World awaits for 207 Breeders’ Cup hopefuls

DEL MAR Connections of top thoroughbreds from around the globe have declared their intention to compete in the Oct 31-Nov 1 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar, with 207 pre-entries recorded for the international festival of racing.

Pre-entry is the first of a two-step process for all owners intending to start a contender in one of the 14 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races.

The entry stage is on Oct 27, when post positions will be drawn at 4pm (Oct 28, 7am Singapore time). The draw will be streamed on BreedersCup.com, the official Breeders’ Cup mobile app, and YouTube, Facebook and X social channels.

The World Championships will feature 14 Grade 1 races and more than US$34 million (S$44 million) in purses and awards, as the sport’s top horses, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys converge on racing’s biggest stage.

Headlining the list of 191 individual contenders targeting the two-day celebration are the top three from the 2024 US$7 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic – Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Japanese hero Forever Young – preparing to face off in a rematch for the ages, alongside leading three-year-olds Sovereignty and Journalism.

Antiquarian, Baeza, Contrary Thinking, Locked, Mindframe and Nevada Beach complete a deep cast pre-entered for the 2,000m showpiece.

As many as 16 horses who have won this race have gone on to earn Horse of the Year honours at the Eclipse Awards, reflecting the elite calibre of competition that defines the World Championships.

Del Mar – “Where the Turf Meets the Surf” on the shores of the Pacific Ocean – will host the Breeders’ Cup for the fourth time, following a record-setting 2024 edition that achieved a new global wagering benchmark of US$203.7 million.

Horses from five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America – have been pre-entered, including 58 from abroad.

Besides the home team from the United States, contenders hail from Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, Ireland, France, Japan, Peru, South Africa and Uruguay.

Underscoring the exceptional depth and quality across all divisions this year, eight Breeders’ Cup champions will seek another victory.

They are:
Citizen Bull – Winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1,700m)
Fierceness – Winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1,700m) and runner-up of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2,000m)
Full Serrano – Winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (1,600m)
Nobals – Winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1,000m)
Rebel’s Romance – Winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) in 2022 and 2024
Sierra Leone – Winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2,000m)
Straight No Chaser – Winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1,200m)
White Abarrio – Winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2,000m).

Additionally, 46 individual pre-entered horses qualified through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In. It is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the World Championships.

“The incredible group of horses pre-entered for this year’s Breeders’ Cup reflects the unmatched quality and global prestige of the World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, president and chief executive officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited to BreedersCup.com.

“The divisions are loaded with champions, classic winners and international stars. We are deeply grateful to the owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and teams, whose dedication and care make it possible for these extraordinary thoroughbreds to put on an incredible show.

“Our thanks also go to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for their partnership, to our nominators for their vital support, and to the passionate fans and bettors whose enthusiasm continues to drive our sport forward.

“We can’t wait to deliver another unforgettable edition of the World Championships at Del Mar.”