The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the holy grail of competition for Thoroughbred racehorses, will occur November 3rd and 4th this year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. 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 and Churchill Downs, 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.
Carson’s Run, a Christophe Clément trainee, is a contender for the Juvenile Turf. The son of Cupid is named for a young man named Carson Jost, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder. He broke his maiden at the Spa this summer, and then, after finishing a close second in the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes, went on to win the Grade I Summer Stakes at Woodbine this fall.
Gala Brand is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Bill Mott trainee broke her maiden at first asking at Saratoga this summer, then followed it up with a win against open company in the Grade III With Anticipation Stakes.
Just F Y I (#9 center) is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Bill Mott trainee broke her maiden at the Spa this summer then went on to win the Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.
Brightwork is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies and the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The John Ortiz trainee won both the Grade III Adirondack Stakes and the Grade I Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Alys Beach is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Tom Amoss trainee broke her maiden at first asking at Saratoga.
Timberlake is a contender in the Juvenile. The Brad Cox trainee finished a close second in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga before going on to win the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.
Prince of Monaco is a contender in the Juvenile. The Bob Baffert trainee is unbeaten in three starts in California, so I didn’t see him at the Spa, but I did happen to photograph him as a yearling last year at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, where he sold for just shy of $1 million.
General Partner is a contender in the Juvenile. The Chad Brown trainee broke his maiden at Saratoga this summer.
Hoist the Gold is a contender in the Sprint. The Dallas Stewart trainee hasn’t raced at Saratoga since 2022, but was victorious in his last start in the Grade II Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.
Elite Power is a contender in the Sprint, a race he won last year. The Bill Mott trainee was victorious in the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga this summer, but was edged out by rival Gunite in the Grade I Forego Stakes.
Gunite is a contender in the sprint. After finishing second to Elite Power in the Vanderbilt, he found success in the Forego.
Caravel is a contender in the Turf Sprint, a race she won last year. After a five race win streak that started last fall, she had to settle for fourth in the Grade III Troy Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Nobals is a contender in the Sprint. The Larry Rivelli trainee was second in the Troy Stakes.
Big Invasion is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Christophe Clément trainee was second in the Harvey Pack Stakes at the Spa this summer.
Roses for Debra is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Christophe Clément trainee won both the Grade III Caress Stakes and the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Cogburn is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee upset the Troy Stakes this summer.
Fev Rover is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Mark Casse trainee was third in the Grade I Diana at the Spa this summer.
In Italian is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf and the Mile. In 2022, the Chad Brown trainee set a track record while winning the Grade I Diana Stakes at the Spa, but this year, she was edged out by stablemate Whitebeam.
McKulick is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Chad Brown trainee won the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes at the Spa this summer.
With the Moonlight is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Charlie Appleby trainee didn’t race at the Spa this summer, but last year she won the Grade III Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes.
Up to the Mark is a contender in the Mile and the Turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee didn’t race at the Spa this summer, but I saw him at Keeneland (above) in April and at Belmont in June, where he won the Grade I Manhattan Stakes.
Casa Creed is a contender in the Mile. This summer at the Spa, the Bill Mott trainee won the Grade III Kelso Stakes and then turned around and won his second consecutive Grade I Fourstardave Handicap.
Cody’s Wish is a contender in the Dirt Mile, a race he won last year. The Bill Mott trainee rose to stardom after upsetting the Grade I Forego Stakes at Saratoga in 2022, but fell short in the Grade I Whitney Stakes this year, where he had to settle for third. The namesake of young Cody Dorman, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, has been training at Saratoga all fall.
Charge It is a contender in the Dirt Mile and the Classic. After winning the Grade II Suburban Stakes at Belmont in the spring, he was fourth in the Whitney at Saratoga.
National Treasure is a contender in the Dirt Mile. He most notably won the Preakness Stakes in May, but hasn’t hit the board since then, including a fifth place finish in the Travers at Saratoga.
Goodnight Olive is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint, a race she won last year. In 2022, the Chad Brown trainee was victorious in the Grade I Ballerina Handicap, but she was edged out by Echo Zulu in her repeat attempt this summer.
