Toggle mobile menu

BC: Thursday Activity Around The Track 

October 30, 2025

0
View Comments

Del Mar Photo

Aidan O’Brien seeks a record-extending eighth victory in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Saturday 

Breeders’ Cup Notes 

Scratch Report

Friday 10-31-25 
Race # 6 Juvenile Turf Sprint – Scratch AE # 14 Should’ve (Ward) did not ship 
Race #9 Juvenile – Scratch #5 Civil Liberty (O’Neill) trainer withdrawn 

Saturday 11-1-25 
Race #4 Filly & Mare Sprint – Scratch #5 Fee Blanche (Fujita) veterinary scratch 
Race #7 Distaff – Scratch #5 Scottish Lassie (Abreu) trainer withdrawal 
Race #9 Classic – Scratch #6 Sovereignty (Mott) trainer withdrawal 

LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP TURF 

MINNIE HAUK (IRE) 
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon 
Set: 8:15 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter among the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: More of the same on Friday, but only with the Saturday runners 

Aidan O’Brien seeks a record-extending eighth victory in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Saturday with … To read BC Closer Look click here. 

REBEL’S ROMANCE (IRE)  
Trainer: Charlie Appleby  
Jockey: William Buick  
Thursday activity: Led the Appleby sextet as they went out to the chute to warm up, then walked around the clubhouse turn to enter the turf course near the finish line; proceeded to have an easy canter/circuit of the turf course around the dogs with exercise rider Marc Halford.  
Planned activity: Easy canter  
“What’s he taught me training? Resilience. Certain people have asked me about what makes him that special horse in Godolphin’s rich history of having such great horses  … To read BC Closer Look click here.

FANDUEL BREEDERS’ CUP MILE 

ARGINE (JPN)  
Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida  
Jockey: Frankie Dettori  
Set: 8 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Just walking in the stable area and schooled in the paddock 
The Quote: “We’ve made it this far safely, so now I just hope everything goes well on race day and that the horse can show her ability.” – Mitsumasa Nakauchida 

NOTABLE SPEECH (GB)  
Trainer: Charlie Appleby  
Jockey: William Buick  
Thursday activity: Easy canter/circuit of the turf course around the dogs   
Planned activity: Easy canter  

“He had a long campaign, remember, as a 3-year-old, because he didn’t race at 2 and he started his season in January … To read BC Closer Look click here.

THE LION IN WINTER (IRE) 
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon 
Set: 8:15 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter among the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: More of the same, but only with Saturday runners 
Quote: “He has backed up two very good runs coming into this, and they’ve been excellent in top-class mile races in Europe. He wasn’t beaten far in either, so we think he’s definitely on the way. He has a good draw.” – Aidan O’Brien 

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE 

MYSTIK DAN 
Trainer: Kenny McPeek 
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta 
Set: 6 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Galloped under exercise rider Danny Ramsey; schooled in the paddock 
Planned Activity: Will gallop at same time 
The Quote 1: “I jogged him around all the way to the three-quarter pole and back. He is doing great. He could not be doing any better.” – Danny Ramsey 

The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner did not visit the winner’s circle again until he won the G3 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs more than a year later, on May 31 of this year. After that, McPeek decided to try Mystik Dan on the grass for the first time and he responded with a fourth-place finish in the G1 Arlington Million. 

Owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC, Mystik Dan earned his way to the Breeders’ Cup after winning the G2 Lukas Classic. 

The Quote 2: “He has been a fantastic horse to be around. He has run well at Oaklawn. He has run well at Colonial. He will run well anywhere. His run at Oaklawn (Lake Ouachita Stakes) really kind of kick-started him again, which we needed. From there, he has been as steady as always, so it has been good. I think he is going to be able to show his turn of foot. The mile, I think, will be an ideal distance for him. I like the two-turn mile better than a one-turn mile.” – Kenny McPeek 

WHITE ABARRIO  
Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr. 
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.  
Set: 7:45 a.m.  
Thursday activity: Galloped on the main track 
The Quote: C2 Racing Stable has been co-owner on past Breeders’ Cup-winners White Abarrio (2023 Longines Classic) and Soul of an Angel (2024 PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint). They bring White Abarrio back for this year’s G1 Dirt Mile in hopes of a third consecutive year with a Breeders’ Cup victory.  

“He’s doing great. We are going for three Breeders’ Cup wins in a row, and we think we’ve got a pretty good shot. White Abarrio has danced every dance. He’s just a pleasure to be around, and it’s nice to see a class horse like this at 6-years-old running. You don’t get to see this too much.” – Mark Cornett of co-owner C2 Racing Stable 

MAKERS’ MARK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF 

BEDTIME STORY (IRE) 
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon 
Set: 8:15 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter among the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: More of the same, but only with Saturday runners 
Quote:  Blue-blooded Coolmore filly Bedtime Story (IRE) will try to give trainer Aidan O’Brien his second victory in the $2 million Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf on Saturday, the final race of the World Championships. O’Brien won the 2022 edition with Tuesday (IRE).  

