Six other Breeders’ Cup races worth $1 million each will be run Friday and Saturday, with several likely to draw overflow fields full of divisional leaders and stakes winners from both America and Europe.
Saturday’s trio of remaining Breeders’ Cup races is led by the 7-furlong Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and will be a definite highlight, with Michael Lund Petersen’s freakishly fast multiple Grade 1 winner GAMINE squaring off against “Win and You’re In” qualifiers INTHEMIDSTOFBIZ and SERENGETI EMPRESS, in a field that could also include BELLAFINA, BELL’S THE ONE, CE CE, COME DANCING, HARD NOT TO LOVE, SALLY’S CURLIN, SCONSIN, and VENETIAN HARBOR.
Art Collector wins the 2020 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes. Credit: Coady
The Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), run this year at two turns, could be oversubscribed, with Gary Barber’s 2019 Preakness winner WAR OF WILL a leading contender, while ART COLLECTOR, BOURBON CALLING, COMPLEXITY, HARPERS FIRST RIDE, HOG CREEK HUSTLE, JESUS’ TEAM, MIND CONTROL, MR FREEZE, MR. MONEY, PIRATE’S PUNCH, RUSHIE, SILVER DUST, SLEEPY EYES TODD, and TRUE TIMBER have all earned qualifying points, while JASPER PRINCE, KNICKS GO, MIDNIGHT SANDS, and PINGXIANG could all start.
Oleksandra wins the 2019 Smart n Fancy at Saratoga. Credit: Coglianese
The 5 ½-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) is another race expected to draw a crowd, with American “Win and You’re In” winners IMPRIMIS and OLEKSANDRA (AUS) leading the way, while GLASS SLIPPERS (GB) qualified from Europe. BIG RUNNUER, BOMBARD, CHAOS THEORY, EXTRAVAGENT KID, FRONT RUN THE FED, GOT STORMY, GUILDSMAN (FR), INTO MYSTIC, JOLIE OLIMPICA (BRZ), JUST MIGHT, LEINSTER, TEXAS WEDGE, WET YOUR WHISTLE, and WILDMAN JACK all earned qualifying points from America, while EQUILATERAL (GB) and LOPE Y FERNANDEZ (IRE) could invade from Europe.
Mutasaabeq wins the 2020 Bourbon Stakes G2 at Keeneland. Credit: Coady
Friday’s trio of Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds on the grass could see a logjam at the entry box. A group of talented North American-based runners and a few classy Europeans figure to figure to meet in both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, which will both be run at 1 mile. GRETSKY THE GREAT and MUTASAABEQ looked good winning North American “Win and You’re In” races, as did CADILLAC (IRE), NEW MANDATE (IRE), and SEALIWAY (FR) in Europe. ABARTA, AFTER FIVE, DOLDER GRAND, FIRE AT WILL, PUBLIC SECTOR (GB) could also start from North America, while the Euros could also send BATTLEGROUND, DEVILWALA (IRE), GO ATHLETICO (FR), THE LIR JET (IRE), and ONE RULER (IRE).
Fluffy Socks wins the 2020 Selima Stakes at Laurel Park. Credit: Maryland Jockey Club
The Juvenile Fillies Turf is expected to have AUNT PEARL (IRE), who captured the Win and You’re In” JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland leading the way, with a field that could also include ALDA, CAMPANELLE (IRE), EDITOR AT LARGE (IRE), EMRO, FLUFFY SOCKS, IVY LEAGUE, MADONE, PLUM ALI, ROYAL APPROVAL, SPANISH LOVEAFFAIR, and TETRAGONAL (IRE) from North America, while FEV ROVER (IRE), MOTHER EARTH (IRE), NAZUNA (IRE), and OODNADATTA (IRE) could make the trip from Europe.
Second of July wins the 2020 Belmont Futurity G3. Credit: Janet Garaguso
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2), run at 5 ½ furlongs, could have AMANZI YIMPILO (IRE), BODENHEIMER, CAMPANELLE (IRE), and SECOND OF JULY as “Win and You’re In” qualifiers from the states, while THE LIR JET (IRE) earned a free berth winning Royal Ascot’s Norfolk Stakes (G2) in June. AFTER FIVE, COWAN, DIRTY DANGLE, GOLDEN PAL, MOMOS, OMAHA CITY, OUTADORE, PIZZAZZ, ROYAL APPROVAL, WINDY CITY ROAD, and WYFIRE could all start for North America, while the Euros could send LIPIZZANER, MIGHTY GURKHA (IRE), MISS AMULET (IRE), and UBETTABELIEVEIT (IRE).
Visit Breeders’ Cup website for updates about entries.
Breeders’ Cup World Championships Broadcast Schedule.
The Breeders’ Cup will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. Friday’s coverage will be televised on NBCSN, from 2:00-6:00 PM ET. Saturday’s lineup begins on NBCSN from 12:00-2:30 PM ET, and on NBC from 2:30-6:00 PM ET. The Breeders’ Cup Players’ Show will be live on TVG and streamed on Breederscup.com on Friday from 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. ET, and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. ET.
The Breeders’ Cup again thanks Brian Nadeau for his outstanding writing contributions to the Countdown to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Newsletter this year.
Photo: Serengeti Empress (right) battles Bellafina to the finish line to win the 2020 Ballerina at Saratoga. Credit: Coglianese
