The full attention of not just horse racing but the sporting world will be on the San Diego area and the Del Mar Race Track this Friday and Saturday with the running of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup.
There will be 14 races to determine world champions in the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. Friday is referred to as “Future Stars” day, as the five BC races on Friday all are for 2-year-olds.
The first BC race on Friday is the 6th on the Del Mar card when the Juvenile Turf Sprint goes to post at 2:45 p.m. There are five BC races on Friday.
On Saturday, the BC action starts with the 4th on the Del Mar Card when the Filly and Mare Sprint goes to post at 12 noon. Saturday features nine BC races.
In terms of local interest, the 14 races features a pair of horses that have run at the Alameda County Fair in the last two years! Read on to find what horses and when they ran!
Here is a look at the 14 BC races!
Friday
Juvenile Turf Sprint (5 furlongs, turf, 2:45 p.m.)
This gets us going with a bang as only going 5 furlongs is a flat-out brawl to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup underway!
When it comes to the BC, any turf race features a European flavor and that is no different here as seven of the 12 runners have shipped from Europe, with another coming from Japan.
Ecoro Sieg (Hideyuki Mori trainer, Christophe Lemaire, 7/2) is the morning line favorite in a talented group. Shipping over from Japan, the horse is 2-for-2 in his career.
Aesterius (Archie Watson, James Doyle, 9/2) has run in both Great Britian and France this year and has won four of six starts, including the Flying Childers in his last start, beating two others entered here.
Big Mojo (Michael Appleby, Tom Marquand, 4/1) was second in the Childers, and has a win and two places in four starts this year. Magnum Force (Ger Lyons, Colin Keane, 15/1) was the beaten favorite, finishing third in the Childers. If he was thought to be the favorite in that last race, dismissing him at 15/1 here might make him a good value play.
Whistlejacket (Adian O’Brien, Ryan Moore, 5/1) has to be strong runner if no other reason than the connections. He has seven starts this year and has won three and run second in three others.
As far as an American horse Governor Sam (George Weaver, Paco Lopez, 12/1) has won four races in a row but this by far the toughest field he has seen, and it would be a huge step forward to make an impact.
Juvenile Fillies (1-1/16 miles, main track, 3:25 p.m.)
Out of this race will come to early Kentucky Oaks favorite. The second choice on the morning line is Immersive (Brad Cox, Manny Franco, 3/1).
She is a perfect 3-for-3 with the last two being wins in Grade I races at Keeneland and Saratoga. In the three starts her style has been consistent – stalk the pace then close when they get to the top of the lane. The connections have been together for all three races.
If it’s a 2-year-old race, then you must figure Bob Baffert will have a solid runner. In this spot it’s Non Compliant (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 9/2). She has run twice and won twice, the last coming in the Grade II Oak Leaf at Santa Anita where she edged away to win by over two lengths.
Baffert will also saddle Nooni (Baffert, Flavien Prat, 15/1), a horse that has two wins in four starts. The last start was also in the Oak Leaf where she ran second.
Scottish Lassie (Jorge Abreu, Jose Lezcano, 5/2) is the morning line favorite based off one win. After running third in her debut effort, she ran in the Grade I Frizette and after bumping at the break, came back and blew doors, winning by nine lengths. She may be the real deal, but I need more than what I have seen to take the low price.
One final horse to look at is American Bikini (Takashi Saito, Ryan Moore, 5/1). She ships in from Japan to make her fourth start. After running second in her debut, she followed with a pair of wins. I expect her to be a factor in the lane.
Juvenile Fillies Turf (One mile, turf, 4:05 p.m.)
As mentioned before, you say turf races and you think of European horses. In this spot, a horse like Lake Victoria (Adian O’Brien, Ryan Moore, 8-5) certainly fits the bill.
Four starts, four wins, with three of them coming in graded stakes races.
But this time, you have an American horse that might just be the one to beat.
Thought Process (Hector Berrios, Phil D’Amato, 5-2) has three wins in four starts and is coming off a win in the Grade III Surfer Girl at Santa Anita.
The kicker for me is she has won both starts over the Del Mar Turf course. Turf courses vary from track to track and if a runner is comfortable on a course, there is an edge.