A daughter of the great Frankel and dual Group 1-winning sprinter Mecca’s Angel, she began her career auspiciously, smashing Royal Ascot’s Chesham (Listed) in her second start, beating the boys by 9½ lengths before winning two more Group races. Since then, she has raced in nine consecutive Group 1 races, failing to win, but twice hitting the board, including a second in the French Oaks. She enters the Breeders’ Cup off a troubled British Champions Fillies & Mares (G1) fourth.  

“She’s in good form, running in Group 1 races all year,” Aidan O’Brien said. “She just got trapped back last time at Ascot in a slowly run race the last day. She came out of the race well. She’s very genuine and wants to win, but things just haven’t really worked for her, so we’ll see on Saturday. We think fast ground and a bend track should suit her.” 

BELLEZZA 
Trainer: Miguel Clement 
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione 
Thursday activity: Galloped 1 ¼m under exercise rider Rafaele Sanchez 
Planned Activity: Routine gallop scheduled. 

Five months after his death, trainer Christophe Clement lives on in the stable now managed by his son Miguel. The four horses entered in the Breeders’ Cup races  … To read BC Closer Look click here. 

PREVAGEN BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT 

MOTORIOUS (GB) 
Trainer: Phil D’Amato 
Jockey: Antonio Fresu 
Thursday activity: Galloped 
Planned Activity: Will gallop Friday and go to the track Saturday morning. 
The Quote: “I hope he gets a clean break and saves some ground. When he gets to the top of the stretch, he finds a way out and gets daylight.” – Phil D’Amato on what he hopes to see Saturday 

INVINCIBLE PAPA (AUS) 
Trainer: Daishi Ito 
Jockey: Daisuke Sasaki 
Thursday activity: Galloped on Tuesday  
The Quote 1: “She’s just the same as she is in Japan. Even after her work, she doesn’t want to stop, she’s full of energy. She’s every bit as good as she was when she won the CBC Sho,” – Ito smiled.  

“She’s very relaxed, actually, even more relaxed than when she’s in Japan. Unlike in Japan, where many horses enter the track at the same time for training, Del Mar’s schedule is more spread out, so the environment is much quieter.” 

The Quote 2: “I’m feeling more nervous than excited to be honest. There are so many people involved who have put their hearts into this, so my top priority is to make sure the horse runs safely and delivers a proper result,” – 21-year-old Japanese jockey, Daisuke Sasaki said. 

“The corners are tight here, and it doesn’t look like the kind of race where you can just go to the front and win easily,” 

“Honestly, this is not a stage someone like me ever dreamed of reaching. I’m truly grateful to the owner, Mikako Sakoda, and her trainer, Ito.” 

SHISOSPICY 
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo 
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. 
Set: 6:20 
Thursday activity: Galloped 
Planned Activity: Will gallop Friday morning; not go to the track Saturday. 
The Quote: “She’s fast. She’s gonna go.” – Jose D’Angelo on how he envisions Saturday’s race 

CYGAMES BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT 

AMERICAN STAGE 
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi 
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai 
Thursday activity: Galloped yesterday 
The Quote: “His last race was disappointing. Our main goal has always been the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but as the trainer, I was too optimistic in thinking he could still win with that level of fitness—that’s on me. Like Forever Young (JPN), he’s not the kind of horse who should ever be beaten in a domestic dirt sprint. He’s that talented, which made the defeat more disappointing,” 

“In March, he was beaten Tuz in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal. This time, there are plenty of strong sprinters again and it is a very tough field. But his sire is Into Mischief, so I believe he’s well suited to American racing.” – Yoshito Yahagi 

BENTORNATO 
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo 
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. 
Set: 6:20 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Galloped 
Planned Activity: Will gallop Friday morning; not go to track Saturday 
The Quote: Bentornato was on his toes during a paddock schooling session Wednesday morning. “He loves the paddock; he thinks he is going to run. For the race Saturday, I hope he gets a good break. He doesn’t have to be on the lead.” – Jose D’Angelo 

STRAIGHT NO CHASER 
Trainer: Dan Blacker 
Jockey: John Velazquez 
Set: 5:30 a.m. 
Thursday activity: Galloped 1 1/2m 
Planned Activity: will gallop 
The Quote: Trainer Dan Blacker admitted there is a little more pressure this year as he prepares to send out Straight No Chaser in defense of his title in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint.  

