Breeders’ Cup Notebook: A Look Around the Backside at Del Mar

Arizona Blaze (GB) (Turf Sprint) was the first European horse on the main track shortly after 6:15 a.m. David Egan will take the mount on Saturday, and he was trackside Wednesday to watch exercise. Egan announced that he has had his contract with Amo Racing extended until the end of 2028.

Egan said; “I’m incredibly proud to extend my contract with Amo Racing. There’s a long-term vision to build something special and sustainable, and I’m honored to play my part in that journey. We’ve got a great team of people behind the scenes and a strong string of horses, so there’s a real sense of excitement about what’s to come.”

Amo Racing and Egan team up with five rides at the Breeders’ Cup with Arizona Blaze (GB) in the Prevagen Turf Sprint (G1). He also rides Outfielder  for Wesley Ward in the Juvenile Turf. His other mounts could be Valiant Force who is first also eligible in the Cygames Sprint, Hill Road in the Longines Turf and Cathedral (GB) in the Marker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf.

Rashabar (IRE) (Turf) went onto the main track under the watchful eye of his trainer Brian Meehan who was riding a pony.

Meehan said; “The Breeders’ Cup is like the Olympics and it’s great to be back. The event has always caught my imagination. All is well with Rashabar, the team is very happy with him. He’s got a big task on Saturday but I’m sure he’ll give it a good go.”

Andrew Balding was trackside to oversee his three horses. “Pacific Mission (GB) (John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf) is a filly that has only had the three runs but is improving every start,” Balding said. “She was a very good second in the May Hill (G2) at Doncaster on her most recent start. We felt this type of race would suit her well. She’s talented but obviously lacks experience and has a wide draw (12) which is an inconvenience, but I hope she runs well.

“Jonquil (GB) (Fanduel Mile) has been consistent all year at a mile. His lesser runs have come at shorter. I thought he ran very well in the circumstances at Keeneland, and I hope he’ll run a big race on Saturday.

“See The Fire (GB) (Filly & Mare Turf) has been mixing it with the very best in Europe this summer. She never runs a bad race and is ideally suited by fast ground. Stepping up a furlong shouldn’t be a problem for her. She has been on the go a fair while this year and it’s the end of a long season, but she seems to still be in good form and if she runs her race, she’ll be very competitive.”

Silawi (Turf) did an easy gallop on the turf that connections were pleased with.

Ethical Diamond (IRE) (Turf) is one of a few flat horses in training with legendary Irish jumps trainer, Willie Mullins. Mullins said; “He’s come out of the Ebor very well. I’ve been very happy with him over the last few weeks. He’s in great shape and the Breeders’ Cup Turf might suit him.

He’s had a few setbacks through his career, and he’s just come right now. All he has done is kept on improving and we’ve figured out how best to ride him, too. He was very good at York.”

Horse: Hill Road, Redistricting
Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: David Egan, Flavien Prat

Set: 8 a.m.
Morning activity: Hill Road went to the track in tandem with Chancer McPatrick and galloped about 1½m on the dirt track; Redistricting went solo and did the same

Planned activity: Gallop about 1½m on the main track

Trainer Chad Brown would naturally prefer to be the favorite in a $5 million race such as the Longines Turf, but nonetheless has confidence his longshot duo of Amo Racing’s Hill Road and Klaravich Stables’ Redistricting (GB) are coming into America’s premier grass race well enough to hold their collective own.

“Hill Road breaks well usually and was drawn wide (in post 13 of 14) and he doesn’t have much turn-of-foot,” Brown explained. “With that, he’s going to have to knife in somewhere and kind of stay and get a piece of this.”

Hill Road, third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) for previous conditioner Adrian Murray, was transferred to Brown with Triple Crown trail intentions, which were enhanced after a smart victory in the Peter Pan (G3). When those aspirations vanished through the spring, thanks to a fifth in the Belmont (G1), he was returned to the grass, running respectable thirds in the Nashville Derby (G3) and Jockey Club Derby (G2). He attempts 12 furlongs on Saturday for the first time.

Meanwhile, Redistricting has long been well regarded solely on the sod, being a son of champion Kingman out of a full-sister to 2011 Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey—a pedigree point that makes his relishing of longer distances in 2025 make that much mores sense. Stretched to the three-turn layout in the 11-furlong United Nations (G2) and 12-furlong Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) in his most recent two runs, he has rewarded Brown with a win and runner-up effort.

