The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the holy grail of competition for Thoroughbred racehorses, will occur November 1st and 2nd this year at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California. 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. I shot many of these images for The Saratoga Special. Click here to read my other Breeders’ Cup posts.
Mentee is a contender in the Juvenile Turf and the Juvenile Turf Sprint. While he earned an automatic berth in the Sprint through his win in the Grade III Futurity Stakes at Belmont at the Big A, trainer Todd Pletcher said the two-year-old colt would more likely go to the Turf.
Abientot is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Mark Casse trainee broke her maiden at the Spa this summer and most recently won the Grade III Matron Stakes at Belmont at the Big A earlier this month.
Virgin Colada is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Chad Brown trainee broke her maiden at the Spa this summer.
Al Qudra is a contender in the Juvenile Turf. In September, the Charlie Appleby trainee was second in the Grade I Summer Stakes at Woodbine.
Tenacious Leader is a contender in the Juvenile Turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee broke his maiden at the Spa this summer.
Immersive is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Brad Cox trainee is a perfect three-for-three with her maiden win at Saratoga, the Grade I Spinaway Stakes, also at Saratoga, and the Grade I Alcibiades at Keeneland.
La Cara is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Mark Casse trainee broke her maiden at the Spa this summer, then followed that up with a win in the Grade III Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs in September.
Snowyte is a contender in the Juvenile Fillies. The Danny Gargan trainee finished second in her maiden debut at Saratoga and then finished second again in the Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.
Chancer McPatrick is a contender in the Juvenile. The Chad Brown trainee broke his maiden at the Spa and then followed that up with a win in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes and later on the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.
Ferocious is a contender in the Juvenile. The Gustavo Delgado trainee broke his maiden at Saratoga and then finished second in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes. He then finished second in the Grade I Futurity Stakes at Keeneland.
Derma Sotogake is a contender in the Dirt Mile and the Classic. The Hidetaka Otonashi trainee finished sixth in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and a surprising second in the 2023 Classic.
Domestic Product is a contender in the Dirt Mile and the Sprint. The Chad Brown trainee won the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes this summer at Saratoga.
Post Time is a contender in the Dirt Mile. The Brittany Russell trainee finished second in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga in June, and then finished third in the Grade I Whitney Stakes here in August.
Seize the Grey is a contender in the Dirt Mile. The Preakness and Pennsylvania Derby winner broke his maiden at Saratoga last summer, but was winless in two starts (the Belmont Stakes and the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes) here this year.
Saudi Crown is a contender in the Dirt Mile. The Brad Cox trainee did not race at Saratoga this year, but last year he finished second in the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes.
Skippylongstocking is a contender in the Dirt Mile, a race he finished third in last year. The Saffie Joseph trainee finished fifth in the Whitney Stakes this year at Saratoga.
Arzak is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Michael Trombetta trainee won the Grade II Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland back in April, but hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since then.
Big Invasion is a contender in the Turf Sprint, a race he finished second in last year. The Christophe Clément trainee won the Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Cogburn is a contender in the Turf Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee won the Grade I Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga in June, setting a track record, but then was scratched from The Grade II Troy Stakes when it was pulled off the turf.
Scylla is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Bill Mott trainee finished second in the Grade I Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga this summer.
Society is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee won the Grade I Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga this summer.
Soul of an Angel is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Saffie Joseph trainee finished third in the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Vahva is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Cherie DeVaux trainee finished third in the Grade I Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga this summer.
Ways and Means is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Chad Brown trainee won the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Zeitlos (front) is a contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee was fifth in the Grade III Caress Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Didia is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Ignacio Correas trainee won the Grade I New York Stakes at Saratoga in June.
Moira is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Kevin Attard trainee finished second in the Grade I Diana Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
War Like Goddess is a contender in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Bill Mott trainee finished second in the Grade II Flower Bowl Stakes this summer, a race she won in 2021.
Carl Spackler is a contender in the Mile. The Chad Brown trainee won both the Grade III Kelso Stakes and the Grade I Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga this summer.
Chili Flag is a contender in the Mile. The Chad Brown trainee won the Grade I Just A Game Stakes at Saratoga in June.
