The World Championships of thoroughbred horse racing again happen at Del Mar as the Breeders Cup of 2025 takes place in California. Many Anglo-Irish raiders cross the Atlantic with each of the 14 Grade I events over two days on Friday, 31 October and Saturday, 1 November worth $1,000,000 minimum.
On the opening day of this sporting gala where the surf meets the turf on the West Coast of America, juvenile only races are the focus. Nine more Grade I contests open to older horses follow the next day. Highlights from the Saturday card include the Breeders Cup Classic and Distaff on the dirt, plus the Breeders Cup Turf and Mile on grass.
With so many international form lines to consider at the Breeders Cup 2025, traders at horse racing bookmakers and our experts have their work cut out for them. Studying not just past performances, but the luck of the draw which can make or break chances, is the task we set them. What follows are expert shortlists on every single Grade I at the meeting.
Starting with those two-year-old races, they narrow the fields and identify horses to follow, plus a bit of value offered by British bookies. Check out our experts’ Friday fancies and Saturday selections from the World Championships as another absorbing season of Flat action draws to a close.
Breeders Cup 2025 Day 1 Preview for Friday, 31 October
Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
In a wide-open sprint, OBLITERATION looks a great each-way bet. He’s had a penalty almost everywhere since an impressive Grade III success at Saratoga. True Love is the pick of three Aidan O’Brien raiders, who also runs Brussels and Mission Central, and she ties in closely with Havana Anna for son Donnacha.
Wesley Ward has won this three times since 2019, so Schwarzenegger must be feared. Lennilu is another filly of interest in a cracking opener. Cy Fair impressed in Canada, meanwhile, but has more on her plate now. Godolphin run Military Code and James Owen sends Aspect Island across the Atlantic after finishing behind Brussels last time.
Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies
Bob Baffert has a strong hand in this Breeders Cup 2025 dirt race for females with BATTLE OF ROUGE and Explora, who franked the Del Mar Debutante form with subsequent success at Santa Anita. A low draw for the former swings the vote. Old rivals Tommy Jo and Percy’s Bar meet again and their latest battle should see one or other in the show.
Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Despite the widest draw of all, PRECISE is a class act and could prove just too good for her dozen rivals following consecutive Group 1s in Ireland and the UK. The key piece of domestic form, meanwhile, looks like the Jessamine Stakes won by Imaginationthelady, but Time To Dream really caught the eye in third and now meets the front pair off 2lb better terms.
Splitting the pair at Keeneland last time was Infinite Sky. Of the others, Queen Of Hawaii is another Irish raider of interest for Joseph O’Brien. From the remainder, the likes of Brave Deb, Ground Support and Ultimate Love have done nothing wrong
Breeders Cup Juvenile
Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher have won the last four editions of this between them. The former’s Brant has the course form from the Del Mar Futurity, but the latter saddles TED NOFFEY, who could complete a Grade I hat-trick here. It looks like a straight fight between the market principals, but Intrepido is the obvious one from the others to make the show.
Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf
Gstaad getting a wide draw means Aidan O’Brien has an opposable favourite and ARGOS could build on a career best last time for Riley Mott. He got up close home in the Grade I Summer Stakes in Canada, so won’t mind the strong pace for a trainer going places.
Most of the interesting horses jump from double figure gates here, including course and distance winner Hey Nay Nay and Turf Star. North Coast is up in trip for Joseph O’Brien, while Outfielder finished behind the favourite in France but now has advantageous low draw.
Breeders Cup 2025 Day 2 Preview for Saturday, 31 November
Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Of three Baffert runners, Hope Road looks the pick of them on course form. Richard Baltas’s Sweet Azteca also likes it here, so looks a big danger. Vahva ties in with the selection, while Mandela’s apparent first string Tamara is a talented, but fragile filly.
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
Reef Runner was first past the post over course and distance, only for Del Mar stewards to award the Green Flash Handicap to Motorious, but he’s a threat despite being 5lb worse off at the weights. Bear River has seen his form franked by veteran Khaadem, but the best of the Anglo-Irish raiders looks to be Arizona Blaze. If reserves sneak in, No Nay Hudson would have a shout.
Breeders Cup Sprint
The first three and sixth home from last year are all back for more, but 2024 runner-up BENTORNATO appeals most to go one better. He bolted up in his prep race, whereas Straight No Chaser finished behind Imagination and Dr. Venkman last time out.
Bob Baffert looks very much like he’s reinventing Imagination as a sprinter. As for Dr. Vennkman, meanwhile, he meets his re-opposing rivals better off at the weights, but he perhaps wants further.
There are some lively longshots to consider too in Lovesick Blues and three-year-old Mad House. Wesley Ward’s Nakatomi is capable of better than his top six effort 12 months ago too.
Breeders Cup Distaff
Seismic Beauty commands a ton of respect in her own backyard for Bob Baffert, but NITROGEN hasn’t been out of the first two all season. Mark Casse’s most consistent of fillies can atone for just missing out at Keeneland to Gin Gin at the Breeders Cup 2025 from a good low draw. Also shortlisted are the improving Clicquot, and from higher gates Gun Song and Dorth Vader.
Breeders Cup Turf
Breeders Cup Classic
The champion three-year-old SOVEREIGNTY may have beaten the same horses on the Triple Crown trail and after, but they’ve done plenty to frank his form as well. He can give Bill Mott a third Breeders’ Cup Classic success and make himself Horse of the Year into the bargain.
With little to fear from familiar rivals Journalism and Baeza, it’s the older generation that pose the bigger threat. Defending champ Sierra Leone may again have the race run to suit for Chad Brown, but the Todd Pletcher barn has three contenders in the versatile Mindframe, last year’s runner-up Fierceness and Antiquarian, any of which could at least make the show.
Breeders Cup Mile
FORMIDABLE MAN just loves it here and such a course specialist looks a bit of value at the Breeders Cup 2025 against a strong international challenge. Notable Speech is back for more and in the winning groove, so he’s a threat for Godolphin, but Johannes finished in front of him 12 months ago.
French raider Sahlan commands respect after improving, but Juddmonte’s Jonquil also fits into that category after running on strongly behind Rhetorical and Program Trading at Keeneland from a wide draw. Now he’s become something of an enigma, The Lion In Winter has most to prove of the three-year-olds.
Breeders Cup Dirt Mile
With Bob Baffert running three and Nysos apparently the pick of them, his other runners also bring potential to improve over a mile. Goal Oriented looks well worth trying similarly down in trip, while stepping Citizen Bull back up may also pay off.
This could be run to suit 2024 Kentucky Derby MYSTIK DAN, however, with the only concern being it’s not at Churchill Downs. Last year’s winner Full Serrano, back to defend his crown completes a somewhat obvious shortlist
Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Of the others, Gezora is better than she showed in the Arc, while Diamond Rain looks more than just a second string for Godolphin. A couple of lively outsiders to consider as well are Stellify on the upgrade and Moyglare Stud’s Bellezza.