“Redistricting drew cozy (post 4) and that horse is another who will like the shorter-cut turf here at Del Mar,” Brown continued. “He had a big gap behind the favorite in the race in his last start, which doesn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy having to go in again and run against Rebel’s Romance, but he will like this course.

“He’s still improving and it’s a $5 million race,” Brown concluded. “I’m not confused about his chances, but for this purse and how he’s doing, I think he could get a piece of this race with a good inside draw, especially, and he got that. I have a top jockey on him (Flavien Prat) and we will try to map out a good trip. At a minimum, we could get a nice forward trip in the pocket, which wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Brown has started 14 runners in the Turf, winning with Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s Bricks and Mortar in 2019.

Horse: Rebel’s Romance (IRE)

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Jockey: William Buick

Morning activity: Led out with the entirety of Charlie Appleby’s Breeders’ Cup contingent, walking and jogging to the frontside turf gap, then going onto the turf and having a nice, easy gallop circuit of the Del Mar turf.
Planned activity: An easy gallop/canter is expected.

One casual chat with jockey William Buick and it is easy to see how much his favorite pupil Rebel’s Romance (IRE) means to him. Since first partnering with the 17-hand, nearly black son of Dubawi’s October 2020 debut, the two have traveled the globe and done more than conquer, upping the star’s bankroll to nearly $15 million and winning races that were Group 1s or worth seven figures in the USA, UAE, Germany, Qatar and Hong Kong. More importantly, especially to Buick and trainer Charlie Appleby, Rebel’s Romance has become a fan favorite through his six seasons of racing, including five stateside races.

“It’s amazing to go after history with him, but he’s also an amazing horse, when it comes down to it,” Buick said. “I think a lot of credit has to go to Charlie Appleby and his team for being able to keep him at the level he has been throughout most of his career and to keep him as interested and as happy as he is in still doing the job. Credit to the horse, but also credit to the people behind him.”

The two  will seek not only to make the 20-time victor from 29 starts an unprecedented three-time winner of the $5 million Longines Turf, but also the G1-winningest Godolphin runner in history. His win last out in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) put him at nine top-level tallies, tied with Godolphin’s Aussie legend Anamoe (AUS) and teetering the 7-year-old on the brink of immortality.

“He just gets on with his job and is ultra-professional,” Buick continued. “He just wants to do his job well, go home and get ready for the next time and, believe it or not, with those types of horses, it’s easy to grow attached them—especially because he’s been around for so many years.

“I suppose, also, because he did go missing for a few months and just wasn’t performing very well for a year earlier in his career, when we were questioning whether he was going to come back to himself, he did. He came back to his very best and more and I’m just amazed at his adaptability. He won the (2021) UAE Derby (G2) by 5 lengths—and he’s a grass horse—and I know that’s a long time ago now, but it’s something that’s very important to mention because it shows you how versatile and classy the horse is.”

The last time Rebel’s Romance and Buick teamed up was in the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) on July 26—a race that still burns for Buick. Stuck down inside and trapped for most of the running, he was never able to extend himself and wound up a frustrated third behind Europe’s top-ranked older horse, Calandagan (IRE). The loss denied him a much-sought-after English Group 1—something that means a great deal to the team around him. It was one of just two losses this year from seven starts, with the other being a fourth in a failed defense of the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). Because of scheduling conflicts, he was ridden by Billy Loughnane when winning August’s Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) and Frankie Dettori when taking September’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).

“The King George left a bitter taste in our mouths and I felt so sorry for the horse, honestly,” Buick said. “He just couldn’t show any of his true quality. In hindsight, I would have gone out on my own and made the running, but with a perceived pacemaker in the race, that would have been suicide.

“In the (2024) Sheema, the year before, we had the perfect run of the race, following a pacemaker setting even fractions and we got the jump and kicked home, but this year, I think it was just a very differently run race that didn’t go our way,” Buick continued. “He still ran very well and wasn’t beaten far for third, especially after things weren’t very easy on him in his previous race in Qatar, which did not help. That said, even when he doesn’t win, he still runs a very good race. That’s the kind of horse he is. He gives everything.”

Appleby echoes those sentiments, truly believing that Rebel’s Romance is every bit as exceptional as they can possibly come.

“It’s been an extreme pleasure to be part of his great journey,” Appleby said. “To have a horse like him be as good as he has been for this long, especially. He’s still running at the top level and more importantly running well and winning. He still is holding his own at the Grade 1 level. From my point of view, he’s been so enjoyable and brought us so much.

