2024 Japan Cup: One-line assessments
Saturday night’s 44th running of the Japan Cup (G1) has attracted a terrific international cast of 14, including European celebrities Auguste Rodin and Goliath.
International
Kellie Reilly
Kellie Reilly is a journalist and turf writer specializing in international horse racing.
Horse Profile: Whistlejacket
As the only Group 1 winner in the field, with high speed that hasn’t quite lasted over stiffer tracks, Whistlejacket makes a lot of sense on the cutback at Del Mar.
Horse
Breeders’ Cup Sires: Into Mischief, Dubawi, More Than Ready in tie with Curlin
Hovering in the background of the 14 Breeders’ Cup events is another race of sorts – among sires, for the most wins at the championships.
Pedigree
Top five questions of 2024 Breeders’ Cup: A Classic for the ages?
Some questions are more compelling than others, given the historical stakes involved and the hopes of a spectacle that will live long in racing’s collective memory.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders’ Cup: Curlin among past champions with progeny at Del Mar
One of the most fascinating elements of Thoroughbred racing is the genetic heritage of past champions on display in current runners. A case in point is the number of Breeders’ Cup winners who are now sires of contenders throughout the two-day championships at Del Mar.
Pedigree
Five questions to be answered on 2024 Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday
The two-day Breeders’ Cup extravaganza opens with “Future Stars Friday,” featuring five Grade 1 races for two-year-olds.
Breeders Cup
Japan’s 19 contenders at the 2024 Breeders’ Cup
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar attracted a record number of internationals, including 19 entrants from Japan alone.
Breeders Cup
Japan at the Breeders’ Cup: Historical pointers and trends
Japan is expected to send a formidable team to the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. Before we begin to look at the likely contenders, let’s review the past Japanese shippers who have competed at the championships.
Breeders Cup
Price horses of interest on 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Day
With six Thoroughbred Group 1s on tap at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, chances abound of having a few outsiders at least run into the frame on Arc Day.
International
2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Top storylines
Sunday’s 103rd Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) lacks a standout on paper, making for a contentious renewal at ParisLongchamp.
International
Five horses of interest on 2024 Arc Trials Day
Sunday is day two of the Irish Champions Festival, but it’s also Arc Trials Day at ParisLongchamp.
The informative card includes three stepping stones to the Oct. 6 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).
International
2024 Irish Champions Festival: Can Auguste Rodin defend his crown?
This weekend’s Irish Champions Festival features Breeders’ Cup Challenge events in five different divisions, spanning Saturday at Leopardstown and Sunday at the Curragh.
International
Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby: 12 to follow
If it’s too early to have confident opinions about a two-year-old crop that’s barely emerging, we’ve seen enough promising juveniles to cobble together an initial 12 to follow.
Kentucky Derby
Forever Young among Japan’s 2024 Breeders’ Cup team; Watch WAYI Korea Cup, Sprint
The Japanese team for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar will be taking shape over the coming weeks, so consider this as more of a hint of coming attractions than a thorough list.
Breeders Cup
First-crop sires: Black Forza, Mo Plex keep rolling for Complexity
Since the first installment of our TwinSpires.com series on first-crop sires, early leader Complexity continues to add to his portfolio.
Pedigree
City of Troy seeks Breeders’ Cup Classic berth in epic Juddmonte International
Wednesday’s Juddmonte International (G1) at York has the potential be a race for the ages.
International
Breeders’ Cup WAYI Sussex among key clashes at Glorious Goodwood
Wednesday’s Sussex (G1) is the lone Breeders’ Cup Challenge event during the five-day festival at Glorious Goodwood, but implications for the championships at Del Mar will abound throughout the week.
International
2024 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth: A 10-1 play for Breeders’ Cup WAYI at Ascot
I can’t resist the price on #5 Luxembourg (10-1), a world-class performer who’s lurking in the shadow of stablemate Auguste Rodin.
International
Complexity dashes to early lead among 2024 first-crop sires
As a hotshot debut winner at Saratoga and hero of the 2018 Champagne (G1), Complexity had the right profile to make a splash with his first-crop two-year-olds.
Pedigree
Top 10 takeaways from Royal Ascot 2024
How do you distill five fantastic days of racing, at a sun-baked Royal Ascot? Very subjectively! Here are my main impressions from the week:
Royal Ascot
2024 Royal Ascot: Selections for Saturday
Saturday’s finale features three Group races, anchored by another competitive sprint in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1), and a 17-strong field of juveniles in the Chesham S.
Expert Picks
2024 Royal Ascot: Selections for Wednesday
The centerpiece of Wednesday’s card at Royal Ascot, the Prince of Wales’s (G1), often produces one of the week’s enduring highlights. The 1 1/4-mile affair promises to deliver once again, as Breeders’ Cup stars Auguste Rodin and Inspiral square off in this “Win and You’re In” for the Turf (G1).
Expert Picks
2024 Royal Ascot: Selections for Tuesday
Royal Ascot opens with its customary bang on Tuesday. Three Group 1s – including two Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” (WAYI) events and a stellar renewal of the St James’s Palace (G1) – plus the marquee juvenile race of the meeting, the Coventry (G2), make for quite a wagering menu.
Expert Picks
2024 Royal Ascot: 5 longshots to consider
At this stage, the fields are coming together enough to try to find possible sleepers.
Royal Ascot
2024 Royal Ascot: Top 10 storylines
The most anticipated event of the British summer season returns this week, as Royal Ascot stages its action-packed five-day meeting Tuesday through Saturday.
Royal Ascot
2024 Royal Ascot: Top 5 favorites to watch
Royal Ascot attracts star power of both the equine and human variety throughout its five-day meeting. For that reason, even strong favorites can get upstaged by other top-class rivals.
Royal Ascot
2024 Royal Ascot: U.S. shippers include proven course performers
The U.S. shippers descending on Royal Ascot this year include not only the usual batch of speedy juveniles, but also past winners at the meeting.
Royal Ascot
2024 Belmont Stakes: Dornoch, Mage join club of U.S. classic-winning siblings
Dornoch, a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) star Mage, put their dam, Puca, in rare company by taking the Belmont (G1).
Belmont Stakes
Horses of interest on 2024 Belmont Stakes Day card
Belmont Stakes Day ranks among the very best of the season, given the strength in depth of races across various divisions. The extravaganza’s transfer to Saratoga hasn’t changed that trend, and another fantastic array of betting opportunities presents itself on Saturday.
Belmont Stakes
2024 Epsom Derby Analysis: More than a tale of two cities
One year after Aidan O’Brien conjured up a dramatic form turnaround for Auguste Rodin at Epsom, it defies belief that the master of Ballydoyle could do it again in Saturday’s Derby (G1).
International