Breeders’ Cup bumped up to 14 races
Two-day program will award a record $30 million
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Breeders’ Cup is back in familiar surroundings at Churchill Downs, with an additional stakes race bumping the two-day program to 14 and prize money up to a record $30 million.
As always, the marquee race is today’s $6 million Cup Classic that could help determine which thoroughbred ends up as Horse of the Year. Not to mention, establishing the top horse in several age divisions along with the top jockey and trainer.
One notable absence from the Classic is Triple Crown winner Justify, whom trainer Bob Baffert retired in July because of an ankle ailment. That leaves the Classic without horse racing’s biggest name, but also a bunch of horses poised to make their presence known — and bettors happy.
Accelerate aims to make it six wins in seven starts this year as the 5-2 favorite in the 1¼-mile headliner.
“He’s had a really beautiful year,” trainer John Sadler said this week. “He’s a really healthy, strong guy. As a 5-year-old, he’s come out of those Classic races in good shape physically and continued right on.”
The season-ending championships should also provide a glimpse of what to expect when racing returns to the historic track for May’s 145th Kentucky Derby.
Some other things to watch in the 35th Breeders’ Cup World Championships: WELL RESTED: Bob Baffert’s decision to not run Justify in the Classic is offset by two horses coming
off six-month breaks. West Coast’s runner-up finish to Accelerate in the Awesome Again Stakes was among three second-place finishes this year. McKinzie’s Pennsylvania Derby victory came after he was disqualified to second in the Grade 2 San Felipe in March. The 3-year-old also won the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita.
STAR-STUDDED DISTAFF: This race for fillies and mares features the two most recent Kentucky Oaks winners in Monomoy Girl and Abel Tasman. Trained by Louisville native Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl has won five of six as a 3-year-old and might have been unbeaten if not for a disqualification to second after winning the Grade 1 Cotillion in September. Second in last year’s Distaff at Del Mar, Abel Tasman has eight wins and four seconds in 15 career starts and was last year’s Eclipse Award winner as top 3-year-old filly. TOUGH ON TURF: British filly Enable will make her American debut in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf as the even-money favorite behind Lanfranco Dettori. The 4-year-old has won both starts this year, including her second consecutive win in the Arc de Triomphe in France by a neck. She has nine wins and a third in 10 starts and more than $8.5 million in career earnings. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Irishbased trainer Aiden O’Brien has 15 entrants among eight races this weekend, including 2017 Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn, who’s entered in the
Classic. The Breeders’ Cup Mile will have four O’Brien horses, while Friday’s Juvenile Turf Sprint has three. The Juvenile Turf has 4-1 favorite Anthony Van Dyck, who will break from the No. 14 post. SCHEDULE CHANGE: The $1 million Cup Dirt Mile and $2 million Cup Distaff have moved from Friday to Saturday and expanded the card to nine races. The Distaff is now part of the final four races building up toward the Classic.
FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Game Winner surged down the stretch and pulled away from Knicks Go after a bump to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 2¼ lengths, giving trainer Bob Baffert an early Kentucky Derby favorite just five months after winning his second Triple Crown with Justify.
Line of Duty survived a lengthy postrace review before stewards upheld his half-length victory over Uncle Benny in the $1 million Juvenile Turf.
Jaywalk went wire to wire to win the $2 million Fillies, leaving the field behind down the stretch for a 5½-length margin.
Newspaperofrecord rolled to another dominant victory, pulling away down the stretch for a 6¾-length win over East in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Irish bred paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.40 and improved to 3-0 lifetime, winning each time by at least six lengths.
Bulletin opened the Breeders’ Cup by pulling away to a 2¾-length victory over Chelsea Cloisters in the $1 million inaugural Juvenile Turf Sprint, earning a graded stakes win in just his second career start.