“Physically he looks fantastic,” Appleby continued. “Obviously, there’s no improvement there at his age, but he has maintained his form and it’s so rare in racing for us to see a fully developed Thoroughbred like him still racing like he is with such mental strength and experience. That’s why he’s been able to do what he’s done. Most retired at three and four and it just goes to show that there’s still a lot of maturity that goes on as they age. With him, we have been fortunate to see that.

“He’s a beast of an animal and has such presence,” Appleby concluded. “His enthusiasm is second-to-none and he looks exceptional going around there. He steps out onto that track and he means purpose every day. He brings to the Breeders’ Cup table experience and an abundance of it. The best part for us, though, as a team, is to take him around the world and see what it means to everyone else when he wins.”

Horse: Argine (JPN)

Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida

Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Set: 6:55 a.m.

Morning Activity: Breezed 5f in 1:10 3/5 on turf (times via video)
The Quote: “She didn’t change her hand, but it was only because I was going slow, she will be fine at racing pace. Very light on her feet and that’s what you need for this kind of tight track like Del Mar. Not too big, she is perfect. She is very happy and in good shape. It was just light work and for me to get a feeling of her. All the signs I got were good.” – Frankie Dettori

“Frankie was very happy, and it is positive that he thinks Del Mar suits her. I hope Argine can show her ability by running her race at the world stage.” – stable representative, Shinya Matsuoka

Horse: One Stripe (SAF)
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Set: 9:15 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped over the turf
Planned activity: Gallop, surface to be determined
The Note: This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be “take 2” for trainer Graham Motion and South African-connected horses. After saddling Beach Bomb (SAF) and Isivunguvungu (SAF) to respective eighth- and seventh-place finishes in Breeders’ Cup events last year, Motion and Team South Africa are back with Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam’s One Stripe (SAF) in the G1 FanDuel Mile.

Motion, an English-born trainer, said he is honored to train a representative of South Africa once again at this year’s World Championships.

“You do feel a certain responsibility for the South Africans because it’s a big deal for them,” Motion said. “I do feel like we are representing them, and I know how important it is for them. It’s been uplifting for our stable. It’s a new experience in our stable to have these horses, and I love international racing.”

One Stripe, a bay son of One World (SAF), enters from a fifth-place finish in with Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) on Sept. 13, where he made his North American debut. In his native country, One Stripe is a dual Group 1 winner after taking the Cape Guineas and King’s Plate this winter at Kenilworth.

“I picked a really difficult race for him to run in last time for his first North American start,” Motion said. “He had to give weight to everybody, so he was really up against it. I think he’s really come on since that race – he really needed the race. The timing was perfect, it just wasn’t the ideal spot.”

One Stripe is now set to make his American debut in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which features contenders from five continents.

“He’s been a pleasure to be around,” Motion said. “For a newly-turned 4-year-old colt, he’s got a good disposition and he’s a good eater. It’s going to be a tall order for him, but I think he’s going to be a really nice horse. He hasn’t done much wrong.”

Horse: Program Trading (GB)
Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Set: 8:50 a.m.
Morning activity: Galloped 1½m of the dirt track

Planned activity: Gallop 1½ m of the dirt track

Dual Grade 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup Mile contender Program Trading (GB) looks to get back to the form that won him the Turf Classic (G1) last year and enters off a promising runner-up finish in the G1 Turf Mile at Keeneland for trainer Chad Brown and owner Klaravich Stables.

“I wanted to take a shot with him here,” Brown said. “He definitely lacks the turn-of-foot. He’s not slow, but he doesn’t have the acceleration you would want at a mile, even though he’s bred to be a miler. That said, I want to take this shot because his race in the (Grade 1) Hollywood Derby (in 2023) was so good that he might be able to accelerate a little better on this ground—at least I’m hoping so.

“If he can pick up his turn-of-foot by loving Del Mar—and if he drew cozy, which he drew pretty good (in post 5 of 13)—I thought he would be worth taking a shot here,” Brown continued. “He’s definitely back at the level of when he won the Turf Classic, but again, that was at a mile and an eighth, so we are hoping for the best here. He’s definitely doing very, very well.”

A 19-time Breeders’ Cup winner, Brown seeks his second Mile trophy, having taken the 2019 edition with Uni (GB). Seth Klarman’s Klaravich operation seeks its third Breeders’ Cup win, following 2018 Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire) and 2019 Turf winner Bricks and Mortar.

