Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Mixto, Highland Falls join the fray
September 3rd, 2024
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 60 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup.
Mixto, Highland Falls qualify to Classic
A pair of runners who weren’t previously heralded as Breeders’ Cup contenders qualified to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last weekend.
The first to strike was Mixto, the 22-1 upset winner of Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Although Mixto had failed to finish better than fifth in two previous Grade 1 appearances, he moved forward strongly in the Pacific Classic, pressing the pace before taking over late in the homestretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 2:02.10.
Identical tactics proved successful for Highland Falls in Sunday’s 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. After hounding Whitney (G1) winner and heavy favorite Arthur’s Ride through fractions of :23.25, :47.67, and 1:11.31, Highland Falls put him away and kicked clear to win by four lengths in 2:03.25.
A son of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin out of Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) heroine Round Pond, Highland Falls is bred to improve with maturity and thrive running long. If the Jockey Club Gold Cup is any indication, Highland Falls is living up to those expectations.
Highland Falls and Flavien Prat take the G1 Jockey Cup Gold Cup for trainer @bradcoxracing and @godolphin at 7/1! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 1, 2024
The 4YO colt earned an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup! pic.twitter.com/SdaKefZ0cD
Gold Phoenix, Motorious earn return trips to Breeders’ Cup
On the Pacific Classic undercard, a pair of past Breeders’ Cup starters earned their way back to the championship via “Win and You’re In” races.
Motorious, who finished fifth by only 1 1/2 lengths in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), stamped his return ticket with a second consecutive victory in the five-furlong Green Flash H. (G3). After settling as far back as ninth place in a 10-horse field, the six-year-old gelding gobbled up ground down the homestretch to score by three-quarters of a length in :56.14.
Another six-year-old gelding, Gold Phoenix, qualified to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) after winning the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar H. (G3) for the third straight year.
A determined rally up the rail carried him to victory by a neck in 2:17.05. Gold Phoenix has competed twice before in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, finishing 10th in 2022 and fourth (beaten 2 1/2 lengths) in 2023. This year may be Gold Phoenix’s best chance yet to win the Turf, since four of his six graded stakes wins have come at Del Mar.
Idea Generation upsets Flower Bowl
A perfect ride from jockey Florent Geroux helped carry Idea Generation to a 31-1 upset in the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl (G2) at Saratoga.
Setting slow fractions of :26.08, :51.92, 1:18.20, and 1:43.58 over a yielding turf course left the four-year-old filly with plenty in the tank to hold off three-time Breeders’ Cup starter War Like Goddess by 1 1/2 lengths in 2:18.97.
The Flower Bowl marked Idea Generation’s first victory from four starts against stakes competition. It also earned the daughter of Dubawi a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Kentucky Downs hosts rich qualifiers
A pair of lucrative stakes at Kentucky Downs this Saturday will award Win and You’re In berths to the Breeders’ Cup.
The $2 million Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2) serves as a 1 1/2-mile steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Meanwhile, the $2 million Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2) is a six-furlong qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint is expected to draw reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals. The eight-time stakes winner will look to improve upon his fourth-place finish in a July 28 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga, his first start of 2024.
Korea Cup and Sprint offer Breeders’ Cup berths
For the first time ever, Breeders’ Cup qualifying action is taking place in South Korea.
On Sunday at Seoul Racecourse, the Korea Cup (G3) will award a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the Korea Sprint (G3) will serve as a steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Reigning Korea Cup winner Crown Pride, the globetrotting 13th-place finisher from the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1), is expected to defend his title at Seoul Racecourse. Meanwhile, the Korea Sprint will feature Anarchist, the U.S.-based winner of the 2023 Pat O’Brien (G2).
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
Breeders’ Cup Turf
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Breeders’ Cup Mile
Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
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