The $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) has been run since 1984. Among its prominent winners are Goldikova (2008, 2009, 2010), Tepin (2015) and Wise Dan (2012, 2013).
On Saturday, Oct. 31, at Keeneland, the Mile is the ninth race on the second day of the $34 million, 14-race, two-day Breeders’ Cup extravaganza. Post time is 4:20 p.m. ET. The race will be televised by NBC and Peacock.
The pre-entries will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 21; the gate draw is Monday, Oct. 26.
The defending Mile champion tuned up by winning the Woodbine Mile (G1), just as he did last year. As a 3-year-old in 2024 he was third in the Mile, missing by about a length. It's Notable Speech's second trip to Keeneland, where he ran fourth at even money after being blocked and steadied in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) this spring. He's one of the century's most accomplished milers, earning more than $4.3 million by going 7-for-16 on grass. Appleby won the Mile four times in the past five years, including three in a row from 2021 through 2023.
Betting angle: If he's 5-2 or better, definitely worth a win wager.
What to watch: If he can get a clear run through the stretch, his patented late surge could earn another trophy.
If you're a fan of the "horses for courses" angle, here's your guy. The 5-year-old gelding recently won his second consecutive Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), leading throughout to score by 2 1/4 lengths. He got away with easy fractions, loping along through 6 furlongs in 1:14 before blasting home the final quarter-mile in 22.28 seconds. He won't be able to walk on the lead in the Mile, famous for its hot pace.
Betting angle: Likely to be in the 5-1 or 6-1 range, and if so, play him to win.
What to watch: Rhetorical has three victories after stalking the leaders from a few lengths behind. Expect Irad to try to work out that kind of trip.
Top-class 5-year-old won six straight graded stakes before finishing second to Notable Speech in the Woodbine Mile. He can lead or stalk, so expect him to be in the mix at the eighth pole. He's 8-for-12 with three seconds and a third on grass, rare consistency, especially at the top level.
Betting angle: One of the likeliest winners deserves a win bet and belongs in exactas with other serious contenders.
What to watch: Notable Speech rallied past Deterministic at Woodbine. Clement hopes to reverse that exacta. “It was a one-turn race with a long stretch, and all day the course was favoring closers,” he told drf.com. “At Keeneland it's two turns and the stretch is 22 percent shorter than Woodbine's.”
The 3-year-old filly True Love trained by Aidan O’Brien defeated males at ParisLongchamp in the 7-furlong Prix de la Foret (G1) on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) undercard. It was her first victory in six starts since she won the One Thousand Guineas (G1) in May at Newmarket.
Why a value bet? True Love is 11-for-15 in the exacta, and if she's back to where she was in the spring, she could outrun her odds.
The risk: As O'Brien said, “She's a serious filly who's been on the go for a long time.” It would be her ninth graded stakes this year, so could the Mile be one race too many?
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.