Horse: Village Voice (GB)
Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Morning activity: Galloped about 1½m
Planned activity: Gallop about 1½m

Resolute Racing’s Village Voice (GB) is flying a little under the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) radar and that is perfectly fine with trainer Chad Brown, whose 31 previous starters in the race begat winners Zagora (FR) (2012), Dayatthespa (2014), Stephanie’s Kitten (2015) and Sistercharlie (IRE) (2018). A British-bred daughter of Zarak who is listed at morning-line odds of 15-1 and breaks from post 4 under Flavien Prat, Village Voice enters with plenty to find on form, but no small amount of promise in what will be only her second start for America’s top turf conditioner.

“I am happy to run with her,” Brown said. “I spoke to John and Chelsey Stewart about it, while they paid a lot of money for her and the hope is always that you can earn your way into big, meaningful races like this. That said, this was a joint decision and I’m very happy to bring her over here and run.

“If I could draw an inside post with this filly second off that layoff, I think you have a nice, fresh filly going in who is moving forward,” Brown continued. “We’ve had a lot of success at Del Mar and Santa Anita over the years and she fits that mold. I’m not perfectly certain she’ll love fast Del Mar ground, but I think she should be fine on it. What I do love is how she runs the turns and accelerates around them—this is something that could bring her the opportunity to maybe grab a piece of this race.”

Making her first 12 starts in Ireland and France for Jessica Harrington, Village Voice made her stateside debut nearly one year after her most recent start when taking Aqueduct’s Waya (G3) on Oct. 5, inhaling her foes in the final furlong to win by a neck. It was her fifth win from a baker’s dozen and stamped her as one to watch. She was purchased by Resolute at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2024 for $1,727,463, two months after finishing fourth in the British Champions Fillies & Mares (G1). Her top winning effort prior was a neck victory in Saint-Cloud’s Prix de Flore (G3) in October 2023.

“She will have to take a fair move forward, but then again, I sort of worked backwards looking at the American horses first, thinking that if she fits with those, I would take my chances with who ships over,” Brown concluded. “Some years they send great ones, sometimes it’s not their best Euros—on top of that sometimes they don’t take to our courses. The three-turn Filly & Mare Turf is not our top group. I’ve said it over and over again—it’s two-turn horses in America—and it didn’t take a lot for Village Voice to make up a lot of ground on this division because it’s not our strongest group.”

Horse: Cinderella’s Dream (GB), Diamond Rain (GB)

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Jockey: William Buick, Billy Loughnane

Morning activity: Came out with the entirety of Charlie Appleby’s Breeders’ Cup contingent, walking and jogging to the frontside turf gap, then going onto the turf and having a nice, easy gallop circuit of the Del Mar turf.
Planned activity: An easy gallop/canter is expected.

Godolphin’s Cinderella’s Dream (GB) has unfinished business in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Stuck down inside for most of the race last year, she came flying through horses in last year’s edition to just miss at the wire, finishing a half-length second to Moira and swiftly passing her after the finish line, leaving many pondering what might have been. This year, in what is likely her final start before retirement, the daughter of Shamardal looks to rectify all by going out on top. Regular rider William Buick will take the reins on the Charlie Appleby trainee.

“I think the way she ran in it last year gives me some confidence,” Buick said. “It was soft ground last time at Newmarket and a horrible day and she’s a real fast-ground filly. She’s come out of it well. It would be lovely to get this one on her CV because she heads off to have babies. She’s a very good filly on her day and was very unlucky last year. She should have won, but that’s the name of the game around there. If she can run up to the same level, she’ll be right there.”

Since that run, she has had a productive season, dominating the Dahlia (G2) at Newmarket in May before taking the Falmouth (G1) over the same course in July. Between them, she was as good second in Royal Ascot’s Duke of Cambridge (G2). Her good form, on paper at least, appears to have tailed off since those three UK runs, including fourth in the 10-furlong Prix Jean Romanet (G1) in France and well-beaten third in the Sun Chariot (G1) back at Newmarket—both as the betting favorite.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m delighted with her,” Appleby said. “I think she’s a different filly than what we saw in her last run in the Sun Chariot. She seems in better nick than her last two runs, but most importantly, I think that stepping up to the mile and three (furlongs) at Del Mar is going to suit her. We know what she is—she’s a quick-ground filly and she’s proven on it on tight tracks, so she ticks every box. With the draw (9), I’m not quite so worried about her. I go in there with a lot of confidence in her that she’s going in there in good shape.

