As we approach the highly anticipated 2025 Breeders’ Cup, excitement builds within the horse racing community.
Get ready for an exciting 2025 Breeders’ Cup, a two-day event that promises to showcase the best in horse racing! 14 Grade 1 championship races at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California, from Friday, October 31, to Saturday, November 1
Friday, October 31 (Future Stars Friday)
The first day features five races for two-year-old horses.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Distance: 5 furlongs on the turf.
Purse: $1,000,000.
Key contenders:
Intricate Spirit: Trained by Miguel Clement, this colt won the Grade 3 Futurity at Aqueduct in October.
Lady Iman: Based in Europe, this filly earned an automatic qualifying bid with a victory in the Molecomb Stakes (G3) at Goodwood in July.
Charles Darwin: From the powerful Aidan O’Brien stable, he secured a spot by winning the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot in June.
Lennilu: An accomplished U.S. filly who has won multiple stakes races and put away a fast male rival in her final prep in the Hollywood Beach Stakes at Gulfstream.
Outfielder: Trained by Wesley Ward, he won an allowance race at Keeneland in October.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Distance: 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.
Purse: $2,000,000.
Notable contenders:
Tommy Jo: The winner of the Spinaway (G1) and Alcibiades (G1).
Explora: The winner of the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) and trained by Bob Baffert.
Bottle of Rouge: The winner of the Del Mar Debutante (G1), also trained by Bob Baffert.
Iron Orchard: A perfect 3-for-3 in her career, including a win in the Frizette (G1).
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Distance: 1 mile on the turf course.
Purse: $1,000,000.
Key contenders:
Diamond Necklace (IRE): The winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at Longchamp in October. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, whose stable has historically done well in this race.
Ground Support: After a maiden win at 100-1 odds, she won the Miss Grillo Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct in October.
Imaginationthelady: Won the Jessamine Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in early October.
Precise (IRE): An Aidan O’Brien trainee who won two Challenge Series races in Europe: the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) in September and the Prestige Stakes (G3) in August.
Brave Deb: Won the Surfer Girl Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in October.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Distance: 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt track.
Purse: $2,000,000, making it the richest two-year-old race in North America.
Weight: Colts and geldings will carry 122 lbs.
Key contenders:
Ted Noffey: Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Spendthrift Farm, this colt won the Hopeful (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and is considered a top contender.
Brant: From the Bob Baffert stable, Brant is an unbeaten colt who won the Del Mar Futurity (G1). The Juvenile will be his first time going two turns.
Intrepido: Trained by Jeff Mullins, Intrepido secured an automatic “Win and You’re In” berth by winning the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) in October at Santa Anita Park.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Distance: 1 mile on the turf course.
Purse: $1,000,000.
Top contenders:
Puerto Rico (IRE): Trained by Aidan O’Brien, this colt earned an automatic qualifying bid by winning the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère in France in October.
Gstaad: Also from the Aidan O’Brien yard, this horse has demonstrated strong European form, placing second in both the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
Final Score: A Todd Pletcher trainee, this colt earned his berth by winning the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland in October.
Argos: This colt secured his “Win and You’re In” spot by winning the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in September.
Benvenuto Cellini (IRE): Another Aidan O’Brien-trained runner who qualified by winning the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes in Ireland in September.
Bottas: Trained by Miguel Clement, Bottas won the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes in New York.
Saturday, November 1 (Championship Saturday)
The second day includes nine championship races for older horses.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Distance: 7 furlongs on the dirt track.
Purse: $1,000,000.
Top contenders:
Hope Road: Earned a spot by winning the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga.
Kopion: After a dominant 2025 campaign, this filly is a strong probable for the race.
Haulin Ice: Earned her automatic berth by winning the Grade 3 Princess Rooney.
Tamara: A Spendthrift Farm-bred filly who won the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes.
Praying: Won the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.
Vahva: Won the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff and Grade 3 Chicago Stakes earlier in the year.
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Distance: 5 furlongs on the turf course.
Purse: $1,000,000.
Key Challenge Series race winners:
American Affair (GB): Won the King Charles III Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Ag Bullet: Won the Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in June.
Arizona Blaze (GB): Won the Flying Five (G1) at the Curragh in September.
Motorious (GB): Won the Green Flash Handicap (G3) at Del Mar in August.
Bear River: Won the Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) at Kentucky Downs in August.
Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Distance: 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) on the dirt track.
Purse: $2,000,000.
Top contenders:
Straight No Chaser: The defending champion from 2024, trained by Dan Blacker.
Imagination: Trained by Bob Baffert, he won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), which gave him an automatic qualifying spot.
Nakatomi: Trained by Wesley Ward, he won the Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland to secure his berth.
Lovesick Blues: Won the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) to earn an automatic entry.
Bentornato: Returned from a layoff to win a prep race at Churchill Downs and is aiming for the Sprint.