Gina Romantica is a contender in the Mile. The Chad Brown trainee was third in the Grade I Diana Stakes and second in the Grade I Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
More Than Looks is a contender in the Mile. The Cherie DeVaux trainee finished second in the Grade I Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga this summer.
Federal Judge is a contender in the Sprint. The Brad Cox trainee finished a close second in an allowance optional claiming race at Saratoga in July, and then won one in August.
Mullikin is a contender in the Sprint. The Rodolphe Brisset trainee won the Grade I Forego Stakes at Saratoga this summer, giving his trainer his first Grade I victory.
Nakatomi is a contender in the Sprint. The Wesley Ward trainee won the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga this summer. He is pictured here with his groom Manuel Frausto.
Skelly is a contender in the Sprint. The Steve Asmussen trainee finished second in the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga this summer.
Candied is contender in the Distaff. The Todd Pletcher trainee finished a close second in the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Raging Sea is a contender in the Distaff. The Chad Brown trainee won both the Grade II Shuvee Stakes and the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes at the Spa this summer.
Thorpedo Anna is a contender in the Distaff. The Kenny McPeek trainee won the Grade I Acorn Stakes and the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga this year, and then followed it up with a valiant second place finish in the Travers.
Far Bridge is a contender in the Turf. The Christophe Clément trainee won the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Grand Sonata is a contender in the Turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee finished fifth in the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Rebel’s Romance is a contender in the Turf, a race he won in 2022. The Charlie Appleby trainee didn’t race at Saratoga this summer, but he ran in the Grade II Bowling Green Stakes last year, where he unfortunately unseated his rider and did not finish. The horse was okay, but jockey Richard Mullen was hospitalized. Thankfully, he did recover and return to riding.
Arthur’s Ride is a contender in the Classic. The Bill Mott trainee won the Whitney Stakes in his stakes debut this summer, then finished fifth in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes.
Fierceness is a contender in the Classic. The Todd Pletcher trainee won both the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes and the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Highland Falls is a contender in the Classic. The Brad Cox trainee won the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup this summer at the Spa.
Next is a contender in the Classic. The Doug Cowans trainee has won seven stakes races in a row since last year, including two consecutive wins in the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga.
Sierra Leone is a contender in the Classic. The Chad Brown trainee has finished on the board in every race he’s ever run, but he has not visited the winner’s circle since his victory in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April.
Tapit Trice is a contender in the Classic. The Todd Pletcher trainee finished fourth in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes.
Pyrenees is a contender in the Classic. The Cherie DeVaux trainee finished second in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga this summer.
There are also a number of also eligibles, who may draw into a field if a horse scratches.
Rattle N Roll is an also eligible in the Classic. The Kenny McPeek trainee finished sixth in the 2023 Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.
Cabo Spirit is an also eligible in the Turf. The George Papaprodromou trainee finished fourth in the 2023 Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland. He didn’t win any races that year, but he won the Grade II California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita in September of this year.
Pipeline is an also eligible in the Dirt Mile. The Cherie DeVaux trainee is pictured here breaking his maiden at the Spa in 2021. Oh, and who’s that running third behind him? None other than 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish.
Noble Confessor is an also eligible in the Juvenile Turf. The Todd Pletcher trainee made two attempts to break his maiden this summer at Saratoga this summer, but as of yet has not made it to the winner’s circle.
Some big names have dropped out of the Breeders’ Cup this year due to injury. Many of them had great successes at Saratoga.
Prince of Monaco, a contender for the Sprint, has been retired to Claiborne Farm following an injury. The Bob Baffert trainee was second in the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga this summer.
Idiomatic, a contender in the Distaff, has been retired due to injury. The Brad Cox trainee finished second in the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes this summer at Saratoga, a race she won in 2023.
Met Mile winner National Treasure, a contender in the Classic or the Dirt Mile, was sidelined due to injury, but it hasn’t been formally announced whether or not he’s retired. When he does retire, he will stand at Spendthrift Farm.
The most notable absence at the Breeders’ Cup will be that of Belmont and Haskell Stakes winner Dornoch. The Danny Gargan trainee was retired to Spendthrift Farm due to injury.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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Wonderful – you have so many of them!