A top-class international field of 14 contenders was entered Oct. 28 for the 41st running of the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for a third time.
The 1 1/4-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 is topped by morning-line favorite City of Troy (5-2), campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith and trained by Aidan O’Brien, with Repole Stable’s Fierceness (3-1) the second choice on the morning line. Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (JPN) (6-1) is the third choice in his first U.S. appearance since a narrow loss in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Featuring 14 Grade 1 races during an international festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, the 2024 World Championships will entertain fans from around the globe as the sport’s best horses, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys compete over two days of world-class racing. Attendees will enjoy outstanding culinary experiences, high fashion, and top entertainment at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, “Where the Turf meets the Surf” on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
A total of 179 horses were entered in the World Championships, a California record, including three previous Champions: Big Evs (IRE), Fierceness, and Rebel’s Romance (IRE). There are 67 international contenders, also a record for the World Championships. Nine countries are represented: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, from a record five continents –Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.
The Breeders’ Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and FanDuel TV. The NBC coverage includes a network window from 3:30-6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2. The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) will be the centerpiece of the Championships Saturday program with a post time of 2:41 p.m. PT / 5:41 p.m. ET. There will be four Championship races before and four Championship races after the Classic, centering the marquee race as the end of the middle Pick 5 and the start of the late Pick 5 on the wagering menu.
Fans can visit BreedersCup.com/Watch for a detailed broadcast and streaming schedule. International live coverage is led by ITV4, Sky Sports, and RacingTV in the UK and Ireland, along with Green Channel in Japan, which will broadcast live from Del Mar. Additionally, the NBC World Feed will be sent to more than 150 countries around the globe. Five Championship races will be run on “Future Stars Friday,” all for 2-year-olds, while the “Championships Saturday” card features nine Championship races anchored by the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Fans can learn more about their favorite runners via the contender profiles at BreedersCup.com, which provide extensive statistics, race replays, news, photos, and more.
City of Troy, Forever Young Challenge Fierceness in Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
In the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, four-time Group 1 winner City of Troy will be making his dirt track debut. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify will be ridden by Ryan Moore from post 3.
“We always talk very highly of him,” said O’Brien, who has a stellar record of 18 previous wins in the World Championships but is chasing his first win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic after 17 prior attempts. “Obviously, he was by Justify, so there was always a big chance that he would (run well) on the dirt. He has a very brave heart… He has a very high cruising speed, tactically, very quick… He was a horse we always dreamed about that maybe could be very competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness enters the Classic off a victory in the Travers Stakes (G1), his third Grade 1 victory, with the first coming in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year at Santa Anita Park – a win that solidified championship honors as the top 2-year-old of 2023. John Velazquez has the mount from post 9 aboard the son of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light.
Third choice on the morning line at 6-1 is Forever Young, a winner of six of seven starts trained by Yoshito Yahagi. Ryusei Sakai has the mount Saturday from post 1.
Completing the field in post-position order are: Highland Falls (post 2, 20-1), Mixto (post 4, 30-1), Senor Buscador (post 5, 30-1), Derma Sotogake (JPN) (post 6, 20-1), Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (post 7, 12-1), Pyrenees (post 8, 30-1), Tapit Trice (post 10, 30-1), Sierra Leone(post 11, 12-1), Arthur’s Ride (post 12, 15-1), Newgate (post 13, 20-1), and Next (post 14, 8-1). Rattle N Roll is listed as an also eligible (30-1).
Thorpedo Anna Headlines Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Thorpedo Anna (4-5), winner of four Grade 1 races during a phenomenal 3-year-old season and runner-up to Classic second-choice Fierceness in the Travers Stakes (G1), heads a 10-horse field for the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. for Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna comes into the Distaff off a victory in the Sept. 21 Cotillion (G1) at Parx Racing. She will begin the 1 1/8-mile pursuit from post 2.
The second and third choices are Raging Sea (7-2) and Awesome Result (4-1).
Alpha Delta Stables’ Raging Sea has won six of her past seven starts for trainer Chad Brown. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 6.
Insel Racing’s undefeated Awesome Result is trained by Yasutoshi Ikee and will be making her first start outside of Japan. Yutaka Take has the mount from post 9.
Rebel’s Romance Returns in Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
European standout Rebel’s Romance (IRE), winner of the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland, tops the morning line at 5-2 of a 13-horse field for the $5 million Longines
Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) to be run at 1 1/2 miles.
Owned by Godolphin, Rebel’s Romance is trained by Charlie Appleby and will be ridden by William Buick from post 11.
Second choice at 4-1 on the morning line is Iraj Parvizi’s Jayarebe (FR). Trained by Brian Meehan, Jayarebe took the Prix Dollar (G2) at Longchamp in his most recent start and will be partnered Saturday by Sean Levey from post 5.
Watership Down Stud and Tactful Finance’s Emily Upjohn (GB) is the third choice at 5-1. Trained by John Gosden, Emily Upjohn will be ridden by Frankie Dettori from post 2.
Championships Saturday Card Loaded with Talent
Other morning line favorites for Saturday’s program are Klaravich Stables’ Ways and Means (5-2) in the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) – the first Breeders’ Cup race on Championships Saturday; Clark Brewster and Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Cogburn (7-5) in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1); George Krikorian’sWar Like Goddess (5-2) in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1); WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Federal Judge (3-1) in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1); Godolphin’s Notable Speech (GB) (7-2) in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) presented by PDJF; and Klaravich Stables’ Domestic Product (7-2) in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Future Stars Look to Shine
Highlighting the five Breeders’ Cup races on the Friday card is the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), where Godolphin homebredEast Avenue is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 set to race 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Trained by Brendan Walsh, East Avenue will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and will exit post 1 in his third start. The son of Medaglia d’Oro is a perfect 2-for-2 off a 5 1/4-length victory in the Oct. 5 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland after breaking his maiden in August at Ellis Park.
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photo Finish, Corms Racing Stable and trainer Jorge Abreu’s Scottish Lassie is the 5-2 morning line choice for the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which drew a field of 10 going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The undefeated Ecoro Sieg (7-2) is favored in a 12-horse field (plus two also eligibles) for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Lake Victoria (IRE) is the 8-5 favorite in a field of 14 (plus three also eligibles) for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). New Century (GB)(5-2), the top choice in a field of 14 (plus two also eligibles) in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) completes the Future Stars Friday lineup.
