Tipsheet: 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf

A baker’s dozen turf stayers will venture 1 1/2 miles on the Del Mar green in Saturday’s lucrative $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). 

RELATED: 2024 Breeders' Cup News and Notes

Breeders’ Cup Turf Picks

• #2 Emily Upjohn
• #11 Rebel’s Romance
• #5 Jayarebe
• #1 Rousham Park

Breeders’ Cup Turf Wagers

• $20 win and place #2 Emily Upjohn
• $5 exacta key box 2 with 1,5,11
• $1 trifecta box 1,2,5,11

Breeders’ Cup Turf Contenders

#1 ROUSHAM PARK (20-1): Japanese import has yet to reach his peak as a five-year-old, but the son of Harbinger has a lot of back class as well as a fine draw on the rail. The Hiroyasu Tanaka trainee seems like a nice fit at 1 1/2 miles, and the bay will have superb grass pilot Christophe Lemaire in the stirrups. 

#2 EMILY UPJOHN (5-1): Top pick is winless this season but has a ton of back class, and I like that she bypassed the Filly & Mare Turf in preference of this race. Trained by the brilliant John Gosden, the Sea the Stars mare has good current form with a pair of third-place results at the top level as of late, and I like her draw near the rail to save ground in the affair, too. The bay will be reunited with jockey Frankie Dettori. 

#3 SHAHRYAR (10-1): Hideaki Fujiwara trainee was third in the race in 2023 and proved his class with a runner-up showing in the Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan in March. Six-year-old son of Deep Impact is winless since 2022 and is hard for me to back with confidence on top, but the Sunday Racing color-bearer has plenty of ability and fits well in the exotics with Christian Demuro on board. 

#4: LUXEMBOURG (12-1): Ryan Moore will get atop this multiple Group 1 winner who bagged the Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom earlier in the season. Aidan O’Brien trainee has not been terribly consistent this campaign, but he is an excellent performer on his best day, and the son of Camelot would not be a big surprise at a nice price. 

#5 JAYAREBE (4-1): Major win threat from the Brian Meehan barn has been quite good in 2024 and exits a Group 2 tally at Longchamp in his latest run. Sophomore son of Zoffany beat a good one last time out, and he still has room to improve in his first try at 1 1/2 miles. Regular pilot Sean Levey will guide the logical contender. 

#6 FAR BRIDGE (6-1): Christophe Clement trainee has reached new heights since going at these extended distances, evidenced by victories in the Sword Dancer S. (G1) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. (G1) in his last pair of outings. The English Channel colt faces a big class hike against this crew, but he is surely in with a top-four chance with Joel Rosario taking the reins. 

#7 GRAND SONATA (20-1): Exotics player from the Todd Pletcher barn is flying under the radar to some extent despite winning a deep running of the Turf Cup S. (G2) at Kentucky Downs most recently. Dark bay son of Medaglia d’Oro has moved forward since running extended trips on the lawn, and while this is a daunting task, I expect him to give a nice account of himself with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons. 

#8 CABO SPIRIT (30-1): Two-time local winner led throughout in the John Henry (G2) at Santa Anita in his most recent effort, but the gelding faces a huge task in a field of this stature. Abel Cedillo will ride the expected pacesetter in the group, but I’d be surprised if the five-year-old was in the running against these in late stretch. 

#9 EL ENCINAL (30-1): Group 1 winner has been dusted in a pair of runs since arriving in the U.S. and is a quick toss, in my opinion. 

#10 WINGSPAN (15-1): Second from the O’Brien barn has won or placed in five of her six runs to date, and the daughter of Dubawi can’t be overlooked at a big number in this spot. The bay will try 12 furlongs for the first time, and she faces both her elders and the boys also for the initial time, but a good result from her would not be surprising. Wayne Lordan will be in the controls. 

#11 REBEL’S ROMANCE (5-2): Godolphin homebred is a fine 14-for-21 in his lifetime and won the 2022 edition of the race. Charlie Appleby pupil is 4-for-5 in 2024, with three of those resulting in Group 1 tallies, and he looks like the clear one to beat on Saturday beneath regular jockey William Buick. Dubawi gelding will be doing his best work from off the pace. 

#12 GOLD PHOENIX (15-1): Phil D’Amato trainee owns a trio of Grade 2 wins on the surface, and the horse for course came home a strong fourth in the tilt in 2023 at Santa Anita. Belardo gelding will stalk the pace in the early stages with Kyle Frey taking the reins. 

#13 THERE GOES HARVARD (30-1): Mike McCarthy trainee ran a good second at Santa Anita with blinkers removed last time out, but he still has his work cut out for him in the deep field from the widest post slot. John Velazquez has the ride.