The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the holy grail of competition for Thoroughbred racehorses, will occur October 30 and 31 this year at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky. While I won’t be there in person, I’m excited to watch the many contenders who raced this summer at Saratoga Race Course, my hometown race track, as well as Keeneland, Aqueduct and Belmont, which I visited earlier this year. In this post, I’ll share some photos of many of those contenders and what race they will run in. I shot many of these images for The Saratoga Special. Click here to read my other Breeders’ Cup posts.
Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty is a contender in the Classic. The Bill Mott trainee’s shining moment this year came when winning the Grade I Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, a Win and You’re In qualifying race for the Classic.
Golden Tempo is a contender in the Classic. The Cherie DeVaux trainee captured the attention of racing fans nationwide when he took the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Most recently he was third in the Travers Stakes.
The Puma is a contender in the Classic. The Gustavo Delgado trainee won both the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby and the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby this year.
Forged Steel is a contender in the Classic and the Dirt Mile. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee won both the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup and the Grade I Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita this year.
Further Ado is a contender in the Classic and the Dirt Mile. The Brad Cox trainee won the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade III Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs this year.
Knightsbridge is a contender in the Classic and the Dirt Mile. The Bill Mott trainee won four graded stakes this year, including the Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
Magnitude is a contender in the Classic. The Steve Asmussen trainee won the Dubai World Cup, the Grade III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn, and the Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs this year.
Napoleon Solo is a contender in the Classic and the Dirt Mile. The Chad Summers trainee won the Preakness Stakes this year, then followed that up with runner up efforts in the Haskell Stakes and Travers Stakes, all grade 1 affairs.
Burnham Square is a contender in the Turf. The Ian Wilkes trainee won four stakes this year, capped off by the Grade I Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.
Minaret Station is a contender in the Turf. The Will Walden trainee placed in three consecutive graded stakes this year before winning the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont.
Survie is a contender in the Turf and the Filly & Mare Turf. The George Boughey trainee took a pair of graded stakes at the Spa this summer, before finishing 10th in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.
Test Score is a contender in the Turf. The Graham Motion trainee won two graded stakes this year and placed in a third.
Far Bridge is an also eligible in the Turf. The Miguel Clément trainee won the Grade III Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March, and was most recently second in the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont.
El Cordobes is an also eligible in the Turf. The Charlie Appleby trainee has not won this year, but finished third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
Eunomia is a contender in the Distaff. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee upset the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Santa Anita this year, in addition to a win in the Sandy Bottom Stakes at Colonial Downs.
Fully Subscribed is a contender in the Distaff. The Chad Brown trainee won three consecutive graded stakes this year and placed in two more.
Immersive is a contender in the Distaff. The Brad Cox trainee won the Grade II Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs and placed in four additional graded stakes.
Measure is a contender in the Distaff. The Mark Casse trainee has not won this year, but has placed in three consecutive grade 1 races.
Nitrogen is a contender in the Distaff. The Mark Casse trainee won three graded stakes this year and placed in three others, including a runner-up finish in the Grade I Whitney Stakes at Saratoga against males.
Regaled is a contender in the Distaff. The Whit Beckman trainee most recently won the Grade III Delaware Handicap in October.
Scottish Lassie is a contender in the Distaff. The Jorge Abreu trainee placed in two graded stakes at Saratoga last summer.
Cabo Spirit is a contender in the Mile. The George Papaprodromou trainee most recently won the Grade II City of Hope Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in September.
Classic Q is a contender in the Mile and the Filly & Mare Turf. The Mark Casse trainee won three graded stakes this year and placed in two others.
Deterministic is a contender in the Mile. The Miguel Clément trainee won three graded stakes this year, and most recently was second in the Grade I Woodbine Mile.
Notable Speech is a contender in the Mile, a race he won last year. The Charlie Appleby trainee won three grade/group 1 races this year.
Rhetorical is a contender in the Mile. The Will Walden trainee won two grade 1 races this year.
Zulu Kingdom is a contender in the Mile. The Chad Brown trainee won two graded stakes this year, and placed in two more.
Brilliant Berti is a contender in the Mile. The Cherie DeVaux trainee won the Green River Island Stakes at Ellis Park this year.
Explora is a contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The Bob Baffert trainee won four stakes this year, including the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga.
Kilwin is a contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The Rusty Arnold trainee won the Twin Bridges Stakes at Ellis Park this year, then finished second in the Grade I Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga.
Look Forward is contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The Michael McCarthy trainee ran only once this year, finishing second in the Open Mind Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Majestic Oops is a contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The Phil D’Amato trainee won two stakes this year and placed in three others.
Praying is a contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint and an also eligible in the Sprint. The Robbie Medina trainee has not won this year, but has placed in two graded stakes.
R Disaster is a contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee won three graded stakes this year, including the Grade I Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs.
Ways and Means is a contender in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The Chad Brown trainee won two graded stakes this year, including the Grade I Ballerina at Saratoga.
Bless the Broken is a contender in the Filly & Mare Turf. The Brad Cox trainee won the Grade II Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes this year.
Expensive Queen is a contender in the Filly & Mare Turf. The Brendan Walsh trainee won two stakes this year, including the Grade I Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland.
Gimme a Nother is a contender in the Filly & Mare Turf. The Graham Motion trainee won three graded stakes this year, including the Grade I E.P. Taylor at Woodbine.
Kathynmarissa is a contender in the Filly & Mare Turf. The Chad Brown trainee won three graded stakes this year, two of them grade 1 affairs.