“Potentially, in all likelihood, this is going to be her last run—win, lose or draw,” Appleby confirmed. “There’s not a lot more else she can achieve before she heads to the barns. For us, the biggest achievement was the Falmouth at Newmarket, which was a race we hoped she could get that European Group 1 success behind her. Ultimately, she’s been a model of consistency and what she achieved in the US is more than enough for her to be respected at stud.”

Appleby, who teamed with Buick to win the 2017 edition with Godolphin’s Wuheida (GB), also starts Diamond Rain (GB), winner of the Weight for Age Stakes (G3) Newcastle before just missing by a head behind arguably America’s top turf filly, She Feels Pretty, in Woodbine’s E. P. Taylor (G1) on Aug. 16. Also a daughter of late, great sire Shamardal—but the similarities stop there.

“They are like David and Golliath when you look at them, with over a hundred or so kilograms difference between them,” Appleby said with a laugh. “They both shipped over well, but Diamond Rain is one big girl and the challenge is going to be that track.

“In the E. P. Taylor, she was on the outer track at Woodbine, there, and again she sort of struggled there a bit, but she gained experience,” he concluded. “We tried to educate as best we can at home. She gets the trip and seems to handle that ground, so she goes there as a player who takes sensible form into the race.”

From five starters in the race, Appleby was also fourth with Beautiful Love (IRE) (2024), seventh with With The Moonlight (IRE) (2023) and a close second with Wild Illusion (GB) (2018) in addition the aforementioned Wuheida and Cinderella’s Dream.

Horse: Bring Theband Home

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Morning Activity: Galloped once around

Planned Activity: Will gallop

The Quote: “He ran so well in Saratoga. He loves Saratoga. He loves South Florida as well. He’s kind of been funny about Toronto. I don’t really have a good answer for you (about his poor performance in the Neartic (G2) at Woodbine Oct. 4 when seventh), but he didn’t show up. If he shows up here, they’ll know it.” – Mark Casse

Horse: Chancer McPatrick
Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Morning activity: Galloped about 1½m of the dirt track

Planned activity: Gallop about 1½m of the dirt track

Trainer Chad Brown brings his fifth starter to the $1 million Dirt Mile with Flanagan Racing’s dual Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick, a son of McKinzie who is hoping to end his career on a high note. Previously, Brown finished fourth with Practical Joke (2017) and Complexity (2020), ninth with Pipeline (2022) and third with Domestic Product (2024).

“It’s his final race and he’s going off to (stud duties at) Spendthrift (Farm) after this, but I will say he’s blooming right now,” Brown explained. “He’s been putting on weight, he’s shining and he’s been training as well as he’s trained all year. With a horse like that, my approach is that he’s got these 2-year-old numbers that were so good and was definitely the top juvenile on the east coast, and if he runs through those numbers, he’s capable of having a good race.”

After winning the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) in 2024, he entered the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) as a serious player, but disappointed in sixth as the 2-1 second choice. In 2025, he has five runs, a win in the Curlin Stakes (Listed) and most recently ran with credit when fourth in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) on Aug. 23.

“Last year, he exited the Juvenile with a huge quarter-crack behind and a fresh chip in his front ankle, so I’m not certain he didn’t like Del Mar’s track,” Brown said. “It looks to be a quick race and that will be good for him.”

Chancer McPatrick drew post 8 of 10 and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz for the first time. He was assigned morning-line odds of 15-1.

“I’ve been knocking on the door in this race,” he continued. “I’ve had a third and a couple fourths in there with horses who were going off to stud, the Practical Jokes and Domestic Products of the world, who made non-threatening runs, but definitely grabbed a piece. I think at a minimum, he’s a player for something like that. He is also proven around two turns and ran a good race outside his comfort zone in a paceless, mile-and-an-eighth Curlin at Saratoga.

“If he gets a nuclear pace up front, I’ll say this about his (speed) numbers—he comes in with a pair of good numbers and a nice rest coming in, so if he progresses off of that, he could be a real player in this race,” Brown concluded. “He doesn’t have to run the fastest speed figure to win this race and he’s doing well coming into it.”

