Undefeated Cave Rock puts his perfect record on the line in the $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and tops a strong Kentucky-bred contingent entered in the Future Stars Friday card at Keeneland on Nov. 4, the first of two days of racing in this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The dark bay or brown son of the late Arrogate, Cave Rock has been sensational in each of his three outings to date. He broke his maiden by six lengths in his career debut at Del Mar in August and returned to run his rivals off their feet with a 5 ¼-length victory in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in just his second career start. In his most recent race, Cave Rock rolled to a front-running 5 ¼-length tally in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita and heads into his biggest test to date as the prohibitive favorite in a field of 10.

Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Cave Rock was bred in the Bluegrass by Anne and Ronnie Sheffer Racing LLC, and he is trained by Bob Baffert. Produced from the Bellamy Road mare Georgie’s Angel, Cave Rock was a $550,000 Keeneland September Sale graduate in 2021.

“Why is he so fast?” Baffert said. “Probably because his sire is one of the fastest horses I ever trained, one of the greatest horses I ever trained. He has the God-given talent of speed, and he gets it from both sides of the family. He’s powerful. He’s very mature. If you look at him.”

Cave Rock’s sternest competition figures to come from Forte, winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) over the Keeneland surface; Blazing Sevens, impressive winner of the Champagne Stakes (G1) in his last try; and stablemate National Treasure who just chased Cave Rock home in the American Pharoah Stakes..

Forte is a Kentucky-bred son of Violence owned by Repole Stable and St Elias Stable. Todd Pletcher conditions the three-time winner who was bred in the Bluegrass by South Gate Farm and is a $110,000 Keeneland September Sale graduate.

Blazing Sevens is by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Good Magic and is campaigned by Rodeo Creek Racing. Tracy Farmer bred the dark bay or brown colt, and he is trained by Chad Brown. Blazing Sevens sold at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale for $225,000.

National Treasure is a Quality Road colt co-owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables and also trained by Baffert.

“National Treasure is very talented, too,” Baffert said, “but he hasn’t really filled into his frame. I think Cave Rock is very mature. He looks like a 2-year-old, just one of those horses that just really came around quickly.”

Kentucky-breds are also prominent in the $2,000,000 Juvenile Fillies (G1) which is headed by Chocolate Gelato, Chop Chop, and Wonder Wheel.

Repole Stable’s Chocolate Gelato is fresh off a one-length win in the Frizette Stakes (G1) over a sloppy track at Aqueduct. Prior to that score, she broke her maiden by a dominating 8 ½ lengths at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. The daughter of Practical Joke was bred in the Bluegrass by Vincent Colbert and was a $475,000 acquisition at the Fasig-Tipton March Sale at Gulfstream Park.

Chop Chop is a Kentucky-bred daughter of City of Light trained by Brad Cox. The bay filly just missed to Wonder Wheel in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) over the track at Keeneland, rallying from far back to lose by a just a nose at the wire. She retains jockey Joel Rosario and will break from post position No. 7. The $230,0000 graduate of the Fasig-Tipton July Sale in 2021, Chop Chip was bred by Cobra Farm and MRJ Thoroughbreds and is owned by Selective LLC.

Wonder Wheel captured the Alcibiades in gutsy fashion in her last start, leading from gate to wire and fending off all challengers through the lane. The daughter of perennial leading sire Into Mischief is owned by D J Stable and is trained by Mark Casse. Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and Clearsky Farm, Wonder Wheel sold at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale for $275,000.