Heaven’s Gate (Aidan O’Brien, Wayne Lordan, 12/1) is another runner shipping in from Europe and while not as impressive on paper – three wins in seven starts – that she comes out of O’Brien’s barn makes her worth a look.
Finally, in a bit of irony, May Day Ready (Joseph Lee, Frankie Dettorri, 20-1) is being ridden by one of Europe’s all-time best riders and goes with an American horse here. He just got up in the Grade II Jessamine at Keeneland.
Juvenile (1-1/16 miles, main track, 4:45 p.m.)
Traditionally, this one sets the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby next year.
East Avenue (Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione, 5/2) breaks from the rail and is your morning line favorite. Broke at Ellis Park in his debut, then came back to win the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland. Has led at every call of both races.
Chancer McPatrick (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 3-1) has won all three starts, and I have watched the last two – Grade I wins in the Hopeful at Saratoga, and the Champagne at Aqueduct. I loved the effort in Champagne when he started poorly, quickly re-engaged, then went five-wide as they headed for home and drew off to win by over two lengths.
Jonathan’s Way (Joel Rosario, Philip Bauer, 9/2) has won both starts, the last of which was the Grade III Iroquois at Churchill Downs. In his two races he has shown drastically different styles, coming from the back and circling the field, then wiring the field in the Iroquois.
Citizen Bull (Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 10/1) warrants respect based on the barn. His better 3-year-olds seem to surface in the months immediately before the Derby but this one and his stablemates have shots here. He was third in the Del Mar Futurity, but then came back to win the American Pharoah at Santa Anita.
Gaming (Bob Baffert, Irad Ortiz, 8-1) has been off since winning the Del Mar Futurity in early September. In his debut he wired the field and won by over five lengths. Will have his third different jockey in as many races.
Juvenile Turf (One mile, turf, 5:25 p.m.)
The last of the BC races for Friday has a field of 14 set to go to post.
I have four horses to watch here, three that are shipping over from Europe.
Al Qudra (Charles Appleby, James Doyle, 4-1) has won two of six career starts. He did have one start in North America, running second in a Grade I at Woodbine.
Zulu Kingdom (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 8/1) if there is an American trainer to take on the Euros, it’s Brown. The horse made his debut in France before shipping to the United States. Since being here, he has won a pair of graded races, with the last being the Grade II Pilgrim at Aqueduct. Will stalk the pace and move late.
New Century (Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy, 5/2) has won two straight, including shipping over and winning the Grade I Summer at Woodbine. Appears to live running off the pace.
Henri Matisse (Aiden O’Brien, Ryan Moore, 6/1) had nothing left in the tank at his most recent start, a Grade I in France. Before that he was on point with three wins and a second in his four first four starts. He will come from off the pace.
Saturday
Filly and Mare Sprint (7 furlongs, main track, 12 p.m.)
The first of the BC races for Saturday will be a contest to see who the fastest Filly or Mare will be.
Ways and Means (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 5/2) is the morning line favorite and has won 3-of-5 starts this year. She has won three consecutive graded stakes, and she was fourth in the Kentucky Oaks this year. Since scaling back in distance she has won on a fast track, under sloppy conditions, and once in the mud. She sits really close to the lead and closes strongly.
Society (Steve Asmussen, Tyler Gaffalione, 3-1) is 3/1 in large part because of her big win in the Grade 1 Ballerina on August 24 at Saratoga, beating two others entered here. She’s only run twice this year, running third in her other start. She was fourth in this race last year and is a very beatable favorite.
Vahva (Cherie DeVaux, Irad Ortiz, 4-1) was third in the Ballerina as the heavy favorite. Before then she took a pair of graded stake races at Churchill. She has two wins, a second, and a third in four starts this year.
Zeitlos (Steve Asmussen, Jose Ortiz, 6/1) has been a machine this year, winning six of eight starts, but this is the first time she’s been in a Grade I. This will be the toughest she has faced but she’s a closer and if there is a pace meltdown, you might see her picking them off.
