Breeders' Cup Roundup: Oct. 24, 2022

Pre-entries for the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland are due today and will be released on Wednesday, a sure sign North America’s season-defining showdown is just around the corner.

Let’s catch up on news and notes for each of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races:

Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)

Expected favorite Flightline breezed a bullet six furlongs in 1:11.80 on Saturday at Santa Anita, continuing a strong string of pre-race workouts. He subsequently traveled to Keeneland on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Rich Strike has been confirmed for the Classic. The stretching-running sophomore is coming off a game runner-up effort against older rivals in the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)

Trainer Charlie Appleby of Godolphin has removed Derby (G1) winner Adayar from Breeders’ Cup Turf consideration, but that doesn’t mean Appleby will go unrepresented in North America’s richest grass race. Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) winner Rebel’s Romance and Saratoga Derby (G1) winner Nations Pride will carry the Godolphin blue silks at Keeneland.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1)

Three-time Grade 1 winner Nest has arrived at Keeneland and breezed half a mile in :48.60 on Friday. She was joined for the exercise by stablemate and recent Spinster S. (G1) winner Malathaat, who clocked an identical time. The two Todd Pletcher-trained fillies are expected to vie for favoritism in the Distaff.

Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)

The Mile field picked up an intriguing new name when trainer Chad Brown announced three-time Grade 1 winner Domestic Spending is targeting the race. The stretch-running son of elite miler Kingman hasn’t run since finishing second with a poor pace setup in the Mr. D. S. (G1) in August 2021, but Domestic Spending is training sharply for his return and has the talent to factor in the Breeders’ Cup.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)

Reigning champion male sprinter Jackie’s Warrior remains the favorite for this six-furlong dash, but he’s expected to face a quality field. One potential new challenger is Jackie’s Warrior’s stablemate Gunite, who powered to a 3 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Perryville S. at Keeneland. Winner of the Hopeful S. (G1) last year, Gunite has picked up four stakes wins this season and keeps improving with every start.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1)

The Dirt Mile field is still in flux, since many possible starters have the option of contesting the Classic or Sprint instead. The above-mentioned Gunite could potentially stretch out in distance for the Dirt Mile, as could Jack Christopher, the three-time Grade 1 winner who beat Gunite by 1 1/2 lengths in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1).

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1)

Reigning Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal and three-time European Group 1 winner Highfield Princess are the key contenders in this five-furlong dash, but another accomplished name has joined the prospective field. Charlie Appleby is planning to send Creative Force, the Godolphin dasher who won the 2021 British Champions Sprint S. (G1) at Ascot.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1)

A sharp victory in the Raven Run S. (G2) has propelled the talented sophomore filly Wicked Halo into the Breeders’ Cup picture. Her task of beating older mares will be made easier if possible Filly & Mare Sprint favorite Kimari opts to face males in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint; Kimari is slated to pre-enter both races. One definite starter is 2021 Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up Edgeway, who joined stablemate Flightline on the Sunday trip to Keeneland.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

International raiders have won five of the last six editions of the Filly & Mare Turf, and this year’s formidable group of foreign challengers is led by Oaks (G1) winner Tuesday and two-time Group 1 winners Nashwa and Saffron Beach. On the other end of the spectrum, the last four America-based winners of the Filly & Mare Turf have all been trained by Chad Brown, who sent out First Lady S. (G1) winner In Italian to breeze half a mile in :49.80 on Saturday at Keeneland.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)

Undefeated American Pharoah S. (G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Cave Rock turned in a serious six-furlong workout on Sunday at Santa Anita, traveling the distance in a bullet 1:11.20. The son of Arrogate will be tough to beat in the Juvenile, though Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Hopeful S. (G1) hero Forte has a home-court advantage since the Breeders’ Futurity took place at Keeneland. Forte further familiarized himself with the Keeneland surface by breezing four furlongs in :49.20 on Thursday.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)

In her first workout since arriving at Keeneland, Frizette S. (G1) winner Chocolate Gelato traveled four furlongs in :49.00 on Thursday. Meanwhile at the San Luis Rey Training Center in California, Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) winner And Tell Me Nolies traveled an easy half-mile in :50.20 on Saturday.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1)

Charlie Appleby has won the Juvenile Turf three times, and he’s slated to start Autumn S. (G3) winner Silver Knott in search of a fourth title. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has enjoyed even more success with four Juvenile Turf victories, and he’ll be represented by Killavullan S. (G3) winner Cairo. On the home front, Keeneland’s Bourbon S. (G2) winner Andthewinneris worked four furlongs in :48.60 on Thursday at Keeneland.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1)

Keeneland’s Jessamine S. (G2) winner Delight cruised half a mile over the Keeneland turf course in :50.40 on Friday, gaining even more experience over the Breeders’ Cup host course. On Saturday in New York, Miss Grillo S. (G2) winner Pleasant Passage clocked the same distance over the Belmont Park inner turf course in a bullet :47.63 as she prepares for a showdown with Delight and France’s flashy Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) winner Blue Rose Cen.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1)

The American filly Love Reigns breezed five furlongs over the Keeneland turf course in 1:04.60 as she seeks to give trainer Wesley Ward a fourth consecutive victory in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Her task got easier with the unfortunate news of two-time Group 1 winner Blackbeard retiring with an injury, but the international brigade is still strong with Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) heroine The Platinum Queen joining Cheveley Park S. (G1) winner Lezoo and Charlie Appleby’s Sirenia S. (G3) winner Mischief Magic among the prospective starters.

Stay tuned to TwinSpires Edge for more coverage and analysis as the road to the Breeders’ Cup continues.