Matareya is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Brad Cox trainee has never won at the Spa, but she finished third in a pair of Grade I stakes races last year and this year.
Caramel Swirl is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Bill Mott trainee finished fourth in the Ballerina this summer, but most recently won the Grade II Gallant Bloom Stakes at Belmont at the Big A following a double disqualification.
Elm Drive is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Phil D’Amato trainee has raced primarily in California, but last summer she ran in the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga.
Society is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee didn’t race at Saratoga this summer, but in 2022, she ran in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks.
Hoosier Philly is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint and the Distaff. The Tom Amoss trainee was scratched from the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga this summer.
Clearly Unhinged is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Michael McCarthy trainee has primarily raced at Santa Anita, but came to the Spa this summer to run in the Test.
Get Smokin is a contender in the Turf. The Mark Casse trainee didn’t race at the Spa this summer, but in 2022 he ran in the Grade III Forbidden Apple Stakes and the Grade I Fourstardave Handicap.
Bolshoi Ballet is a contender in the Turf. The Aidan O’Brien trainee stylishly won the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Soldier Rising is a contender in the turf. The Christophe Clément trainee has run at Saratoga the last two summers.
War Like Goddess is a contender in the turf. The Bill Mott trainee was bested by McKulick in the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes at the Spa this summer, but prevailed against the boys in the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont at the Big A.
Adhamo is a contender in the Turf. The Chad Brown trainee did not race at the Spa this past summer, but in 2022, he ran in the Sword Dancer.
Broome is a contender in the turf. The jet setting Aidan O’Brien trainee didn’t race at Saratoga this year, but he ran in the Sword Dancer in 2022.
Clairiere is a contender in the Distaff. The Steve Asmussen trainee won a pair of Grade Is earlier this year, but came up short in both her Saratoga starts this summer.
Idiomatic is a contender in the Distaff. The Brad Cox trainee upset the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga this summer, her third of now four graded stakes in a row she has swept.
Pretty Mischievous is a contender in the Distaff. The Brendan Walsh trainee has won three Grade Is this year.
Randomized is a contender in the Distaff. The Chad Brown trainee impressively won the Wilton Stakes and the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Sabra Tuff is a contender in the Distaff. The Dallas Stewart trainee is winless in four starts at Saratoga, including the Alabama this summer.
Search Results is a contender in the Distaff. The Chad Brown trainee didn’t race at the Spa this summer, but she ran second in the Personal Ensign last year.
Wet Paint is a contender in the Distaff. The Brad Cox trainee won the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa this summer.
Bright Future is a contender in the Dirt Mile and the Classic. The Todd Pletcher trainee won the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga this year.
Arcangelo is a contender in the Classic. The Jena Antonucci trainee won the Belmont Stakes in June before training up to win the Travers at the Spa in August.
Derma Sotogake is a contender in the Classic. The Hidetaka Otonashi trainee didn’t race at the Spa, but I captured him preparing for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in April.
Mage is a contender in the Dirt Mile and the Classic. The Gustavo Delgado trainee rose to prominence when he won the Kentucky Derby in May, but finished last in the Travers at the Spa.
Proxy is a contender in the Classic. The Michael Stidham trainee finished a very close second to Bright Future in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga this summer, but didn’t survive the photo finish.
Saudi Crown is a contender in the classic. The Brad Cox trainee missed the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at the Spa to Forte, but found Grade I glory in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx in September.
Zandon is a contender in the Classic. After finishing second in the Whitney at the Spa this summer, he won his first race of the year with the Grade II Woodward Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.
White Abarrio is a contender in the Classic. The Rick Dutrow trainee put himself on the map as a horse to watch when he won the Whitney in grand fashion this summer at Saratoga.
Clapton is a contender in the Classic. The Chad Summers trainee failed to hit the board in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga this summer, but found his way to the Winner’s Circle in the Grade II Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs this fall.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “From Saratoga and Beyond to the Breeders’ Cup 2023”
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Nice!!