“There’s probably more pressure this year,” Blacker said. “Last year, we had the 900 owners of MyRacehorse, but we were 6-1. This year, we still have the 900 owners, the representatives from Kentucky and the expectations of being the defending champion. We’re enjoying it. This is his last race.”  

Straight No Chaser is set to retire to WinStar Farm after the Breeders’ Cup. 

PNC BANK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT 

VAHVA  
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux  
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.  
Set: 8:30 a.m.   
Thursday activity: Galloped on the main track 
The Quote: Vahva is entered as Hip 187 in the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.  

“She’s doing great. She’s had one really good race this year in the Chicago and she’s going off to the sale after this race. She’s coming into this wonderfully and she looks fantastic. She’s a big, strong mare now. She’s very special to me and she’s done a lot in my career. She’s one I had an affinity for early, so it’s emotional. Regardless of what she does (on Saturday), we are really proud to have her and we’re going to be sad to see her go.” – Cherie DeVaux 

NETJETS BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES 

BOTTLE OF ROUGE 
Trainer: Bob Baffert 
Jockey: Mike Smith 
Thursday activity: Galloped under exercise rider Morgan Kervarrec 
Planned Activity: Running in the Juvenile Fillies 
The Quote: “I backed her up a little bit and took her for a little stroll around. We did not want to do too much with her running tomorrow. She feels great; she really likes it here. I have been getting on her since day one. She was not easy at first, but she got better, and she has really turned into a sweetheart.” – Morgan Kervarrec 

The owner of the Bottle of Rouge, a bona fide contender for the NetJets Juvenile Fillies (G1), never has a beef with the trainer. … To read BC Closer Look click here. 

LA VILLE LUMIERE 
Trainer: Michael McCarthy 
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura 
Thursday activity: Galloped 1m under exercise rider Chelsie Raabe  
The Quote: “La Ville Lumiere is a filly that we’ve always had high hopes for. Ran decent first time out on the dirt at Santa Anita. Came back and was able to get the job done going five-eighths on the turf in Santa Anita. Then subsequently was in a little bit of a jam with nowhere for 2-year-old winners to run in Southern California for nearly 90 days. Coming off a bit of an extended layoff in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf (Listed), never really found a great found yourself in a great position that day and certainly needed the race. We used that as a kind of a steppingstone to the Oak Leaf (G2). I thought she ran very well in the Oak Leaf, got over the ground well, and finished up strongly and found herself getting some black type. Coming back down to Del Mar. I thought she trained very well here this summer. Looking forward to getting her back to the races.” – Michael McCarthy 

MEANING 
Trainer: Michael McCarthy 
Jockey: Jose Ortiz 
Thursday activity: Galloped 1m under Luis Cacares 
The Quote: “We were looking forward to getting her started here late this summer. Just had to wait on her a little bit, but able to get a race into her (at Los Alamitos) going 6 ½ furlongs. Shipped across town, ran on a surface and a racetrack configuration that was foreign to her. I thought her performance that day was exemplary and has come back and trained maybe a little bit better for this race than she did for her first race.” – Michael McCarthy 

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF 

GSTAAD (GB) 
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon 
Thursday activity: Showing plenty of pep in his step, including a buck at one point, he did an easy walk, jog and canter among the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: Race tomorrow 
Quote: “He’s a good colt and we thought he’s been unlucky in his last three Group 1s, really. He is well and is a big powerful horse.”  – Aidan O’Brien 

NORTH COAST (IRE) 
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien 
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter among the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: Race tomorrow 
Quote: “He shipped over very well. He has a bit more experience (than Juvenile Fillies Turf runner Queen of Hawaii (IRE)) and I think he will like the style of racing here. I’m happy with how he has traveled, and he usually has some good gate and tactical speed. In his last run, he got a little bit rank and there was a big headwind and fast pace, and he got caught up in it. I’m happy to put a line through that one.” – Joseph O’Brien 

STARK CONTRAST 
Trainer: Michael McCarthy 
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura 
Thursday activity: Galloped 1m under exercise rider Marc Witkowski 
The Quote: “He trained just well enough on the dirt down here at Del Mar to warrant a start sprinting. By Caravaggio out of a Quality Road mare, he had always seemed like he was finishing off his works with plenty of enthusiasm. Not a real big horse, but a very, very athletic and very tactical type of a horse, where he can be positioned anywhere. He’s also got a nice turn of foot and has a win over the race track as well, which certainly is a feather in his cap.” – Michael McCarthy 

