Breeders’ Cup Roundup: City of Troy qualifies to the Classic

The 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 67 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup.

City of Troy leads Breeders’ Cup qualifiers

Eight Breeders’ Cup qualifiers took place around the world last week, and a bevy of impressive winners enhanced their credentials as championship contenders.

York in England hosted four qualifiers:

• The Juddmonte International (G1), a steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), went in impressive fashion to City of Troy. The decorated Derby (G1) and Eclipse (G1) winner made all the running on the front end and turned back a challenge from Calandagan to prevail by one length over good-to-firm turf. City of Troy is expected to accept his Breeders’ Cup invitation and make the switch to dirt for the Classic.

• The Lion In Winter brought his record to 2-for-2 with a sharp score in the Acomb (G3). Always prominent under renowned jockey Ryan Moore, The Lion in Winter edged away in the final quarter-mile to win the seven-furlong sprint by 1 3/4 lengths, earning a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

• The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) picked up a potentially formidable contender when three-year-old Content won the Yorkshire Oaks (G1). Fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Content secured her first top-tier win in the Yorkshire Oaks, beating fellow sophomore You Got to Me by three-quarters of a length.

• In the Nunthorpe (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) qualifier, Bradsell parlayed a forwardly placed trip into victory by three-quarters of a length while securing his second Group 1 win. Reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) winner Big Evs ran below expectations in eighth place.

England’s qualifying action also included the Prestige (G3) at Goodwood, which awarded a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. That prize went to Anshoda, who charged clear over soft turf to defeat half a dozen rivals by 1 3/4 lengths.

Back stateside, Saratoga hosted a pair of “Win and You’re In” events on a busy Saturday:

• Society, winner of the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion (G1) in 2022, reiterated her transformation into a top-tier sprinter with an upset victory in the seven-furlong Ballerina H. (G1). A pace-tracking outside trip carried her to victory by 3 1/4 lengths over a field that included multiple graded stakes winner Scylla and Derby City Distaff (G1) heroine Vahva. In addition to the winning purse, Society earned a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

• In the Sword Dancer (G1), a 1 1/2-mile qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), Far Bridge escaped with an uncontested lead in a small field and kicked on strongly down the homestretch to upset Manhattan (G1) winner Measured Time by one length.

The eighth and final qualifier of the week took place at Del Mar in the Pat O’Brien (G2), a seven-furlong steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). In a thrilling homestretch battle, pacesetting three-year-old Raging Torrent fought back after being passed by older rival The Chosen Vron to win by a neck in the fast time of 1:21.17.

Fierceness edges Thorpedo Anna in thrilling Travers

It isn’t every year that the Travers (G1) produces contenders for both the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), but it isn’t every year that the 1 1/4-mile races draws both the best three-year-old males and the best three-year-old filly in training.

In a showdown of sensational sophomores, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Fierceness seized a clear lead in midstretch, then dug deep to defeat the rallying Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna by a head in the strong time of 2:01.79. 

Fierceness won the day and is shaping up among the favorites for the Classic, but Thorpedo Anna lost nothing with her gallant defeat and is developing into the Distaff favorite.

Del Mar, Saratoga host their final qualifiers

The summer meets at Del Mar and Saratoga are slowly winding down. The two tracks are hosting five final Breeders’ Cup qualifiers this weekend:

• Saturday: Flower Bowl (G2) at Saratoga: A Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf berth is up for grabs in this 1 3/8-mile grass contest. War Like Goddess, third in the 2021 Filly & Mare Turf and third in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf, is seeking to win the Flower Bowl for the second time. She previously took top honors in 2021.
• Saturday: Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar: A Breeders’ Cup Classic berth is up for grabs in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic. The prestigious race may draw the three-time Grade 1-winning mare Adare Manor, winner of the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar this summer.
• Saturday: Del Mar H. (G2) at Del Mar: Breeders’ Cup Turf candidates will race 1 3/8 miles over the lawn. Gold Phoenix may shoot for a three-peat in the race.
• Saturday: Green Flash H. (G3) at Del Mar: Nominees to this five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint qualifier include Forbidden Kingdom, a three-time Grade 2 winner who has enjoyed success on both dirt and turf.
• Sunday: Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga: Arthur’s Ride doesn’t need the Win and You’re In berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic awarded to the winner of the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup; he already earned a ticket when dominating the Whitney (G1) earlier in the meet. But the talented four-year-old is going for the double anyway.

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Qualifiers

The following horses have secured Win and You’re In berths to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series:

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Breeders’ Cup Classic

• Arthur’s Ride
• City of Troy
• Dornoch
• Kingsbarns
• Peptide Nile

Breeders’ Cup Turf

• Auguste Rodin
• Blow the Horn
• El Encinal
• Far Bridge
• Goliath
• Obataye

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

• Adare Manor
• Che Evasora
• Randomized

Breeders’ Cup Mile

• Carl Spackler
• Charles Dickens
• Charyn
• Frateli La Vita
• Notable Speech
• Romantic Warrior

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

• The Chosen Vron

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

• National Treasure
• Raging Torrent

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

• Beach Bomb
• Boudica
• Content
• Moira
• Ten Happy Rose

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

• Society

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

• Asfoora
• Bradsell
• Cogburn

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

• The Lion in Winter

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

• Anshoda

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

• Shareholder
• Whistlejacket