Horse: Full Serrano (ARG)

Trainer: John Sadler

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Morning Activity: Galloped 1 1/2m

Planned Activity: Will school in the gate

The Quote: “He’s doing just as well as last year. He’s been here longer now, so he’s a little more seasoned. He’s ready. He’s followed the same pattern as last year. He just had a different prep. He was second in the Pacific Classic (G1) last year and this year he was second in the Goodwood (G1). We think he can go farther. He was just second best to a very good horse in the Goodwood. This is a very good Classic. After the Goodwood we made the decision that the Dirt Mile was probably the best race for him.” – John Sadler

Horse: Imagination

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Morning Activity: Galloped

Planned Activity: Will gallop, time to be determined

The Quote: “He came out of his last race (Santa Anita Sprint Championships) really well. He seemed very comfortable last time, the way he won that. He went by them like they were stopping. Very impressive.” – Tom Ryan, managing partner of SF Racing, which co-owns the 4-yeaer-old son of Into Mischief

Horse: Patriot Spirit
Trainer: Michael Campbell
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Morning Activity: Jogged with pony, stood in gate
Planned activity: Gallop on the main track
The Quote: Patriot Spirit earned a berth into the Sprint with a win in Belmont at the Big A’s G3 Vosburgh Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” qualifying event.

“I had the chance to go for the Vosburgh, and I said ‘I’ve got to do it.’ I saw the nominations and thought, ‘I think we can win this thing!’ He just galloped, and it was a pretty strong bunch of horses to win that easily against. That’s what has led us to San Diego.” – Michael Campbell

On finding his best stride as a sprinter: “It was a significant achievement to win the Vosburgh. He’s a really good horse. We were trying to adapt him into a two-turn horse, and he was very successful at it and ran some terrific races, but I was always been searching for that sweet spot where his best distance is. He’ll try and do well wherever you put him, as long as he’s in comparable company.

“You’d have to be comatose not to be excited about being here. It’s exciting, we are grateful to be here, and we’ve got a nice horse with a big chance. We’re looking forward to it.” – Michael Campbell

Horse: Brant

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Morning Activity: Galloped 1 3/8m

Planned Activity: Will gallop time

The Quote: “He is looking good. Ted Noffey is a tough horse, and he is already proven around two turns and we are not. We are not going to know until they turn for home. I feel good about him going in.” – Bob Baffert

Horse: Ted Noffey
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez
Morning Activity: Galloped one mile under Carlos Perez

Planned Activity: Routine gallop at time TBD.

Horse: Tommy Jo (NetJet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez
Morning Activity: Galloped one mile under Hector Ramos

Planned Activity: Will gallop at time TBD.

Spendthrift Farm has a couple of unbeaten 2-year-olds that are standouts on the track and in the thoroughbred name game that figure to be top contenders in their Breeders’ Cup races.

Meet Ted Noffey and Tommy Jo.

Their names come from far different places, for far different reasons and are carried by young horses who could lock up division titles if they turn in big performances on Friday. Tommy Jo is named for the toddler granddaughter of Tamara Hughes Gustavon and Erik Gustavson. Her father, the late B. Wayne Hughes, who operated Spendthrift. Ted Noffey’s name came from a bungled headline in a trade publication over a story about Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey receiving an award.

Following a pair of victories at Saratoga Race Course and a graded-stakes win at Keeneland each, Ted Noffey is the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Tommy Jo is the 7-2 second choice in the NetJets Brreders’Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

An unwritten rule of naming thoroughbreds is to select a talented animal to carry a personally favored name, or one with an interesting background story. So far, so good with Ted Noffey and Tommy Jo,

“These are certainly situations where it’s worked out,” Ned Toffey said. “But if you look at some of our other horses that are far less accomplished or not very accomplished at all, you will find that a number of them have been named after people, including one named B. Wayne that should have been a superstar. We actually tried the name twice. The first horse didn’t get to the races, and the second horse just was not a very good horse. There’s times when that works out really well and times where it doesn’t. One of the things we do know is it’s really just hard to know which of these horses is going to turn into something.

“We all have our opinions and but until they run, you just don’t know what they’re going to do. For these ones, where the names have really worked out nicely, there’s several where it hasn’t worked out that way.”

Noffey said that the Gustavsons do most of the namings of the farm’s youngsters.

“He’s not shy about naming one after a family member or any number of things,” Toffey said. “He’s got a great sense of humor, and he has a lot of fun with the naming. There’s been some horses with some really fun names that have unfortunately not worked out. Just like the rest of racing, it’s all the better when it does work out, and you’ve got to enjoy it when it does.”

Ted Noffey has been a winner on both counts: distinctively named horse with talent. His name came from error in a headline over a story about Toffey being honored as the Kentucky Farm Manager of the Year. Toffey’s daughter Meghan spotted the Ned Toffey/Ted Noffey mistake and notified the publication after she had taken a screen shot. She sent the image to Erik Gustavson, who – without telling Toffey-named a gray son of Into Mischief that Spendthrift had purchased as a yearling at Keeneland for $650,000. Toffey discovered the name when Ted Noffey showed up on a workout tab.

