. This Bolt D’Oro filly trained by Richard Mandella is unbeaten in two runs another California racetrack, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Having already racked up almost £200,000 in prize money, this juvenile surely has a bright future ahead, and can continue her good form on Friday.
Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 2yos
- Post Time: 10:20pm GMT Friday, 3 October
- Race Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
Next we have an open-looking mile event on turf just for fillies once again. The betting currently sees Simon & Ed Crisford juvenile Carla’s Way lead the market. She landed the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket over 7f last time out, beating some handy prospects in the process.
Donnacha O’Brien runner Porta Fortuna beat the favourite during the Royal meeting with Albany Stakes success. She has since gone in again last time out at HQ with a stunning victory in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Breeders Cup Juvenile (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 2yos
- Post Time: 11:00pm GMT Friday, 3 October
- Race Distance: 1 mile 1/2 furlong
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $2,000,000
In the feature dirt race for juveniles over the extended mile, a competitive field includes Breeders’ Futurity winner Locked from the Todd Pletcher barn. Impressive Champagne Stakes scorer Timberlake also has claims for Brad Cox.
Muth brings course and distance experience to the table after his American Pharoah success. Bob Baffert also runs dual Del Mar victor Prince Of Monaco with four Grade 1 winning two-year-olds in the line-up.
Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 2yos
- Post Time: 11:40pm GMT Friday, 3 October
- Race Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
The last of the Breeders Cup races on Friday sees Ballydoyle mastermind Aidan O’Brien have a strong hand in the market with two Wootton Bassett colts in Unquestionable and River Tiber. This genius Irish trainer and retained jockey Ryan Moore have combined to win this contest five times since it was first held in 2007, and won it last year with Victoria Road.
It would not be surprising to see the duo land it again with two top horses fancied. River Tiber looks the better chance on paper despite being beaten on his previous two starts by the progressive Vandeek. However, his triumph in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot was impressive when showing plenty of guts and courage to win by a neck.
River Tiber is the real deal and wins the Coventry for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/r8yQ2truYB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2023
Breeders Cup Races & Schedule for Saturday, 4 November 2023
Breeders Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yo+
- Post Time: 6:30pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
Last year’s Dirt Mile hero Cody’s Wish is set to defend the crown he won at Keeneland. William Mott and Godolphin’s five-year-old has since added two more Grade 1 wins to his CV after World Championship glory 12 months ago. Cody’s Wish sets the standard for older horses with Tim Yakteen’s course specialist and young challenger Practical Move a major threat getting weight.
Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yo+ fillies & mares
- Post Time: 7:10pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $2,000,000
Up next among Breeders Cup races on Saturday sees five-time Group 1 winner Inspiral set to step up in trip. John & Thady Gosden’s filly has back-to-back wins coming into this transatlantic trip, so looks the one to beat based on recent form.
This daughter of Frankel was last seen landing the Sun Chariot stakes at Newmarket and, prior to that, she triumphed over in France taking home the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. She’s in spectacular form but faces another stern challenge here.
Aidan O’Brien runs Warm Hart, who is the closest market rival. Another dual Group 1 winner that looks to be the biggest danger in the field, the three-year-old has won the Yorkshire Oaks at York and the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in her last two races but now drops in trip.
Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yo+ fillies & mares
- Post Time: 7:50pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 7 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
Chad Brown’s Goodnight Olive leads the betting market as a strong favourite for the dirt sprint restricted to fillies and mares. Having won six of her eight career starts, she’s the one to beat here and looks to be in good hands with top jockey Irad Ortiz taking the ride again.
Although Goodnight Olive suffered a shock defeat last time out, she won this 12 months ago and looks to go well once again. It’s also worth noting that Ortiz has ridden the winner in this race three times in the last five years.
Breeders Cup Mile (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yo+
- Post Time: 8:30pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $2,000,000
Fourth on the list of Breeders Cup races on Saturday sees the action return to the turf and Godolphin hold a very strong hand. Two of their retained trainers will fancy their chances with Charlie Appleby saddling Master Of The Seas and Saeed bin Suroor unleashing Classic-winning filly Mawj.