There might be some value here with Pleasant (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 12-1). The horse has won three of four in her career. It’s a huge step up as it’s her first stake – she has only run straight maiden and optional claimers – but the speed is there, and she has won over the track.
The final horse I’ll mention and is another value play in One Magic Philly (Philip D’Amato, Antonio Fresu, 10/1). She has won three consecutive races and is getting faster each time she runs. She is also perfect over the track, winning both her starts. The last win came on October 5 when she won the Grade 3 Chillingworth at Santa Anita. This is a step up here but I love the two wins over the track.
Turf Sprint (5 furlongs, turf, 12:41 p.m.)
This is the lone turf race of the BC where the American horses usually have the upper hand. As of Thursday, 12 horses are set to go to post.
Cogburn (Steve Asmussen, Irad Ortiz, 7/5) is the morning-line favorite and has won three races in a row, keeping him perfect for the year. And he’s been dominant with Beyer marks of 107, 114, and 107.
The last two starts, there has been no secret – he goes from the time the gate opens and does not give up the lead until the race is over. Three back he broke a touch slowly but had the lead by the second call and never looked back.
Bradsell (Archie Walton, Hollie Doyle, 7/2) ships over from Europe where he was running in France, Ireland, and Great Britian. Has won 3-of-4 this year and ran second in the other. He doesn’t need the lead but will take it if it is there.
Motorious (Phil D’Amato, Antonio Fresu, 8/1) is from Great Britian but runs in the United States. Was fifth in this race last year and since then was seventh off the layoff, then was fourth, and in his last start he took the Grade III Green Flash over the turf at Del Mar. He’s won all three of his starts at Del Mar.
Ag Bullet (Richard Baltas, Umberto Rispoli, 10/1) was fourth in his most recent start in the Grade I First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 5. Before that he won the Grade II Lady Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs by five, and the Osunitas at Del Mar by over three lengths.
Star of Mystery (Charles Appleby, William Buick, 10/1) shipped to the United States in May and has run three races in the U.S., two at Saratoga and one at Keeneland. He was third in the Grade I Jaipur at Saratoga, then won the Grade III Quik Call also at Saratoga, and was second in the Grade II Franklin at Keeneland in mid-October.
Distaff (1-1/8 miles, main track, 1:21 p.m.)
Might be the most well bet favorite in either day, and she could be the closest to a sure thing.
Thorpedo Anna (Kenneth McPeek, Brian Hernandez, 4/5) has won five of her last six starts, with the only loss being a second in the Grade I Travers where she took on the boys in the summer classic at Saratoga. She will sit no further back than third and then blow by the field in the lane. Shen has nine career starts with seven wins and two seconds.
Raging Sea (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 7/2) has won four of five races this year, including the last three. Will come from further back than Thorpedo Anna which will be problematic, given the power Anna unleashes with her kick.
Awesome Result (Yasutoshi Ikee, Yutaka Take, 4/1) comes in from Japan for the race and has won all seven of career starts. This year she is 3-for-3, winning her last start by 5-lengths over the second-place horse and 15 lengths clear of the third-place runner.
Turf (1-1/2 miles, turf, 2:01 p.m.)
The second richest race of the day will have 13 going to post and figures to be a contentious day.
Rebel’s Romance (Charles Appleby, William Buick, 5/2) has four of five starts this year, with the lone loss coming two back at Royal Ascot. He then came back in a Grade I in German and won by a neck.
Jayarebe (Brian Meehan, Sean Levey, 4-1) has run in France the last two starts, running second in the Grade II Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, then winning by a head in the Grade II Prix Dollar.
Emily Upjohn (John Gosdon, Frankie Dettori, 5-1) has not won in six starts in a row. In fact, his last win was June of 2023. But they have all been Grade I races in France, Ireland, and Great Britian and he has run well.
Far Bridge (Christophe Clement, Joel Rosario, 6-1) has won his last two races, taking the Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga, then the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 28, earning a 101 Beyer in the process.
Classic (1-1/4 miles, main track, 2:41 p.m.)
The big daddy of the day has a $7 million purse awaiting the 14 horses going to post.
