Breeders' Cup Saturday reports, reaction and free video replays

Rebel's all class in Turf once more

Rebel’s Romance won the $5million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf for the second time in his fantastic career.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and this year partnered by William Buick, who opted not to ride the horse in favour of Nations Pride when he first claimed Turf glory in 2022, the top-class globe-trotter was successful in Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany earlier in the year and once again proved himself a wonderful traveller.

Buick made an early move on the six-year-old, overcoming a wide draw to pick up a prominent pitch before taking it up before the final bend.

Having appeared to go only steady fractions towards the front, Rebel’s Romance quickened sharply and was able to put daylight between himself and the field on straightening for home, and although the two Japanese raiders Rousham Park (20/1) and Shahryar (15/2) did close up in the last half-furlong, the winner had enough in reserve to justify 5/2 favouritism.

It’s the fifth year in succession that the big turf race has been won by a European challenger and third in total for Appleby after Yibir also claimed top spot under Buick in 2021.

There was a sad postscript as the Brian Meehan-trained Jayarebe was confirmed to have lost his life having appeared to collapse after finishing unplaced in the mile and a half contest. Jayarebe won four of his eight starts for the Meehan team, featuring the Group 2 Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp last month.

AAEP on-call veterinarian Dr Al Ruggles told NBC Sports: “We offer our condolences obviously to all the connections. It’s suspected to be a cardiac event, they are unusual but can occur. If in fact that is it, post-mortems don’t help answer that question generally and they are almost impossible to predict. In a horse that is training well you wouldn’t know it.”

Of the globetrotting Rebel’s Romance, Appleby said: “First and foremost he’s very much a yard favourite and he’s built up this worldwide fanbase, most notable when he went to Hong Kong when everybody knew him.

“Throughout the race I was pleased with where he was and pleased he made the move when he did. He’s a superstar, he really is. When you watch him run, you really feel it – you want him to win.

“To be campaigned at that level for the time he has takes a lot of guts.”

He went on: “He (Buick) was pretty confident we had got the job done, but he was idling because we’d been out there for so long.

“This fella owes us nothing. Obviously we would like to take him back to Dubai for the Sheema Classic, he’s a real star and draws all the media attention.

“With a horse like him he takes the pressure off you. When you roll a horse like him out you know you are going to get everything from him.

“We planned to come back for the Turf last year, but he’d lost all of his mojo. We had to build him back up. Like any athlete it takes a good one to knock him off his peg.”

Emily Upjohn could never get in a blow under Frankie Dettori, finding little racing room, and John Gosden, who trains alongside his son, Thady, confirmed she had run her last race.

He said: “She hasn’t had a hard race, but that’s it now, she’s going into retirement.”

Beckett brilliance continues

Ralph Beckett's phenomenal year continued in the Southern California sunshine as Starlust (20/1) swept home late to defy long odds in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Beckett could hardly believe his eyes in the immediate aftermath of Bluestocking winning last month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and briefly appeared equally shocked at Starlust's Del Mar heroics, though there were some obvious concerns on the trainer's face when jockey Manny Franco, rider of the unplaced Isivunguvungu, lodged an objection after he was hampered by the winner.

But thankfully for Beckett, jockey Rossa Ryan and connections, it was quickly announced that the result stood and Starlust's first top-level victory of his career was confirmed.

Winner of a York handicap at the Dante meeting in May, it's been a steep rise to fame for the three-year-old colt owned by Fitri Hay and his dramatic victory was Beckett's first Breeders' Cup victory since Muhannak landed the now-defunct 'Marathon' back in 2008.

How the race unfolded

Tucked away on the inside near the back early on, Starlust benefitted from a very strong pace being set by short-priced favourite Cogburn, who appeared to kick for home a long way from the finish in the five-furlong contest.

With a little more than furlong to go it became clear Cogburn was running out of gas and it was then a matter of which horses were finishing with most purpose, the winner initially getting a nice split by the inside rail but then nudged right by the drifting leader who was under a left-hand drive.

