Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Remake, Crown Pride qualify via Korea

The 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 53 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Japanese stars score repeat wins in South Korea

For the first time, the Korea Cup (G3) and Korea Sprint (G3) at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea awarded “Win and You’re In” berths to the Breeders’ Cup, respectively serving as steppingstones to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Horses based in Japan proved dominant. In the Korea Cup, 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) participant Crown Pride prevailed for the second straight year. The globetrotting five-year-old seized command shortly after the start and never looked back, drawing off to defeat fellow Japanese raider Wilson Tesoro by five lengths. His winning time for 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) was 1:51.80.

Last year’s Korea Sprint winner Remake likewise defended his title. After rating off the pace, he launched a steady rally to wear down his pacesetting stablemate Jasper Krone — a participant in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) — and win by two lengths, completing 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) in 1:10.30. Anarchist, a two-time graded stakes winner in North America, finished third.

Cogburn, Grand Sonata shine at Kentucky Downs

The rich Kentucky Downs meet continued on Saturday with a pair of Breeders’ Cup qualifiers serving as the highlights of a stakes-packed card.

The star of the show was Cogburn, a dominant winner of the six-furlong Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2), a steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Cogburn had already stamped his Breeders’ Cup ticket via a win in the Jaipur (G1) during the spring, but he reiterated his dominance of the division with a decisive score at Kentucky Downs, where he led from the start to win by 3 1/4 lengths in the blazing time of 1:07.68.

Khaadem, a two-time winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1) at Royal Ascot in England, rallied for second place in his North American debut.

In the 1 1/2-mile Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), Grand Sonata qualified to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) with a 15-1 upset victory. After rating as far behind as seventh place, the improving five-year-old rallied to the front and turned back a bid from Highway Robber to prevail by half a length in the course-record time of 2:24.93.

The victory marked Grand Sonata’s first triumph at the stakes level since taking the 2022 Kitten’s Joy (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Woodbine Mile headlines trio of Canadian qualifiers

A giant day of racing is coming up at Woodbine in Canada this Saturday. Four Grade 1 races are on the agenda, including a trio of Breeders’ Cup qualifiers.

The Woodbine Mile (G1) is a prestigious steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). The field is expected to include recent King’s Plate S. runner-up My Boy Prince, a talented three-year-old who finished third in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

The Natalma (G1) for two-year-old fillies and the Summer (G1) for two-year-olds are the other Breeders’ Cup qualifiers. They respectively award berths to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Five Irish races could produce Breeders’ Cup starters

A quintet of races in Ireland this weekend — three at Leopardstown on Saturday and two at the Curragh on Sunday — are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

The Leopardstown prizes include:

• The Irish Champion (G1): A strong field could turn out for this 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf qualifier. Reigning Irish Champion winner Auguste Rodin, who followed up with a win in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf, is expected to defend his title at Leopardstown. He’ll be joined by Japanese raider Shin Emperor, who has placed twice at the Group 1 level in his native country.
• The Matron (G1): This one-mile steppingstone to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) could feature a showdown between the multiple Group 1-winning three-year-old filly milers Porta Fortuna and Fallen Angel.
• The KPMG Champions Juvenile (G2): Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf contenders will race one mile in the KPMG Champions Juvenile. The final field is still in flux, but many promising young runners are among the early entrants.

The deep card at the Curragh includes:

• The Flying Five (G1): The field for this five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint qualifier is expected to include Bradsell, who has already earned his way to the Turf Sprint via a victory in last month’s Nunthorpe (G1) in England.
• The Moyglare Stud (G1): This seven-furlong sprint for two-year-old fillies offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Among the early entries is Bedtime Story, undefeated winner of the Debutante (G2), Silver Flash (G3), and Chesham S.

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

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

Breeders’ Cup Turf

• Auguste Rodin
• Blow the Horn
• El Encinal
  Far Bridge
• Gold Phoenix
• Goliath
• Grand Sonata
• 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

• Remake
• The Chosen Vron

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

• Crown Pride
• National Treasure
• Raging Torrent

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

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

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

• Society

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

• Asfoora
• Bradsell
• Cogburn
• Motorious

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

• The Lion in Winter

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

• Anshoda

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

• Shareholder
• Whistlejacket