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Distance: 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.
Purse: $2,000,000.
Key contenders:
Gin Gin: Won the Spinster Stakes (G1) in October and is a top contender.
Seismic Beauty: A Bob Baffert-trained filly who won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in August.
Dorth Vader: Secured an automatic entry by winning the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) in June at Saratoga.
Nitrogen: The winner of the Alabama Stakes (G1) who has performed well on both turf and dirt.
Scottish Lassie: Won the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in dominant fashion.
Gun Song: Won the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct in late September.
Sarawak Rim (ARG): An Argentinian mare who qualified by winning the Gran Premio Criadores (G1).
Breeders’ Cup Turf
Distance: 1 1/2 miles on the turf course.
Purse: $5,000,000, attracting top grass talent from around the world.
Top contenders:
El Cordobes (IRE): Won the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes (G2) in England, securing his spot in the field.
Rebel’s Romance (IRE): The two-time winner of the race is back and has been in strong form in Europe throughout 2025.
Ombudsman (IRE): Won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and the International Stakes (G1) at York, but is expected to run in the Turf over the Classic.
Ole Crazy Bone: After being claimed for $100,000, this horse won the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) to earn a “Win and You’re In” berth.
Gold Phoenix (IRE): Making his fourth consecutive appearance in the Turf, this consistent veteran won the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) in 2025.
Calandagan (IRE): Secured an automatic entry after winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot.
Breeders’ Cup Classic
Distance: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the dirt track. The field is limited to 14 starters.
Purse: $7,000,000.
Top contenders:
Three-year-olds
SCRATCHED-Sovereignty: This colt won the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes and is considered the leading three-year-old in the country.
Journalism: The winner of the Preakness Stakes and Haskell Stakes is also expected to compete.
Baeza: Won the Pennsylvania Derby and is an improving prospect for the Classic.
Nevada Beach: Trained by four-time Classic winner Bob Baffert, this colt won the Goodwood Stakes to secure an automatic berth.
Older horses
Sierra Leone: The winner of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic as a three-year-old, he returns to defend his title.
Fierceness: The 2024 Kentucky Derby favorite finished second in the 2024 Classic and is returning for another try after winning the Pacific Classic.
Forever Young (JPN): This Japanese runner finished third in the 2024 Classic and has continued to perform at a high level internationally, including a win in the Saudi Cup.
Mindframe: Won the Stephen Foster Stakes earlier in the year to earn a “Win and You’re In” spot.
Breeders’ Cup Mile
Distance: 1 mile on the turf course.
Purse: $2,000,000.
Top contenders:
Johannes: After a brief stint out of state, the California-based gelding returned to his winning ways by taking the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita.
Notable Speech (GB): Representing European powerhouse Godolphin, he won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in Canada in September after a strong run in France.
Rhetorical: A New York-bred gelding who earned a spot by winning the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland in October.
Sahlan (IRE): This 3-year-old won the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in France and will prefer the firm turf at Del Mar.
Formidable Man: A consistent California-based gelding who won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile and the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile in 2025.
Never So Brave (IRE): After a trainer change in 2025, he returned to winning form in Europe with Group wins at Ascot and York.
Simply in Front: This filly won the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland in October and often performs well against elite competition.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Distance: 1 mile on the dirt track.
Purse: $1,000,000.
Key contenders:
Full Serrano: Winner of the 2024 Dirt Mile at Del Mar, he is returning to defend his title. The Argentinian-bred runner is trained by John Sadler.
Nysos: Trained by Bob Baffert, he won the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar and is a probable runner in the Dirt Mile.
Mystik Dan: The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner captured the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) in September and is a possible contender.
Citizen Bull: Another Bob Baffert-trained horse, he won the Shared Belief Stakes and was the 2024 Eclipse Award winner for Champion Two-Year-Old Male.
Dr. Venkman: Earned a “Win and You’re In” spot by taking the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar in August.
Touch of Destiny (URU): This undefeated Uruguayan-bred runner earned an automatic berth by winning the Gran Premio Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) in his home country.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Distance: 1 3/8 miles on the turf course.
Purse: $2,000,000.
Key contenders:
She Feels Pretty: A five-time Grade 1 winner, she earned her spot by winning the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine.
Bellezza (IRE): The winner of the Flower Bowl Stakes (G2), this Irish-bred filly is trained by Miguel Clement.
La Kika (PER): The Peruvian Horse of the Year captured the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) in her home country to qualify.
Minnie Hauk (IRE): Another talented contender from trainer Aidan O’Brien’s powerful European stable, she won the Yorkshire Oaks (G1).
Fallen Angel (GB): This British runner earned a “Win and You’re In” berth by winning the Matron Stakes (G1) in Ireland.
Double Grand Slam (SAF): From South Africa, this filly qualified by winning the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1).
Get all of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at https://breederscup.com/horses/contenders/
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