Ryan and Starlust had no real option but to go for the gap and avoid a tiring Cogburn, which resulted in a bump into Isivunguvungu, who appeared to have done his running by that point anyway. The manoeuvre didn't seem to affect the result of the race in any way and that's how the local stewards saw it, allowing the result to stand after what must have been a short consultation.

There was drama pre-race too, a delay to the start of the race as Believing, who had to be declared a non-runner following the incident, reared up and unseated jockey Ryan Moore.

Moore, who is due to ride history-chasing City Of Troy in the Classic later on the day, appeared to be largely unscathed and it was a similar story for the George Boughey-trained filly.

Beckett said: “Wow, what a ride he gave him. What a ride – I’m very proud of what he’s achieved this year.

“It’s extraordinary and I’m really pleased for Jim and Fitri Hay (owners).

“He’s a really tough horse who has stormed through. He’s really tough, he hasn’t had a break all year.

“He’s a horse who kind of trains himself. He treated Dubai as a holiday because we couldn’t get him to do what we wanted, but he ran well in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year and we felt if he could stay on their coattails today he could benefit.”

On the inquiry, Beckett added: “Flashbacks to Secret Gesture who was taken down in the Beverly D Stakes in 2015. I was concerned because they operate under different rules, but I was glad to get the job done.”

Ryan said: “It wasn’t the plan, Ralph left it up to me. I jumped well, Ralph said over five try to jump well but after half a furlong take a little pull. Luck was on my side today, the gap opened and he took it well.

“By the top of the straight I thought we would be in the first four, but they couldn’t hold that frenetic gallop and it just played into my hands.”

Notable Speech third behind More Than Looks in Mile

William Buick and Charlie Appleby were unable to win the Fanduel Breeders' Cup Mile for the fourth year in a row as Notable Speech was only third behind More Than Looks.

Notable Speech, the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner, made good headway in the straight and held every chance over a furlong out. However, More Than Looks finished powerfully on his outside under Jose Ortiz and surged to the front close home. Johannes just held Notable Speech for second.

More Than Looks, a 14/1 shot in Britain, is trained in Kentucky by Cherie DeVaux who was celebrating her first Breeders' Cup win. She said: "It's just unbelievable. We've had a lot of faith in him from the beginning but things just haven't gone exactly to plan. The ownership group have been extremely patient with the plan we laid out for him and really all the credit goes to More Than Looks because he's been up against it all year and has answered every call.

More Than Looks was a first US-trained winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile since Uni struck for Chad Brown in 2019.

Moira makes it third time lucky in Filly and Mare Turf

The Europeans had to settle for minor honours in the Filly & Mare Turf which was won by Moira for Canada-based trainer Kevin Attard and Breeders' Cup Classic-winning rider Flavien Prat.

Cinderella's Dream, representing Godolphin duo Charlie Appleby and William Buick, travelled well along the inside but was short of room until late on and couldn't get on terms with Moira who had an uninterrupted run in the straight.

Cinderella's Dream kept on well to finish runner-up with Didia in third. The winner was making her third start in the race having finished fifth behind Tuesday in 2022 and third behind Inspiral last year.

The winning trainer, who was enjoying his first Breeders' Cup winner, said: "She's a very special horse, very deserving of this. I'm lost for words, very emotional right now, and this is a dream come true."

Thorpedo Anna delivers in Distaff

Thorpedo Anna made all the running to justify odds-on favouritism in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, providing Kenny McPeek with a first winner at the Breeders' Cup.

Brian Hernandez controlled the pace on the 1/2 favourite who had all her rivals in trouble turning for home and stuck to her task to win decisively from 9/2 second favourite Raging Sea.

It was a sixth win of the year for Thorpedo Anna whose only defeat in 2024 came when beaten a head by Breeders' Cup Classic contender Fierceness in the Travers Stakes.

The winning rider said: "She's made it a magical year for all of us, she's a once in a lifetime horse, that's for sure. You wake up every day dreaming of finding one like her."

Full Serrano impresses in Dirt Mile

The 2024 Breeders' Cup concluded with a decisive victory for Full Serrano in the Dirt Mile.