Both horses have won in North America this year and the owners were responsible for the last two Breeders Cup Mile victories. Master Of The Seas was beaten last time out by a nose at Keeneland, but triumphed impressively in the Woodbine Mile before that.
Mawj, meanwhile, has been lightly-raced since wintering in Dubai, but added the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland to her 1000 Classic success back in the spring on home soil.
Mawj (9-1) brilliantly wins the QIPCO 1000 Guineas Stakes @NewmarketRace!
Tahiyra was a willing nemesis, but @oismurphy was not to be denied aboard @godolphin‘s high-class filly ⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/Q4IL81Nc5f
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 7, 2023
Breeders Cup Distaff (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yos +
- Post Time: 9:10pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $2,000,000
The Distaff is the big dirt race for fillies at the World Championships over nine furlongs. Idiomatic has progressed through the grades, posting impressive Personal Ensign and Spinster Stakes successes from the front.
Taking on Brad Cox’s four-year-old is the locally trained Adare Manor, who has never been out of the first two in seven career starts at Santa Anita for Bob Baffert. Alabama Stakes heroine Randomized is the young pretender, while Breeders Cup veteran Clairiere set for her third run in this race.
Breeders Cup Turf (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yos +
- Post Time: 9:50pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 1/2 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $4,000,000
One of the most anticipated Breeders Cup races is the Turf where dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin and recent Champion Stakes scorer King Of Steel go head-to-head once again. This is third encounter between the pair after battles on Epsom Downs in The Derby, the King George at Ascot and Irish Champion at Leopardstown.
While Aidan O’Brien runner Auguste Rodin has two victories over Roger Varian-trained King Of Steel, the latter has a new jockey for this latest battle. None other than Frankie Dettori takes the ride after his daring last to first manoeuvre on QIPCO British Champions Day.
Royal Ascot winner Mostahdaf steps up in trip seeking a hat-trick following his Prince of Wales’s Stakes victory and Juddmonte International triumph at York races bookending the summer. This son of Frankel will certainly be a big danger to the three-year-olds, given he’s likely to get his preferred quick ground.
Redemption for Auguste Rodin in a thrilling €1.25m Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes! @BahrainTurfClub @LeopardstownRC#オーギュストロダン | #ディープインパクト | #競馬 pic.twitter.com/C3Hn7VEuxg
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023
Breeders Cup Classic (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yos +
- Post Time: 10:40pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $6,000,000
As the most valuable prize at the World Championships, the Breeders Cup Classic is the one race everyone wants to win. Arcangelo is a real flagbearer for the Jena Antonucci barn after major victories in the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes at either end of the summer.
After turning things around from the Haskell Stakes in the Pacific Classic, Arabian Knight is progressing, however, and could give Bob Baffert a record-extending fifth win in this valuable horse race. Don’t discount the Japanese-trained Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro either.
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 3yos +
- Post Time: 11:25pm GMT Saturday, 4 October
- Race Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
The final turf event among the Breeders Cup races is a colossal rematch between British sprinters Live In The Dream and Bradsell from York. Archie Watson will hope his three-year-old can reverse the Nunthorpe Stakes form from August.
Live In The Dream, trained by Adam West shot out of the stalls that day and made all the running to deliver a first Group 1 success for his handler and jockey Sean Kirrane.
Bradsell took the King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting of Ascot races back in June and that was the last time he won. However, joint favouritism in the market suggests both should go close and it should be a fascinating rematch.
Breeders Cup Sprint (Grade 1)
- Age of Horses: 2yos
- Post Time: 12:00am GMT Sunday, 4 October (late)
- Race Distance: 6 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
- Total Prize Money: $1,000,000
And to end what is set to be a terrific couple of days of racing, we have the final contest which is the Breeders Cup Sprint. The current market favourite is Elite Power sets the standard with eight wins from 11 career runs. William Mott’s charge took home this contest last year under Irad Ortiz and should go close again. Juddmonte’s five-year-old has never finished out of the frame in his career and will hope to reverse the form with Guinte, who beat him last time out.
Elite Power over the top under @iradortiz to land the Breeders Cup Sprint! 🏇🏻💨#BC22 pic.twitter.com/mRc4w6JEj7
— Kalooki Sportsbook (@KalookiR) November 5, 2022
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