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.

Hall of Famer Curlin, the 2007 Classic (G1) romper, has scored the most Breeders’ Cup wins as a sire with eight. He’ll try to add to that tally with Getaway Car in the Juvenile (G1), Zeitlos in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Raging Sea in the Distaff (G1), and Highland Falls in the Classic. Highland Falls is out of Round Pond, the 2006 Distaff heroine, who is herself by 1998 Classic victor Awesome Again. 

Two of Curlin’s Breeders’ Cup champions, Good Magic and Vino Rosso, also have progeny in action. Good Magic has Snowyte in the Juvenile Fillies (G1), One Magic Philly in the Filly & Mare Sprint, Mixto in the Classic, and Muth in the Dirt Mile (G1). Vino Rosso’s son Pali Kitten has drawn into the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) from the also-eligible list. Other paternal grandsons of Curlin include Rattle N Roll (also-eligible in the Classic) and Skippylongstocking (Dirt Mile).

Another father/son Breeders’ Cup-winning tandem, Uncle Mo and Nyquist, are likewise represented. Uncle Mo’s Hang the Moon runs in the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), while Nyquist has Immersive in the Juvenile Fillies and Johannes in the Mile (G1). Uncle Mo’s influence extends more broadly too; for example, Distaff favorite Thorpedo Anna is out of an Uncle Mo mare.

Three more Juvenile Fillies contenders are by Breeders’ Cup winners — American Bikini is by Hall of Famer American Pharoah; La Cara is by Street Sense (who is also the paternal grandsire of Scottish Lassie and Quickick); and Otomena Shacho is by Speightstown (also the sire of Dirt Mile hope Pipeline).

City of Light has full brothers Fierceness and Mentee entered. Fierceness, last year’s Juvenile winner, goes for an unprecedented double in the Classic. If Mentee can win the Juvenile Turf (G1), he’d put their dam, Nonna Bella, into the exclusive club of mares who produced two Breeders’ Cup winners.

Juvenile contender Gaming hopes to follow in the hoofsteps of his freshman sire, Game Winner, the 2018 Juvenile champion, and maternal grandsire, Johannesburg, who invaded from Ireland to capture the 2001 Juvenile. 

Hall of Famer Gun Runner, who landed the 2017 Classic at Del Mar, has Sierra Leone seeking to emulate him in the Classic; Gun Pilot in the Sprint (G1); and two in the Filly & Mare Sprint, Vahva and Society. 

Hall of Famer Arrogate’s son Seize the Grey runs in the Dirt Mile against Oscar Performance’s son Tumbarumba. 

English Channel, the 2007 Turf champion, has Turf contender Far Bridge; Filly & Mare Turf favorite War Like Goddess; Correto in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1); and Charcoal, an also-eligible in the Turf Sprint (G1).

Other Breeders’ Cup winners with offspring here are Dubai Majesty, dam of Turf threat Shahryar; Ghostzapper, sire of Filly & Mare Turf contender Moira; Drefong (who is out of a Ghostzapper mare), sire of Geoglyph in the Mile; and Accelerate, sire of Sugar Fish in the Distaff.

While Curlin tops the charts of all-time Breeders’ Cup sires going into the 2024 championships, four other great sires are hot on his heels. More Than Ready, Tapit, Into Mischief, and Dubawi are tied with seven wins apiece, and they all have chances to overtake Curlin this weekend. 

Tapit has two in the Classic, Tapit Trice and Arthur’s Ride, along with May Day Ready in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Scylla in the Filly & Mare Sprint. 

Into Mischief is likewise double-handed in the Classic with Pyrenees and Newgate. He also has Citizen Bull in the Juvenile, Meta Max in the Sprint, and Acquitted as an also-eligible in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Dubawi’s son Rebel’s Romance and daughter Wingspan clash in the Turf. If Notable Speech wins the Mile, Dubawi will become the most successful sire in that race with four winners. 

More Than Ready’s Virgin Colada contests the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and his son More Than Looks is in the Mile.