It’s full velocity forward within the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection “Win and You’re In” this weekend, with seven fees-paid, automated berths to Breeders’ Cup races, together with two for the $7 million Traditional.
On Saturday at Del Mar, web site of the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, the largest day of the summer time meet is anchored by the $1 million Pacific Traditional (G1) for 3-year-olds and up. Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism, Fierceness and Bob Baffert’s Nysos are the highest contenders.
On Sunday at Saratoga Race Course, it’s the $1 million Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1), that includes 3-year-old champion Sierra Leone and Mindframe, unbeaten in three begins in 2025.
Breeders’ Cup Traditional Qualifiers
Each races are at 1 ¼ miles, the identical distance because the Breeders’ Cup Traditional on Nov. 1. The winners clinch spots within the Traditional, though Journalism (Preakness), Sierra Leone (Whitney Stakes), and Mindframe (Stephen Foster Stakes), have already earned a spot within the beginning gate.
Different Traditional automated qualifiers are Ombudsman (Juddmonte Worldwide), Hit Present (Dubai World Cup), Costa Nova (February Stakes) and Endlessly Younger (Saudi Cup).
The Traditional subject is restricted to 14 starters. The ultimate qualifier is the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.
Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Races Saturday
At Saratoga: The Grade 2 Flower Bowl (BC Filly & Mare Turf) and the Grade 1 Spillway Stakes (BC Juvenile Fillies).
At Kentucky Downs: The Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Turf Dash (BC Turf Dash).
At Del Mar: Along with the Pacific Traditional, there’s the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap (BC Turf) and the Inexperienced Flash Handicap (BC Turf Dash).
Pacific Traditional Betting
The post-position draw is Tuesday (Aug. 26), and this race has the potential to be among the best editions in years with thrilling betting alternatives.
Journalism, second within the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) together with his Preakness win in between and a Haskell Stakes (G1) victory in July, will tackle older horses for the primary time.
Fierceness, the 2024 Travers winner who’s 1-for-3 in 2025, together with a fifth-place end within the Whitney, is headed West for coach Todd Pletcher, who expects to ship out Mindframe within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
Nysos, who was sidelined for 15 months after profitable the 2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), has received 2-of-3 in his return. The Nyquist colt received the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar on July 26.
Different contenders embrace Baeza, second to Sovereignty within the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) final out, and a slew of others, Midnight Mammoth, Mirahmadi, and Tarantino amongst them.
For individuals who guess horse racing, this can be an intriguing one to handicap. Will Journalism go all out in what might be thought of his Traditional audition? Fierceness and Nysos are each more likely to wind up within the Traditional, however a win for both would seal the deal. A big subject might produce an enormous upset.
“It’s clearly not a simple race by any means assuming that Journalism and Nysos are in there, however I believe the timing for the Breeders’ Cup Traditional is sweet,” Pletcher stated. “It offers us a bit of further time … He ran very nicely (second) at Del Mar final yr within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional, so we’re assured he handles the observe, simply delivery a great distance and taking up some good horses.”
Jockey Membership Gold Cup Betting: Sierra Leone Versus Mindframe, Once more
The JCGC could also be simply as loaded because the Pacific Traditional with defending BC Traditional winner Sierra Leone taking up Mindframe, who defeated him by a size within the Stephen Foster on June 28. Sierra Leone then received the Whitney on Aug. 2 for coach Chad Brown.
Additionally within the subject is Highland Falls, winner of final yr’s JCGC and most not too long ago second to Sierra Leone within the Whitney, and White Abarrio, the 6-year-old who received the 2023 BC Traditional and ran fourth within the Whitney.
“It should be a aggressive race,’’ Highland Falls coach Brad Cox stated. “He received it final yr and he likes the mile and 1 / 4. We’re enthusiastic about giving him one other alternative.”
Different contenders: Antiquarian; Phileas Fogg; Disarm; and Banishing.
Contenders for the opposite BC “Win and You’re In” races
SARATOGA RACE COURSE
Flower Bowl (1 3/8 miles, fillies and mares, turf): Be Your Greatest returns off a brief three-week break in the hunt for a berth within the Breeders’ Cup.
The 5-year-old Eire-bred mare is skilled by Saffie Joseph, Jr., and completed third within the Beverly D at Colonial Downs on Aug. 9. Beforehand she had two wins from 4 begins on the Spa.