Stellify is an also eligible in the Filly & Mare Turf. The Brad Cox trainee won the Grade III Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Invitational Stakes this year.
Evershed is an also eligible in the Filly & Mare Turf. The Arnaud Delacour trainee won the Grade III Waya Stakes at Saratoga this year.
Built is a contender in the Sprint and the Dirt Mile. The Wayne Catalano trainee won two stakes this year, including the Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga.
Englishman is a contender in the Sprint. The Cherie DeVaux trainee won two grade 1 races at Saratoga this year.
Hymn is a contender in the Sprint and the Dirt Mile. The Ron Moquett trainee won two stakes this year, including the Grade I Forego at Saratoga.
Listenupshance is a contender in the Sprint. The Doug O’Neill trainee won two graded stakes this year and placed in two others.
Nakatomi is a contender in the Sprint. The Wesley Ward trainee won the Grade II Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland this year.
Stradale is a contender in the Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee won two graded stakes this year, one on turf and one on dirt.
T Kraft is a contender in the Sprint and the Dirt Mile. The Bill Mott trainee won the Grade III Vosburgh Stakes this year.
Cy Fair is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The George Weaver trainee won two graded stakes this year.
In Our Time is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee won two graded stakes this year, including the Grade I Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint.
Joe Shiesty is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Eric Foster trainee won three stakes this year, including the Grade II Woodford Stakes at Keeneland.
John the Beer Man is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Rob Atras trainee won the Grade II Troy Stakes at Saratoga this year,
Roja is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Graham Motion trainee is a perfect three-for-three this year, including the Grade II Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga.
Roja is a contender in the Turf Sprint, a race she won last year. The José D’Angelo trainee made only one start this year, finishing seventh in the Grade II Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Time to Dazzle is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Mark Casse trainee won the Grade II Franklin Stakes at Keeneland this year.
Yellow Card is an also eligible in the Turf Sprint. The Michael McCarthy trainee won the Grade II Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs this year.
No Nay Hudson is an also eligible in the Turf Sprint. The Wesley Ward trainee has not won this year, but has placed in two graded stakes.
My Boy Prince is an also eligible in the Turf Sprint. The Mark Casse trainee won three stakes this year, including the Grade II Shakertown at Keeneland.
Kehoe Beach is an also eligible in the Turf Sprint. The Wesley Ward trainee was second in the Grade II Franklin Stakes at Keeneland this year.
Nobals is an also eligible in the Turf Sprint, a race he won in 2023. The Larry Rivelli trainee has not won this year, but finished second in the Grade II Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine.
Bracket Buster is an also eligible in the Dirt Mile. The Vicki Oliver trainee won the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer this year.
Bold Leadership is a contender in the Juvenile Turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee is still a maiden, but ran second in each of his three starts, including two graded stakes.
How’s Al Today is a contender in the Juvenile Turf. The Riley Mott trainee won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes this year.
Let Em Know is a contender in the Juvenile Turf. The Whit Beckman trainee won the Grade II Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont this year.
Oscar is a contender in the Juvenile Turf. The Miguel Clément trainee was second in the Grade I Summer Stakes at Woodbine this year.
Liam’s Law (left) is an also eligible in the Juvenile Turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee won the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga this year.
Earth Song is an also eligible in the Juvenile Turf and the Juvenile. The Jorge Delgado trainee was fourth in the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont this year.
American History is a contender in the Juvenile. The Todd Pletcher trainee won the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity Stakes at Keeneland this year.
Coach Pope is a contender in the Juvenile. The Kenny McPeek trainee was second in the Breeders’ Futurity this year.
Gaudreau is a contender in the Juvenile. The Chad Brown trainee was second in the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont this year.
Domestic Agenda is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Chad Brown trainee won the Grade II Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont this year.
Voyager is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Juvenile Fillies. The Mark Casse trainee won the Grade I Natalma Stakes at Woodbine this year.
Luminous Beauty is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and an also eligible in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Jena Antonucci trainee placed in three stakes this year, two of them graded.
Badittude is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Todd Pletcher trainee is still a maiden, but finished second in her most recent outing at Belmont.
Foxiest is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Brad Cox trainee, a daughter of 2019 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Covfefe, broke her maiden at Churchill Downs.
Lexi’s Charm is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Mark Casse trainee won two races this year.
Life Changing is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Todd Pletcher trainee was second in the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park this year.
Manuka Honey is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Brian Lynch trainee won two stakes this year, including the Grade III Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Revenge of the Sis is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The George Weaver trainee placed in two stakes this year.
Rum Twist is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Mark Hennig trainee was second in the Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont this year.
Scarlett Begonia is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Brad Cox trainee placed in two graded stakes this year.
Brickyard Belle is a contender in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Miguel Clément trainee won the Grade III Matron Stakes at Belmont this year.
Good to Be King is a contender in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Rusty Arnold trainee won the Grade III Futurity Stakes at Belmont this year.
Harper’s Corner is a contender in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Cal Lynch trainee won the Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga this year, then placed in two graded stakes.
Wood Island is an also eligible in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The George Weaver trainee, pictured with his groom Pedro, won the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga this year, then finished third in the Grade III Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland.
My Kid’s Said No is an also eligible in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Tena Birdwell trainee won the Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs and placed in two other stakes.
Bonus: While I won’t be in attendance at the Breeders’ Cup, my photography will be. My panoramic photo of the new Keeneland Paddock Building can be found on page 2 of the Pre-Entry Guide.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on X, Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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