Meet the Contenders: 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Locked winning the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography/John Gallagher)
November 1st, 2023
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
The Wine Steward is one of the top progeny by Vino Rosso in 2023. (Photo by Coady Photography)
#1 The Wine Steward ***
Pro: New York-bred stepped up nicely to give Locked all he could handle in Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
Con: Will need to find a bit more to turn the tables on that rival and others.
Prince of Monaco (Photo by Benoit Photography)
#2 Prince of Monaco ****
Pro: Undefeated colt turned in a standout performance in the Best Pal (G3) two back.
Con: Del Mar Futurity (G1) score more workmanlike; stamina test here.
Wine Me Up (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#3 Wine Me Up ***
Pro: Solid try in American Pharoah (G1) and bred to be even better as distances increase.
Con: Enters this as third in the Baffert-trained pecking order in the Breeders' Cup.
Timberlake (Photo by Coady Photography)
#4 Timberlake ****
Pro: Rebounded well from upset loss to win the Champagne (G1) easily.
Con: Benefited from slop and fast pace last time; lost modest Hopeful (G1) renewal.
Breeders' Cup (Horsephotos.com/Cecilia Gustavsson)
#5 Ecoro Neo (scratched) *
Pro: Bred to be at his best routing on the dirt.
Con: Still a maiden after two losses in Japan.
Locked (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
#6 Locked ****
Pro: Enters with a profile like that of former stablemate Forte, who won this last year.
Con: Doesn’t stand out over the locals, who have experience over the Santa Anita strip.
Santa Anita (Photo by © Breeders' Cup/Todd Buchanan)
#7 Cuban Thunder *
Pro: Battle-tested against some of Europe’s best, though to no great effect.
Con: Unplaced in three of four since breaking maiden going six furlongs on turf.
#3 General Partner strides away to take R7 at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown with Manny Franco aboard! 💪
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 2, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/klO0KXawTc
General Partner (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#8 General Partner ***
Pro: A clear second in the Champagne after setting a solid pace.
Con: Might prove more formidable around one turn, rather than two.
Fierceness at Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Credit to Susie Raisher)
#9 Fierceness ***
Pro: Stellar debut at Saratoga and surely better than what he showed in Champagne.
Con: Mud might have exaggerated actual ability first out; untested on a fast surface.
#10 Muth ****
Pro: Appreciated stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles in winning the American Pharoah.
Con: No match for Prince of Monaco in their one prior meeting.
Noted (Photo by EQUI-PHOTO / Bill Denver)
#11 Noted **
Pro: Multi-surface talent won his only start going long on dirt, the Sapling at Monmouth.
Con: Relatively light in the speed figure department.
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