City of Troy (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Murphy, 5-2) is the morning line favorite, which rarely do we get a European horse as the Classic morning line favorite. He has won three races in a row, all three times as the favorite. It seems like he likes to be on or near the lead.
Fierceness (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 3/1) last year’s Juvenile champ when to the bench after that 15th place finish as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Since he’s been back, it’s been all good as he won the Grade II Jim Dandy at Saratoga, then followed up winning the Grade I Travers in a thrilling stretch run with Thorpedo Anna. He will be around the lead throughout the race.
Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi, Ryusei Sakai, 6/1) is a Japanese runner that has run all over the world including a third in Kentucky Derby and a win in the UAE Derby. Will close from the parking lot.
Next (William Cowans, Luan Machado, 8/1) is flying under the radar but he has quietly gone about a great season with Beyer figures 100-plus in his last seven races. He is 4-for-4 this year and deserves a good look here as part of any ticket. He will be on or right off the lead.
Sierra Leone (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 12/1) has been a disappointment on the win end since winning the Blue Grass back in early April. As the president of his fan club let me say that while he may not win the race, to leave him off your ticket is a huge mistake. The monster closer has been second or third in four straight and his third in the Travers was a huge run as he finished only behind Fierceness and Thorpedo Anna. Finally, there is a lot of speed here ensuring a fast pace to run at late.
Mixto (Doug O’Neill, Kyle Frey, 30-1) is a horse I need to mention as he ran second as the favorite in the Pleasanton Mile in July this summer. He came out of that race and won the Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar. A big reach? Absolutely, but how cool it is to have a horse running in the Classic that ran in the Alameda County Fair.
Filly and Mare Turf (1-3/8 miles, turf, 3:25 p.m.)
War Like Goddess (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 5-2) is an American runner that is the morning line favorite. Last year she ran in the Turf and was seventh, taking on the boys. Now she is in with the ladies and seems poised for a big one. The distance won’t be an issue as she has tired it seven times and has hit the board all seven, with four wins.
Cinderella’s Dream (Charles Appleby, William Buick, 4/1) is one where I love what the European connections have done, bringing the horse over early and letting her get in a couple races here. And she won both taking a Grade I at Aqueduct and a Grade II at Saratoga. Moves like that are what wins these races. She has won 6-of-7 turf starts.
Content (Aidan O’Brien, Frankie Dettori, 6/1) has one win in seven starts this year and was beaten by 16 lengths in her last start. Interesting she is thought of so highly here, but the connections are world class.
Hang the Moon (Phil D’Amato, Kazushi Kimara, 10/1) is trained by one of the top turf trainers in the United States. The horse has won three of four this year, including two Grade II races in a row. She won the John C Mabee at Del Mar and the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita. She likes to sit back and make a late run.
Moira (Kevin Attard, Flavien Prat, 8/1) is kind of a sleeper here with a win and two seconds this year. Likes to stalk the pace and get first run in the lane.
Sprint (6 furlongs, main track, 4:05 p.m.)
One of my favorite races every year, the Sprint is like the 100-meter dash finals in the Olympics.
Federal Judge (Brad Cox, Irad Ortiz, 3/1) has won two in a row, earning Beyer marks 100 and then 106 in the Grade II Phoenix at Keeneland. He has not trailed at any call in both races so there’s not any mystery here. The gate opens and he goes fast.
Mullikin (Rodolphe Brisset, Flavien Prat, 7/2) started with an allowance race in late April where he won, to three races later running and winning the Grade I Forego at Saratoga in late August.
The win at Saratoga made it four in a row and he appears to be getting better each start, earning a 106 Beyer in the Forego.
Straight No Chaser (Dan Blacker, John Velazquez, 5-1) took the Santa Anita Sprint in late September, only his second start of the year. Ran away and hide in that race, winning by over 6-lengths. Got a 104 Beyer and anything close to that here gives him a shot.
Nakatomi (Wesley Ward, Tyler Gaffalione, 6/1) has run four races on four different tracks this year. The last start he was second, beaten five lengths by Federal Judge in the Phoenix. He is a closer and has gotten some respect in the morning line, but I am not sure he warrants it.