She additionally has a victory within the Gamely Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in Might.
“She’s acquired a excessive cruising velocity, and he or she does keep, so hopefully the turf can be agency,’’ stated Joseph.
Miguel Clement sends out three: graded stakes winners La Mehana and Bellezza and five-time winner In Time.
Additionally entered: Marksman Queen, Lengthy In the past, Amber Cascade and Madame Mischief. Amanda’s Folly is entered for the primary track-only.
Spinaway (7 furlongs, 2-year-old fillies): A subject of 10 2-year-old fillies is ready, with Joseph sending out a trio – Rileytole, Spirit Doll and Day to Day, and Todd Pletcher saddling a pair – Steer Clear and Tommy Jo.
Additionally entered: Ornellaia, Meringue, Legendary, Percy’s Bar and Sina.
Legendary is 3-0 for coach Jorge Delgado and has received in frontrunning fashion every time underneath Emisael Jaramillo. She received by 8 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Park in a 4 ½-furlong profession debut; received the Tremont Stakes towards boys at 5 ½ furlongs; and the Adirondack (G3) at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 3.
KENTUCKY DOWNS
Kentucky Downs Turf Dash (6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, turf): The Turf Dash ought to draw a big subject with a $2 million purse — $1 million for horses not bred in Kentucky (a minority) and the additional $1 million for a Kentucky bred winner.
Howard Wolowitz, winner of the 2024 Franklin-Simpson (G1), is possible for the race. Attainable contenders embrace Khaadeem, One Timer, Nobals (winner of the 2023 BC Dash), Epic Experience and Implementation.
DEL MAR
Del Mar Handicap (1 3/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up, turf): On the Pacific Traditional undercard, the Del Mar Handicap ought to draw a big subject with Last Boss and Gold Phoenix, first and third, respectively, in an allowance race at Del Mar on Aug. 9, listed as probables.
Gold Phoenix, a 7-year-old gelding skilled by Phil D’Amato, is a two-time winner of this race, however is 0-for-5 since profitable the 2024 version.
The draw is Tuesday. Attainable entries embrace Cabo Spirit, Endlessly, Keep Scorching, Atitlan, Nitti, Aligato and Adios Cole.
Inexperienced Flash Handicap (5 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, turf)
The dash appears like it should have a considerable, together with 2024 Inexperienced Flash winner Motorius, winner of the Daytona Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on June 14 and skilled by Phil D’Amato.
First Peace, winner of the Eddie D Stakes (G2), can be doable.
Travers Stakes Replace: All is Effectively With Sovereignty
Allow us to not overlook Sovereignty a day after his overpowering 10-length victory within the Travers Stakes (G1).
Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott celebrated a long-awaited first Travers win (it was jockey Junior Alvarado’s first Travers, too).
On Sunday, Mott stated his Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers winner will keep at Saratoga and put together for the Traditional.
“We’ll keep up right here,’’ Mott stated. “I all the time suppose contemporary horses run fairly good, normally, and we’ll have to coach him. If we run him, we’ve acquired to ship him someplace, and he runs adequate contemporary, so I’m not that apprehensive.”
His profitable time for the 1 ¼ miles was 2:00.84 and he earned a 115 Beyer Velocity Determine, the best determine awarded to any horse this yr.
Private Ensign Replace: Thorpedo Anna more likely to run once more earlier than BC
After nosing out Dorth Vader in an exciting Private Ensign (G1) win, Thorpedo Anna was doing nicely on Sunday morning at Saratoga.
Coach Kenny McPeek says his 4-year-old star might run subsequent both towards the boys within the Delaware Handicap (G3) on Sept. 28 or the Spinster Stakes (G1) on Oct. 5.
Then it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup in both the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), a race she received in 2024 to clinch Horse of the Yr, or maybe the Traditional.
“You’ve acquired to look at your competitors on the market. That horse yesterday (Sovereignty) was extremely spectacular, the time he ran, the way in which he did it, even when he didn’t win the Traditional, he’s most likely Horse of the Yr,” stated McPeek. “For me to take him on, I’m a bit of intimidated by him (laughs). He’s fairly large. I’ve watched him practice all yr, ran towards him, he’s getting higher and higher. I don’t see how you retain him from persevering with on.”
The writing workforce at US Racing is comprised of each full-time and part-time contributors with experience in numerous elements of the Sport of Kings.
