Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Fourstardave leads Sunday qualifiers
Moira wins the Woodbine Oaks (Photo by Michael Burns)
August 9th, 2024
The summer racing season is in full swing, and we’re 12 weeks out from the 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. The main contenders for the 14 championship races are gradually coming into focus.
Let’s catch up on the latest Breeders’ Cup news and notes.
Arthur’s Ride bursts into Classic picture
Up-and-coming four-year-old Arthur’s Ride made his stakes debut in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney (G1) at Saratoga last Saturday, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The result? A powerful victory.
Arthur’s Ride set a fast pace over a muddy track, kicked away to a five-length lead in midstretch, and held off late runners to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:48.54.
His triumph came at the expense of odds-on favorite National Treasure, winner of the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Metropolitan H. (G1). National Treasure was beaten to the early lead and never challenged after racing inside, retreating to finish sixth by 10 lengths.
Arthur's Ride goes gate-to-wire to win the G1 Whitney in his stakes debut! What a performance! 🏆🦄 pic.twitter.com/tEzbCSdSjY
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 3, 2024
Adare Manor earns ticket back to Distaff
The red-hot five-year-old mare Adare Manor, who finished seventh in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), earned a return ticket to the Distaff when delivering an eye-catching victory in the 1 1/16-mile Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar.
Fresh off gate-to-wire victories in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and Santa Margarita (G2), Adare Manor had to adapt to a change of tactics in the Clement L. Hirsch.
She was beaten to the front and got shuffled back while racing inside and behind runners around the final turn. Nevertheless, Adare Manor rallied boldly once clear, charging home to defeat multiple graded-stakes winner Scylla by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:43.29.
Fourstardave leads trio of Sunday qualifiers
Three more automatic Breeders’ Cup berths are up for grabs this Sunday.
At Saratoga, the Fourstardave H. (G1) has drawn a small but talented field seeking qualification to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Three-time Saratoga graded-stakes winner Carl Spackler and the globetrotting multiple graded-stakes winner Ottoman Fleet loom among the main contenders, along with 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile sixth-place finisher More Than Looks.
The Beverly D. (G2) at Colonial Downs awards a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The field is still in flux because of the possibility of rain at Colonial, but last year’s Filly & Mare Turf third-place finisher Moira and defending Beverly D. winner Fev Rover are two of the highest-profile entrants.
Meanwhile at Deauville in France, the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (G1) qualifies the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Some of Europe’s best milers have enters, including Queen Anne (G1) hero Charyn, last year’s Queen Elizabeth II (G1) winner Big Rock, and reigning Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Inspiral.
Thorpedo Anna takes aim at Travers
Thorpedo Anna has conquered the best three-year-old dirt fillies in North America, winning the Fantasy (G2), Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn (G1), and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in succession. Now she has her sights set on facing males in the Aug. 24 Travers (G1) racing 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga.
In her first workout since dominating the Coaching Club American Oaks by 4 1/2 lengths, Thorpedo Anna clocked a fast five furlongs in :59.59 over the Saratoga training track Friday.
Other prospective Travers entrants include Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Dornoch and reigning champion two-year-old male Fierceness. With such a strong field shaping up, the Travers figures to produce formidable contenders for the Breeders’ Cup.
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:
Click on each horse name to add them to your stable. Never miss a race they're a part of again!
Breeders’ Cup Classic
Breeders’ Cup Turf
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Breeders’ Cup Mile
Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
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