Remake (Koichi Shintani, Yuga Kawada, 8/1) has raced in five different countries, winning two of three this year. His last start was a two-length win in the Korea Sprint where he defended his 2023 win.
Skelly (Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, 8/1) is a hard knocker, finishing in the exacta in six of seven starts this year. He is working on three second place finishes this year. Two back he was second to Nakatomi in the Grade I Vanderbilt at Saratoga.
Mile (One-mile, turf, 4:45 p.m.)
Arguably the biggest turf race of the weekend has 12 horses set to go to post.
Notable Speech (Charles Appleby, William Buick, 7/2) is the morning line favorite in what appears to be a wide-open race. He has won five of seven starts this year, but his last start was a 5-plus length loss.
Porta Fortuna (Donnacha O’Brien, Tom Marquand, 4/1) has won three Grade I races in Europe coming into this one. He likes the lead but does not need it to win this one as he can sit right off and make the move late.
Johannes (Tim Yakteen, Umberto Rispoli, 9/2) has won four races in a row and, two back came over the turf at Del Mar in the Grade II Eddie Read. The last start was in the Grade II City of Hope at Santa Anita in late September. More of a stalker than a push the pace kind of runner, look for this one late.
Ramatuelle (Christopher Head, Aurelien Lemaitre, 5/1) has won once in four races this year but that came in the last race, winning a Grade I in France.
Carl Spackler (Chad Brown, Tyler Gaffalione, 6/1) has won two Grade I races in a row with the last coming in the Turf Mile at Keeneland on October 5. A very popular horse with the Caddyshack crowd, he is right there with the leaders the entire race. Will be a part of my ticket.
Dirt Mile (One-mile, main track, 5:25 p.m.
Due to the desire to have the Classic in a better viewing time for the East Coast, the Dirt Mile is the final BC race of the weekend. It is always my favorite race each year.
Domestic Product (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 7-2) is the favorite and the price shows you how wide open this race.
In six starts this year, he has three firsts and a pair of seconds. It is the last two starts that has pushed him into the favorites role. He won the Grade III Dwyer at Aqueduct in early July by over seven lengths, then came back in late August to just get up and win the Jerkins at Saratoga by a neck. Another runner this weekend that had a tough go of it at the Kentucky Derby this year, took some time off, and has run well since coming back.
Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph, Irad Ortiz, 4-1) has three wins in seven starts this year but the last four have been all over the place. In his last start – the Grade II Woodward at Aqueduct – he chased the pace, took the lead as headed for home, then got caught late and finished second.
Muth (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 9/2) could not run in the Derby this year as he was one in Baffert’s barn while the trainer’s suspension was still in place.
He would have earned himself a spot with wins in the San Vincente at Santa Anita, then the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. He then took the Shared Belief at Del Mar before wrapping up his prep work with a sixth, beaten 15 lengths, in the California Crown. Now he rolls back to a mile race and should be live here.
Saudi Crown (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux, 5-1) is a speed burner that spent some time in the Middle East back in February and March. After some time off to recover from the trip he came back an won a stake at Ellis Park in early August. Now after another break he’s ready to roll.
Full Serrano (John Sadler, Joel Rosario, 15-1) is one that could be a nice value play. Since shipping up from Argentina in the spring, he has a win in an optional claimer, followed by second in the Grade I Pacific Classic in late August. In seven starts at the distance, he has won four and ran second in the other three. Has had some big works since his last race and is certainly worth a long look to get a spot on your ticket.
Katonah (Doug O’Neill, Franki Dettori, 30-1) had to mentioned for being the winner of the inaugural Pleasanton Mile in July of 2023.
After the win he went to the shelf for over a year, then came back and was second in the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. His next run came in the Grade I Pacific Classic, finishing seventh. Recently he was fourth in the California Crown. Comes from off the pace.
Come wager at the Pleasanton OTB!
As always, the Pleasanton Off-Track Betting center will be open throughout the Golden State Racing meet, where you can watch and wager on races from around the country.
If you want to watch and wager on the Breeders’ Cup races inside, Pleasanton OTB is the place to be!
All the races will be available to wager on down at the OTB at the Alameda County Fair!
For more information, please visit www.pleasantonotb.com.