Toffey and his family were at Saratoga on Aug. 2 when the colt broke his maiden in his debut. There were loads of smiles and laughs in the winner’s circle that afternoon.

“I honestly, underestimated what people’s reactions would be to it,” Toffey said. “That’s actually been very nice because so many people have reached out and said, ‘Oh my gosh, we were cheering so hard for him.’

“Some of the other guys in our organization were getting a little tired of it. We were up at Saratoga, walking around, looking at horses at the sale, and they joked that they were getting pretty tired of, or maybe, I’m not even sure  that they were joking, getting pretty tired of listening to people stop us and comment on the name. It was a lot of fun and that’s a great thing when a name evokes a reaction from people. I think that’s been really a lot of fun with it.”

Toffey said that the colt, bred by Aaron and Marie Jones, caught his eye when he was looking at yearlings and that “nice horse” was the note he made for himself.

“When I was younger, I guess I used to write a novel about each horse,” Toffey said, with a laugh. “Now if one really stands out, if I go back and look at my catalogue, and all I’ve written is nice horse, it’s a pretty nice horse.

“I remember having the thought when I looked at him, ‘Is this horse just too obvious?’ He was just that nice. I’ve found that some of the best horses that we’ve been involved in buying, you need very little time to look at them and make a decision.”

Toffey said that hard part is not to second-guess your assessment.

“But coming to the initial conclusion that this is one to bid on, is often with those really good ones, really easy. He was that way,” Toffey said. “The conversation that I’ve had with a handful of people is some people had reservations about him being a gray Into Mischief. It wasn’t a concern for me. When you have a very nice horse in front of you, you don’t need to worry about it. You just go try to get them.”

Ted Noffey moved from the maiden win to an 8½-length victory in the Hopeful (G1) to a 2 ¾-length score in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

“He’s done nothing wrong so far,” Toffey said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him, and he’s maybe even exceeded expectations. But it’s the Breeders Cup. He’s got some new challenges. His last start, he did have a long van ride, a new track and two turns and he handled all of those things well. I think that that bodes well for his ability to handle shipping out to Del Mar. He’ll have another long ship, new scenery, new surface, and, probably most importantly, some new and very good competition.

“It doesn’t get any easier, but certainly he has done everything right and hopefully we’ll get lucky and that will continue.

Tommy Jo is a Spendthrift homebred sired by the farm’s brilliant stallion, Into Mischief out of Mother Mother, twice a stakes winner who placed in seven graded stakes, three of them Grade 1. Mother Mother is a half-sister to Commanding Curve, the runner-up in the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1)..

After securing decisive victories in the maiden race and Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, Tommy Jo won the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland when Percy’s Bar was disqualified from first because of a bumping incident in the stretch.

“No complaints with her,” Toffey said. “She’s not very far into her racing career and she’s a two-time Grade 1 winner.

“She’s very, very talented. It’s been interesting to watch the development. The two horses have been on a similar trajectory, they’ve run close to each other each time, and the results have been very similar, but I think you’d probably have to be a little happier with Ted Noffey, how he handled the ship to Kentucky and the stretch out.”

Toffey was not knocking Tommy Jo, but she was not as dynamic as she was in her one-turn races at Saratoga.

“Still, a very exciting filly and very excited about the opportunity to take her out to California,” Toffey said. “It’s the same situation. She’s got some really, really nice horses to contend with out there. It’s the Breeders’ Cup. It’s not, not a place where you are likely to find a soft spot.”

Horse: Street Beast

Trainer: Ben Colebrook

Jockey: Luan Machado

Set: 6:30 a.m;.

Morning Activity: Galloped under Geovanny Vences and visited starting gate

Planned Activity: Jog or gallop Thursday; will not go to track Friday morning.

The Quote: “After his race at Kentucky Downs (a win in the Juvenile Mile) we thought we had a chance to get in the Breeders’ Cup. Running in the Bourbon (G2, Oct. 5 at Keeneland) would have been too much as he had run at Ellis (Aug. 1) and then twice at Kentucky Downs. He has tactical speed and I love his post (2). His numbers are good but Aidan’s (O’Brien) horse Gstaad (GB) is a monster.” – Ben Colebrook

Horse: Turf Star
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Morning Activity: Schooled at the gap, galloped 1 3/8 miles
Planned activity: Same routine tomorrow, possible to visit the paddock
The Quote: Turf Star has been turning heads on the racetrack in the mornings as he gallops with his head held high and his steely tail flowing behind him. The son of Caravaggio has seen plenty of visitors at trainer Graham Motion’s barn this week on the Del Mar backstretch, and has his own “fan club,” according to assistant trainer Alice Clapham.