There were a host of horses in with a chance turning for home, but Full Serrano stayed on strongly under Joel Rosario and was well on top at the line.

The Argentinian import was making his third start for John Sadler after winning an allowance optional claimer and finishing runner-up in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, both at Del Mar.

Sadler said: "I was really happy the way he came into it, he couldn't have done any better. We only had two races with him in this country so he's still a horse that is improving and we're going to get to know him a bit better. We're looking forward to racing him next year."

Straight No Chaser strikes in Sprint

Straight No Chaser proved too strong for his rivals in the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, beating Bentornato in second with Mullikin in third.

Straight No Chaser, a 5/1 shot following a comfortable win in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes, had to work hard in the straight but was delivered with a well-timed challenge by John Velazquez.

Dan Blacker, his England-born trainer now based in California, said of his first Breeders' Cup winner: "It means a lot to me, but it's [about] the horse. He's a really talented horse. All the other horses in the race are super talented too and I'm lucky to have the best one today."

Soul stunner in Filly & Mare Sprint

There was a major turn-up in the opening PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint as 33/1 shot Soul Of An Angel came from the clouds to land the spoils.

Trained by Florida-based Saffie Joseph, the five-year-old was racing over as far as a mile and a half earlier in her career but the drop back to Saturday's seven-furlong trip sparked a victory at local track Gulfstream Park in September and she coped admirably with a step up in grade to shock the field.

Ridden off the speed by Drayden Van Dyke, Soul Of An Angel was under the pump and still well out the back at halfway but she came wide and gradually made up ground as the others started to tire on her her inside.

Eventual runner-up Society and close third Pleasant were treading water close home as the winner really found her stride and got up to score by around a neck.

Frankie plays them a merry tune

Frankie Dettori put his track knowledge to great use on the British raider Raqiya in the Goldikova Stakes on the Breeders' Cup undercard.

The Shadwell-owned three-year-old daughter of Blue Point is trained in Lambourn by Owen Burrows and was backing up a Listed success at Goodwood 94 days earlier in July, when second past the post but promoted after a stewards' enquiry.

There was no doubting her superiority on this occasion, the 7/2 chance getting away brightly from a wide draw in stall 10 before dictating matters beautifully out in front.

Dettori sent her on approaching the home turn and she was not for catching, ultimately eased down to score from 25/1 chance Uncorked and the 2/1 favourite Sacred Wish, who had to settle for third.

"She jumped great," said Dettori. "I got the lead and hoped nobody was going to pester me - and they didn't.

"I was able to slow down and the rest was over. The ground is very fast but very springy."

Burrows said of the filly, who will now depart to join the Todd Pletcher ranks at his Texas barn: "She's travelled great and taken everything in her stride. Obviously, we were a bit concerned with the draw but Frankie - we left it to him. If she jumped well, we said go forward and she did. He dictated it and she quickened off the bend, dare I say it she won a shade cosily.

"She loves fast ground and our season has been so wet, she only ran three times. We've waited to come over here. She's going to be really suited to racing over here and I hope she goes on to have a successful career over here."

Breeders’ Cup 2024 race times (GMT) and schedule

Saturday, November 2

• 7:00pm: Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
• 7:41pm: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
• 8:21pm: Breeders' Cup Distaff
• 9:01pm: Breeders’ Cup Turf
• 9:41pm: Breeders’ Cup Classic
• 10:25pm: Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
• 11:05pm: Breeders’ Cup Sprint
• 11:45pm: Breeders’ Cup Mile
• 12:25am: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

British and Irish Breeders’ Cup winners in last six years

2023 (Santa Anita): Auguste Rodin, Inspiral, Master Of The Seas, Unquestionable, Big Evs

2022 (Keeneland): Meditate, Mischief Magic, Victoria Road, Tuesday, Modern Games, Rebel’s Romance

2021 (Del Mar): Modern Games, Space Blues, Yibir

2020 (Keeneland): Glass Slippers, Audarya, Order Of Australia, Tarnawa

2019 (Santa Anita): Iridessa

2018 (Churchill Downs): Line Of Duty, Expert Eye, Enable

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