Hi all,
In today’s main piece, I’m looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup, which gets underway on Friday. Today I’m looking at Friday’s card at Del Mar.
The Breeders’ Cup is one of my favourite race meetings of the year. While my recent record there isn’t exactly stellar, I usually manage to find a winner or two over the two days — and I’m hoping for something similar this time.
Del Mar: “Where the Turf Meets the Surf”
This year’s Breeders’ Cup returns to Del Mar. It’s a wonderful place to watch racing, but not necessarily the best track to stage such a prestigious meeting. Think Royal Ascot being switched to Chester and you’ll get what I mean.
Dirt Track:
The main track is a mile oval with tight turns and a relatively short straight. That short run-in often favours speed horses or those racing prominently, especially in sprints races.
Del Mar Turf Course:
The turf track is a seven-furlong oval that generally favours horses drawn inside and those with good tactical speed, though closers can still get involved if the pace is strong. Barring unseasonable weather, the surface is also likely to be quick albeit I expect the there to be a good covering of grass which will give it some spring.
On such a tight track as Del Mar, horses that haven’t raced around a bend before can find themselves at a disadvantage – as can big, long-striding types who prefer more galloping tracks.
Breeders’ Cup 2025: Future Stars Friday
There are three juvenile races on turf and two on dirt on Friday’s Del Mar card. I haven’t looked at the dirt races yet and probably won’t be having a bet in them.
The turf races are the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Aidan O’Brien, who has such a strong record with juveniles at the Breeders’ Cup in recent years, and he’ll likely have the favourite for all three races, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he landed the lot.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1) – 5f
O’Brien Duo Aim for Juvenile Sprint
Aidan O’Brien runs both True Love and Brussels.
True Love (9) was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) at Newmarket last time. Havana Anna (8), trained by Donnacha O’Brien, finished three-quarters of a length behind her that day, and the drop back to 5f should play to her strengths.
Brussels (1) was just touched off in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes (5f) at Newmarket, with Aspect Island only three-quarters of a length back in third. Aspect Island (4) improved for the drop back to 5f when a ¾ length third in the Cornwallis Stakes and looks a lively outsider. Dettori booked and stall 4 looks good.
Of the home team, Lennilu (12) could be best, but she’s drawn out wide. She’s four from four on U.S. soil, and her only defeat came when third to True Love in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Cy Fair (10) produced a strong finish when winning at Woodbine (5f) 25 days ago. This tighter track might not suit her but she’s a player.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1) – 1m
Precise Sets the Standard
Aidan O’Brien’s dual Group 1 winner Precise sets the standard. She’s clear on form but will have to overcome a wide draw in stall 13. She might well have the class to do so.
Queen Of Hawaii, trained by Joseph O’Brien, is two from two over a mile in Ireland, comes here fresh, and has a handy draw in stall 2.
Among the Americans, Imaginationthelady looks interesting for Frankie Dettori. She’s unbeaten in two starts and still improving. Drawn well in stall 3, she should get a good trip. Final Accord, a dual sprint winner, is bred for a mile and has place claims if she stays.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) – 1m
Gstaad Leads the Charge
Gstaad heads the ante-post betting for Aidan O’Brien after finishing runner-up in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. On form, he has a good chance of giving O’Brien an eighth win in the race, though he’s been dealt a tough draw in stall 14. Like his stablemate Precise, his class advantage could enable him to overcome his wide draw and last year’s winner Henri Matisse won for the trainer from stall 12.
I think the race is more open than the betting suggests. The best of the home team might be Hey Nay Nay, who’s three from three and won well over C&D last time, despite also drawing wide in 13. Argos, a Grade 1 winner at Woodbine over the trip, adds is another U.S challenger with solid claims.
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Thursday Preview:
Poor fare today, with the only race I’ve looked at being the Class 3 handicap (7f) at Southwell (6:00). Let’s keep it simple. We have a couple of progressive 3yos in Dapper Guest and Morte Point, a five-time C&D winner in Legal Reform, and at the foot of the weights, Woodstock.
Dapper Guest, a C&D winner, made it 2 from 2 on the all-weather with a Chelmsford win 21 days ago. He’s up 8lb but capable of more on the synthetics.
Morte Point impressed at Chelmsford (7f) just 14 days ago. He was well on top at the finish, so a 7lb rise shouldn’t stop him if he handles the Tapeta.
Legal Reform, a multiple C&D winner, should run well back at his favourite track. The 8yo, however, is vulnerable to any improvers in the field.
Woodstock has been running well on turf without winning but has form on Tapeta. He’s 5lb below his last winning mark and could pop up in a handicap before too long.
In tomorrow’s column I will be looking at Saturday’s card at the Breeders Cup.
Good luck with your Thursday bets.
John