SWITCH IN LOVE (JPN) 
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi 
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai 
Thursday activity: Galloped on Tuesday 
Quote: “She’s been in excellent shape, and we’ve been able to give her a solid amount of work. She has been eating well and fit, so now it’s just a matter of keeping her temperament in check. She’s been schooling in the parade ring every morning and is calm at the moment, but her mental state on race day will be crucial. We’ve drawn well in stall six that gives us a real chance to compete, so I just hope everything goes smoothly.” – Yoshito Yahagi 

“She settled well in her final workout and felt really good. She has plenty of speed, so the key will be how well I can control it. Thanks to the pony, she has been much calmer. We plan to have the pony accompany her to the stall on race day as well, to help keep her as relaxed as possible.” – Ryusei Sakai 

JOHN DEERE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF 

PRECISE (IRE) 
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter along with the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: Race tomorrow 
Quote: “You take the draw (post 13 of 13) as it is, all the time, and you don’t know whether it is good or bad until the race happens. It obviously looks tough and is not an advantage being out there and this place is tough if you are out there. Precise is very special. She looks a special filly, if not one of the most special fillies we’ve had. The way she has progressed from every run. She’s lovely and relaxed and got lazy in the middle of the (Group 1) Fillies Mile (on Oct. 10) and came back and won on the bridle.  

“She’s unusual with what she’s doing and it’s going to be very tough on Friday, but she will get a lot of experience from this and hopefully she’ll come back OK. We’re just lucky that the lads love racing so much that the prestige of being here and winning their races and this is where they want to be. We appreciate them being that way because obviously racing and competing in these races is what we are hoping and like to do.” – Aidan O’Brien 

QUEEN OF HAWAII (IRE) 
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien 
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter among the baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: Race tomorrow 
Quote: “She shipped over well. She has a good spot in (post) two and it’s a second time around a turn for her, having won her maiden going left at Leopardstown. She won on the straight at the Curragh (in the G3 Irish EBF Stakes) last time and she’s a talented filly, so hopefully she can run a good race and gets a smooth trip. We feel she has progressed, and we had actually intended to run in the (G1) Fillies Mile, but it didn’t work out, so we are happy she’s here in good shape and we’re hopeful for a good effort from her.” – Joseph O’Brien 

Owned by U.S.-based owner/trainer Phil Antonacci, she will join his barn after the Breeders’ Cup.  

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT 

CY FAIR  
Trainer: George Weaver 
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.  
The Quote: Cy Fair posted a 3f breeze in 38 seconds flat over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track on Oct. 25 ahead of shipping to Del Mar 

“She’s one that needs to blow steam off, so that’s what I let her do. She did exactly what we were looking for and came out of it well.” – George Weaver 

ROYAL TESTAMENT   
Trainer: George Weaver   
Jockey: Flavien Prat 
Thursday activity: Galloped on the turf  
The Quote: “It was a good race (second in the G3 Matron at Belmont at the Big A) – it was a little under par for her, but the three-quarters of a mile, there’s different factors in there. It just wasn’t as electric of a race as she had run the last couple of times in her maiden win and the stakes win at Colonial. She’s doing really well, and I think going back to the five-eighths will be good for her.” – George Weaver 

TRUE LOVE (IRE)
BRUSSELS (GB)
MISSION CENTRAL (IRE) 
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
Jockey: Wayne Lordan (True Love); Christophe Soumillon (Brussels); Dylan Browne McMonagle (Mission Central) 
Thursday activity: Did an easy walk, jog and canter among a baker’s dozen of O’Brien runners (8 Aidan O’Brien, 3 Donnacha O’Brien, 2 Joseph O’Brien) 
Planned activity: Race tomorrow 
Quote: “All three are doing very well. True Love is definitely quick enough for the race, but we also saw no need to run her and Precise against one another (in the Juvenile Fillies Turf). She’s come out of her run at Newmarket well and doing very well going into the race. She has proven herself a very fast Group 1 filly. Christophe is riding Brussels, who wasn’t beaten very far in his last two runs—the race last out at Newmarket he finished second to a good horse in a fast race. Wayne is back on (True Love) and he rode her to win the Cheveley Park last time and keeps the mount.” – Aidan O’Brien 

Read more Breeders' Cup »

Thank you so much Jonathan good info

@BFProductionsLLC View testimonials
SB: Sure Bet Coffee Square (ad)
AW: AmWager Vertical Ad (ad)

Facebook

October 29, 2025

Classic Contenders Complete Preps

Classic Contenders Complete Preps

October 31, 2025

Charlie Appleby Gives BC Thoughts 

Charlie Appleby Gives BC Thoughts 

October 31, 2025

Watch & Wager on the Breeders’ Cup at Woodbine

Watch & Wager on the Breeders’ Cup at Woodbine

Comments

Leave a Comment