The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is set to feature perhaps the strongest field in the 42-year history of a race that often determines Horse of the Year.
A total of 207 pre-entries were announced on Wednesday for the two-day, 14-race, $34 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
The 1 ¼-mile Classic (post time 6:25 p.m. ET, Nov. 1) should have bettors flocking to the windows (and computers), well aware that any of the 10 of the 11 pre-entries can win.
The star-studded lineup includes expected favorite Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) winner; a Bob Baffert-trained longshot Nevada Beach, and the top three finishers from the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Japan’s Forever Young.
The other Classic pre-entries are Preakness Stakes and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian, Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Baeza, Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) winner Mindframe, Woodward Stakes (G2) winner Locked, and Contrary Thinking, who will be the longest shot in the field.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has four Classic pre-entries in Fierceness, Mindframe, Antiquarian, and Locked. Sixteen Classic winners have gone on to be voted Horse of the Year.
Among Breeders’ Cup winners from last year pre-entered are Sierra Leone, Rebel’s Romance (2022, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf), Full Serrano (Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile), and Straight No Chaser (Breeders’ Cup Sprint).
Other previous Breeders’ Cup race winners pre-entered include Fierceness (2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), Nobals (2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint), and White Abarrio (2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic). White Abarrio is pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Pre-entries came in from around the world, and the number of individual horses totaled 191. Owners of 16 horses chose to pre-enter in two races, declaring a first and second preference.
The official gate draw for the Breeders’ Cup races is Monday (Oct. 27), with post positions and morning-line odds announced.
Del Mar is hosting the Breeders’ Cup for the fourth time, following a record-setting 2024 edition that set a global wagering mark of $203.7 million. Horses from five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America – are pre-entered, including 58 from abroad. Contenders are from Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, Ireland, France, Japan, Peru, South Africa, the United States, and Uruguay.
“The incredible group of horses pre-entered for this year’s Breeders’ Cup reflects the unmatched quality and global prestige of the World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “The divisions are loaded with champions, classic winners, and international stars. We are deeply grateful to the owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, and teams, whose dedication and care make it possible for these extraordinary Thoroughbreds to put on an incredible show.
NBC Sports and USA Network will broadcast more than 10 hours of racing coverage. NBC's full coverage will also be simul-streamed on Peacock, providing live, continuous coverage of all 14 Breeders' Cup races. International live telecasts will be carried by ITV4, Sky Sports Racing, and Racing TV in the UK; Virgin Media in Ireland; ESPN in Latin America; Green Channel, Abema TV, and Netkeiba in Japan; Sportsnet in Canada; SuperSport across Africa; and FanCode in India.
The opening day, Friday (Oct. 31), features five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds. On Saturday, there are nine Breeders’ Cup races.
| Race No. | Race Name | Post Time ET |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pacific Shore (Allowance) | 2:35pm |
| 2 | The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes | 3:10pm |
| 3 | Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes | 3:45pm |
| 4 | Senator Ken Maddy Stakes (L) | 4:25pm |
| 5 | Golden State Juvenile Stakes | 5:05pm |
| 6 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) | 5:45pm |
| 7 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) | 6:25pm |
| 8 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) | 7:05pm |
| 9 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) | 7:45pm |
| 10 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) | 8:25pm |
The race has 22 pre-entries with a maximum field of 12. Intricate Spirit, winner of the Futurity Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, is the lone “Win and You’re In’’ qualifier. Others pre-entered include three from Aidan O’Brien: Brussels, Mission Central, and True Love.
Top contenders include Tommy Jo for trainer Todd Pletcher and Explora for trainer Bob Baffert.
Ground Support, Imaginationthelady, and Precise qualified through the “Win and You’re In’’ series. A total of 16 horses were pre-entered.
Unbeaten Ted Noffey, also trained by Pletcher, heads the pre-entries along with Baffert-trained Brant and Intrepido for trainer Jeff Mullins
Argos and Bottas, both winners of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series events, lead the U.S.-contingent.
| Race | Race Name | Post Time ET |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sunrise (Allowance) | 1:05pm |
| 2 | The Ocean View (Allowance) | 1:40pm |
| 3 | Goldikova Stakes (G3) | 2:15pm |
| 4 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) | 3:00pm |
| 5 | Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) | 3:41pm |
| 6 | Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) | 4:21pm |
| 7 | Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) | 5:01pm |
| 8 | Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) | 5:41pm |
| 9 | Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) | 6:25pm |
| 10 | Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) | 7:05pm |
| 11 | Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | 7:45pm |
| 12 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) | 8:25pm |
The 12 pre-entries include Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) winner Haulin Ice, Ballerina Stakes (G1) winner Hope Road, and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) winner Praying. The field of 12 seems evenly matched, and this looks like one of the more challenging races to handicap.
A quarter of automatic qualifiers are among the 18 horses pre-entered: AG Bullet, Arizona Blaze, Bear River, and Motorious. The field is limited to 14 starters.
Yet another strong field with 17 pre-entered, including Imagination for Baffert, defending champ Straight No Chaser, Dr. Venkman, and Nakatomi.
With defending champ and Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna retired, the field is wide open. Top contenders among the 14 pre-entered include Seismic Beauty, Nitrogen, Gin Gin, and Clicquot.
A whole field of 14 was pre-entered for a race usually dominated by European runners. Among the top contenders are two-time Turf winner Rebel’s Romance and El Cordobes for trainer Charlie Appleby and Minnie Hauk for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The U.S. contingent is strong, led by Gold Phoenix, trained by Phil D’Amato.
The best of the best is set: Sovereignty is ready to take on his 3-year-old rivals, including Journalism and Baeza, as well as older horses, including Sierra Leone, Forever Young, and four from trainer Todd Pletcher, Fierceness, Mindframe, Antiquarian, and Locked.
Trainer Chad Brown has Contrary Thinking pre-entered as a potential early pacesetter for Sierra Leone, a deep closer.
Another race dominated by the Europeans, but U.S. contenders look to have a solid shot. Among them are Johannes for trainer Tim Yakteen and Program Trading for Chad Brown. Notable Speech is the likely favorite for top trainer Charlie Appleby.
A Kentucky Derby winner (Mystik Dan), a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner (White Abarrio), and last year’s Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano are among the star-studded pre-entries lineup. Also pre-entered a pair from Baffert, Nysos, and Goal Oriented.
She Feels Pretty, trained by Cherie DeVaux, and a pair of Charlie Appleby trainees, Cinderella’s Dream and Diamond Rain, are among the 18 horses pre-entered.
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.
