A Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. A Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner. A Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner. The defending champion in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). And more.
The 42nd Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is three weeks away and the focus of the betting world may be on the $7 million BC Classic, but the $1 million BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 has all the makings of a star-studded lineup, too.
Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, is on target for what could be the final race of his career before being retired to Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. A son of two-time BC Dirt Mile winner Goldencents, Mystik Dan is 2-for-6 as a 4-year-old, including a victory in the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs on Sep. 27.
White Abarrio, who won the 2023 BC Classic, captured his first two races as a 6-year-old this year, but is 0-for-3 since. In his last race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), he was forced into Mindframe shortly after the start. Jockey Edgard Zayas lost an iron and Irad Ortiz, Jr. was unseated from Mindframe and momentarily landed on White Abarrio’s back before hitting the track. Somehow, White Abarrio managed to finish fourth.
“He bounced out of the race well,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., said Thursday after the horse worked at Gulfstream Park. “It wasn’t what you wanted to see. It wasn’t what anyone wanted to see, but I’m grateful everyone came out of it fine. It’s part of racing.”
White Abarrio may have his on and off days at the races, but he’s earned more than $7 million with a resume of 24-10-2-3.
Work of the Day from @GulfstreamPark—White Abarrio (Outside) and Practically Dark worked 4 Furlongs in 45.86 on October 9th, 2025, for trainer @SaffieJosephJr. @BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/9F1vfQJNJg
— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) October 9, 2025
Citizen Bull (remember him?) won the BC Juvenile a year ago for trainer Bob Baffert and comes into the Dirt Mile off a victory in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 31. Baffert could also send out 4-year-old Nysos (5-for-6).
And then there’s Full Serrano, last year’s Dirt Mile winner at 13-1 odds. Trainer John Sadler said his 6-year-old is coming into the race as well as he did last year. A year ago, the Argentina-bred finished second in the Pacific Classic (G1) before the Breeders’ Cup, and he finished second in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in just his second race of 2025.
Full Serrano wins the $1 Million @bigassfans #BreedersCup Dirt Mile! Congrats to all connections! #BC24 pic.twitter.com/bFDCtg3olx
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 3, 2024
“I think he’s right where he was last year,” Sadler told drf.com, adding that Joel Rosario will be aboard as he was in the ‘24 Dirt Mile. “I don’t see any drop-off on him. He’s in good shape and strong.”
A few more familiar names, and Grade 1 stakes winners as well, are also in contention. Locked, winner of the Woodward Stakes (G2) to earn an automatic berth in the Classic, may run instead in the Dirt Mile. Trainer Todd Pletcher already has three Classic contenders in Fierceness, Mindframe and Antiquarian.
Chancer McPatrick, who became an early Derby contender after 2-year-old victories in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Champagne Stakes (G1), also is set for the Dirt Mile in what will be the final race of his career. He won the listed Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on July 24, then finished fourth in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Aug. 23.
The Dirt Mile has a history of stirring finishes, perhaps the best coming in 2023 when the ‘people’s choice’ Cody’s Wish came through with a heart-pounding stretch run that included a few bumps and a stewards inquiry after nosing out National Treasure at the wire. The victory made Cody’s Wish the second two-time winner of the Dirt Mile and clinched Horse of the Year honors in the final race of his remarkable career.
The victory was a ‘dream come true’ climax to the career of Cody’s Wish, famously named for Cody Dorman, a teenager with a rare genetic disorder who bonded with the horse and attended the race.
A storybook finish like that may not occur this time, but the lineup of contenders is impressive. For those who bet horse racing, handicappers coming through with a hefty winning ticket can take a bow.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