“He really is a flashy guy, and he’s so laid back,” Motion said. “He takes everything in stride. Even in the mornings, he kind of flops around there and is disinterested. He’s a very cool horse. He’s got a remarkable attitude. People have been noticing on the track, and they’re not wrong – he is adorable.”

Turf Star enters the G1 Juvenile Turf from a game second to the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Final Score in Keeneland’s G2 Bourbon on October 5 after stalking on the inside and angling out late to make his run.

“I think Tyler was a little frustrated because he felt if he could have gotten off the rail a little sooner and got around Irad, he would have been a little closer,” Motion said. “He was very pleased with him and he wanted to ride him back, which is always encouraging. I think he can improve from that race.”

Horse: Percy’s Bar

Trainer: Ben Colebrook

Jockey: Luan Machado

Set: 8:45

Morning Activity: Galloped and visited starting gate under Geovanny Vences

Planned Activity: Gallop Thursday. Will not go to the track Friday morning.

The Quote: “She has shown pace and can rate. I would like to see her stalking. At Keeneland in the Alcibades, she had the 1 hole on her home track and kind of took it to them. I told Luan if nobody else wanted the lead, just go on which she did and it worked out … to an extent.” – Ben Colebrook

Percy’s Bar was disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed second behind Tommy Jo.

Percy’s Bar is named in honor of Percy Pool, the longtime bartender at Keeneland for racing and sales as well as at Churchill Downs. Pool died in 2024 at age 86.

Horse: Final Accord

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Set: 9 am

Morning activity: Galloped once around

Planned activity: Will gallop

The quote: “I’d have a little more confidence if we had a two-turn race. You just never know going into the first turn how they’re going to handle that. But, I guess that’s the same thing that can be said about the favorite (Precise (IRE), post 13). We did get a good post (post 5), which I’ve learned over the years, going a mile on the turf here, it’s very important.” – Mark Casse

Horse: Imaginationthelady
Trainer: Brendan Walsh

Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Set: 8:45 a.m.
Morning activity: Galloped about 1½m of the dirt track

Planned activity: Gallop about 1½m of the dirt track

Trainer Brendan Walsh starts his 11th horse at the Breeders’ Cup and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf when he leads over Jessamine (G2) winner Imaginationthelady for Mark Dobbin on Friday.

Already a winner of such races as the Kentucky Oaks, Arlington Million and Al Quoz Sprint, Irish native Walsh has won three Grade 1 wins in 2025, taking his Grade 1/Group 1 career total to 13—12 of those in North America and one in Dubai.

A winner on debut at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 4, Imaginationthelady is a daughter of red-hot sire Not This Time who sold for $300,000 at the 2024 Keeneland’s September Sale. She backed up that performance 29 days later at Keeneland, as mentioned, and goes into the World Championships undefeated. Frankie Dettori has the return call.

“She’s done nothing wrong and I believe she will keep improving,” Walsh said. “I think she’s going to be a nicer filly next year than she is now, actually. She has speed and can be forward, which can help at Del Mar, for sure.

“Last time, Frankie did a great job on her in the Jessamine,” he continued. “He took her back where she was in between horses and it seemed there was plenty of pace in there. He did a hell of a job educating her, because I don’t know how much she learned the first day when she broke her maiden at Kentucky Downs. He waited a while and I was like ‘are you going to move on her,’ but he just had so much confidence in her. He knew he had so much horse and was able to do that, which I thought was great.”

Imaginationthelady drew ideally in post 3 of 13 and was assigned morning-line odds of 10-1.

“I know there are some nice fillies in there and especially some good ones coming over from Europe, but to be fair to this filly, she’s got to be one of the more prominent Americans,” Walsh concluded. “We have only had her for four or five months, but she’s so straightforward and such a pro for a 2-year-old.”

Walsh was fifth in the 2023 Juvenile Fillies Turf with Austere.

Horse: Switch in Love (JPN)

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai

Morning Activity: Breezed 4f in 53 on the main track Tuesday and schooled in the paddock. The Quote: “She breezed (Tuesday) and I asked her on the home stretch. She reacted well. She is having a great time here with her friend, a pony. There is no pony system in Japan, and this is working very well with her.” – Ryusei Sakai