Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1)

Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Grade 1)

SIERRA Leone or Thorpedo Anna or Fierceness? That’s the question for American Turf writers and racing officials to determine Horse of the Year for 2024, after results of the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships muddied the proverbial waters amidst a beautiful backdrop and perfect coastal weather last week at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

The Breeders’ Cup, designed decades ago to provide some clarity to the American racing calendar while welcoming an international cast to the mix, didn’t exactly go to plan.

Sierra Leone came away with a signature victory that eluded him most of the spring and summer, winning the $7 million Classic over a gritty Fierceness and others in the field that either didn’t show up or simply weren’t good enough. The Derby winner from Ballydoyle, City Of Troy, finished a never in contention eighth.

Thorpedo Anna figured to make quick work of her remaining opponents in the $2 million Distaff and did exactly that, taking the lead from the start under Brian Hernandez Jr. and stating her own case for Horse of the Year.

She ended the season with six wins in seven starts, the lone blemish a good second to Fierceness in the Grade 1 Travers.

Opinions vary

Legitimate cases can be made for each of the three contenders and opinions vary depending on who was asked Saturday at Del Mar.

“She should,” Chad Brown said of Thorpedo Anna after his trainee, Sierra Leone, won the Classic by a length and a half over Fierceness. “Horse of the Year is a lot to ask. If our horse had gotten that nose down in (the Kentucky) Derby and such, I think he has a stronger case for that… With that said, the Classic carries a lot of weight.

“But I have a lot of respect for Thorpedo Anna. The fact she actually took on males in the Travers and nearly won, I’d say she’s the heavy favourite to get that. If she were to get it, there would be no argument from me.”

Kenny McPeek, who could be in line for his own Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer, sent out Thorpedo Anna to her fifth Grade 1 win of 2024.

“I would be very surprised if she didn’t win it,” McPeek said the day after the Breeders’ Cup. “She ran nose-to-nose with Fierceness and she beat Sierra Leone. We’ll see. It’s up to the voters.”

Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1)

THE third Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar attracted a large contingent from outside the US. Five continents were represented – Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa – and a record 80 international contenders were pre-entered. Twenty-five runners, who made their most recent start outside the US, wound up competing on Championship Saturday and two – Rebel’s Romance and Starlust – came away victorious.

Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance, an Irish-bred son of Dubawi trained by Charlie Appleby, collected his second victory in the $5 million Turf. Ridden by William Buick, Rebel’s Romance added a Del Mar score to his win at Keeneland two years ago, dominating a strong cast of Europeans and a few overmatched Americans.

Rebel’s Romance won by a neck over Japan’s Rousham Park, with another Japanese runner, Shahryar, third in the field of 13.

“He’s very much a yard favourite,” Appleby said. “When they’re six years old, still campaigning at the level he is, taking us all on our journeys around the world… Everybody loves him, needless to say. But he’s also built up this great fan base, this global base. We see it all around the world.”

Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1)

ROSSA Ryan, not a month removed from winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe aboard Bluestocking, introduced himself to the American scene aboard Starlust in the $1 million Turf Sprint.

Ryan rode the three-year-old English-bred son of Zoustar on the inside early in the five-furlong Turf Sprint before coming off the inside to pass tiring odds-on favourite Cogburn, who had blazed away on the front.

Starlust overcame some bumping and jostling – some of which he caused – to win by a neck over Motorious with Ag Bullet a nose back in third and Star Of Mystery fourth. The fourth longest price in the race at 33/1, Starlust won in a sharp 55.92 secs for his third victory in 10 starts this season for trainer Ralph Beckett.

“Luck was on our side,” Ryan said. “This horse has been knocking on the door all year. It’s great to see him finally do it on the big stage. He’s been a bridesmaid. Brilliant, unbelievable performance.”

Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1)

KEVIN Attard talked about Moira, what the Canadian-bred meant to his career when she won his first Queen’s Plate in 2022 and finally how he saw something different in the mare the morning of the $2 million Maker’s Mark Filly and Mare Turf. And then he lost it.

“I’m just so proud of her,” said Attard, who trained the Filly and Mare Turf winner for owners X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing out of his base at Woodbine in Toronto.

“Obviously, the connections to support me and give me faith and confidence for me to train her and keep her throughout her career has meant a lot to me, my career, my family.

“She’s obviously going to a sale… I’m going to miss her… Just so happy and so proud of her.”

Two days later, after Moira sold for $4.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky’s “Night of the Stars” fall mixed sale, Attard let the emotions flow again.

Moira meant that much to the Canadian horseman, who sent the mare to Southern California in the best shape of her career and came away with another career-defining victory after a flawless ride from Prat. Moira toppled an international field that included runner-up and 5/2 favourite Cinderella’s Dream, the veteran War Like Goddess, Ballydoyle’s Content and stablemate Full Count Felicia.

“Today, there was just something different about her,” Attard said after Moira’s half-length win in the mile and three-furlong Filly and Mare Turf. “She was a lot more relaxed, a lot more settled. It was kind of a little bit eerie, because I wasn’t sure what direction it was going to go. Maybe it could go either of two ways: really good or really bad… Obviously, here is a filly that has competed in every race of her life have been stakes, maybe off the board twice in her career. Just a true champion.”

FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile

presented by PDJF (Grade 1)

CHERIE DeVaux also let the emotions flow after she picked up her first Breeders’ Cup victory two races later in the $2 million Mile with More Than Looks.

More Than Looks also defeated an international field led by 2/1 favourite Notable Speech (third), Japan’s Ten Happy Rose (fourth) and Geoglyph (fifth) and top American Carl Spackler. Multiple Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna could only manage eighth this time.

Jose Ortiz rode the son of More Than Ready, whose four-year-old campaign was interrupted by minor physical setbacks and bad weather that forced changes in stakes schedules. DeVaux, best known for her work with Lady Eli as an assistant to trainer Chad Brown before going out on her own, put a cap on what’s been a career-best season with more than $9.5 million and counting in prize money earnings.

None of that came to mind after the race for De Vaux, who paid tribute to her mentor, the late trainer Chuck Simon, who passed away in September following a short battle with cancer.

“This means a whole lot to me,” she said. “I was an unguided, young, 20-something right out of college and he’s the one that pulled me under his wing and gave me guidance.

“If he didn’t give me the guidance, Lord knows where I’d be today.”

Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1)

OWNER Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler, part of the team behind superstar 2022 Classic winner Flightline, capped a big day for the Californians with a victory by Full Serrano in the $1 million Dirt Mile.

Second last time out in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic going 10 furlongs at Del Mar, the Argentinean-bred Full Mast gelding tracked the early pace in second most of the way and held off a late run from Maryland-bred Post Time to win by a length and a half under Joel Rosario.

“It means everything for me,” Rosario said. “I remember back when I came here, John give me amazing opportunities… When you win a race for somebody like him, (it’s) very special. I cannot thank him enough for everything he’s done for me and my career.”

PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1)

Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1)

THE day’s two dirt sprints – the Filly and Mare Sprint and Sprint – produced mild upsets. Florida-based Soul Of An Angel started things off with a 19/1 victory in the $1 million, seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Drayden Van Dyke.

Straight No Chaser, who runs for the microshare ownership group MyRacehorse, most likely locked up champion male sprinter honours with his 6/1 victory over 10 others in the $2 million, six-furlong Sprint.