A total of 88 Kentucky-breds have been entered in this year’s 42nd running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar. The 14 Grade 1 races feature more than $34 million in purses and awards, bringing together the sport’s top horses from around the world.
Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Sovereignty is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). A three-time Grade 1 winner this year, with victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1), Sovereignty is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post 6.
A Contentious Breeders’ Cup Classic
Lined up to face the son of Into Mischief are last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone, as well as Kentucky-bred Grade 1 winner Fierceness. Sierra Leone (8-1) is attempting to join Tiznow (2000-2001) as the only repeat Classic winner. Campaigned by trainer Chad Brown, Sierra Leone races for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Brook T. Smith, and Peter M. Brant. Flavien Prat will ride from post 7.
Fierceness (4-1) – a son of City of Light bred by Repole Stable and raced by that entity, in partnership with Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier—is seeking a second Championships victory to go with his 2023 score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher. John Velazquez has the mount from post 1.
The Kentucky-bred contingent in the weekend’s marquee race includes Grade 1-winning Kentucky-breds Baeza, Journalism, Nevada Beach, and Antiquarian, as well as Contrary Thinking.
Future Stars Friday
On Friday’s Future Stars Friday program, Kentucky-breds comprise the entire eight-horse field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Spenthrift Farm’s Kentucky homebred Ted Noffey. The son of Into Mischief is undefeated in three lifetime starts. He won the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Trainer Bob Baffert will saddle Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Brant, a $3 million graduate of this year’s OBS March Sale. The undefeated son of Gun Runner captured the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his second lifetime start. Also contesting the Juvenile is Intrepido, winner of the American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita in his most recent outing.
Alcibiades S. (G1) and Spinaway S. (G1) winner Tommy Jo headlines the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The undefeated Spendthrift Farm homebred is trained by Pletcher. Baffert is represented by Oak Leaf S. (G2) winner Explora. Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman own the daughter of Blame who was bred in the Bluegrass by Mesingw Farm