Ranking the top 5 jockeys and trainers from the 2020 Breeders' Cup

You’ve heard plenty about the horses who starred in the Breeders’ Cup last weekend. But what about their human connections?

As we digest the results from the Nov. 6-7 event at Keeneland, let’s rank the top five jockeys and trainers from the two-day extravaganza. This exercise serves a practical purpose, since hot jockeys and trainers are more likely to maintain positive momentum into the winter and beyond, which sets the stage for lucrative results in 2021.

How would you rank the top jockeys and trainers from the Breeders’ Cup? See if your views match up with mine.

Jockeys

1. Pierre-Charles Boudot

Five jockeys won a pair of races at the 2020 Breeders’ Cup, but some had more opportunities. Boudot achieved his double from just three mounts.

He produced perfectly timed rallies to win the Filly & Mare Turf (G1) aboard 17-1 shot Audarya and the Mile (G1) aboard 73-1 longshot Order of Australia. Betting $10 on each of Boudot’s mounts would have cost $30, for a return of $930!

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2. John Velazquez

From just six Breeders’ Cup mounts, Velazquez achieved a memorable double. 

He guided Gamine to a blowout victory in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and Authentic to a frontrunning triumph in the Classic (G1).

Velazquez’s ride aboard Gamine was particularly praiseworthy, as he avoided getting caught up in a destructive speed duel and unleashed Gamine’s power in the homestretch.

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3. Irad Ortiz Jr.

Victories with Whitmore in the Sprint (G1) and Golden Pal in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) gave Ortiz a lucrative Breeders’ Cup double, but he also rode Improbable to a runner-up effort in the Classic and Sharp Samurai to a third-place finish in the Dirt Mile (G1).

This impressive record earned Ortiz a third straight Bill Shoemaker Award, as the Breeders’ Cup’s most successful overall jockey.

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4. Tom Eaves

Eaves came to the Breeders’ Cup to ride one horse — Glass Slippers in the Turf Sprint (G1).

The result was nothing short of brilliant, as Eaves guided his mount to the rail early, saved ground around the turn, and sliced between rivals down the straight to win by a half-length.

In a race packed with traffic, Glass Slippers would surely have lost with anything less than a perfect trip. Fortunately, Eaves was ready to deliver the winning ride.

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5. Joel Rosario

A perfect, ground-saving ride aboard Vequist produced a victory in the Juvenile Fillies (G1), while a bold frontrunning gambit aboard Knicks Go led to a breathtaking score in the Dirt Mile.

The common denominator? Joel Rosario rode both horses and displayed both patience and aggression to complete an impressive Breeders’ Cup double.

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Trainers

1. Brad Cox

No trainer was hotter at Breeders’ Cup than Cox, who saddled four winners — Aunt Pearl in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Essential Quality in the Juvenile (G1), Knicks Go in the Dirt Mile, and Monomoy Girl in the Distaff (G1) to tie the record for most Breeders’ Cup wins by a trainer in a single year.

Two of his Breeders’ Cup stars (Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl) appear bound to win championship titles at the Eclipse Awards.

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2. Bob Baffert

Baffert secured a double on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.

Gamine was arguably the most visually breathtaking performer of the day, when she dominated the Filly & Mare Sprint in the track-record time of 1:20.20.

But Baffert also sent out Classic 1-2 finishers Authentic and Improbable to cap off a memorable afternoon.

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3. Aidan O’Brien

O’Brien brought a ready-to-roll contingent to the Breeders’ Cup from Ireland. In addition to a 1-2-3 finish in the Mile, with Order of Australia, Circus Maximus, and Lope Y Fernandez, O’Brien sent out runners-up Magical in the Turf (G1), Battleground in the Juvenile Turf (G1), and Mother Earth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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4. Dermot Weld

Some trainers saddled a half-dozen or more horses in the Breeders’ Cup. Irish trainer Dermot Weld only needed one — Tarnawa.

With a powerful charge from off the pace, the 4-year-old filly rolled to victory in the Turf, which secured Weld his first Breeders’ Cup winner from 16 starters, dating back to 1985.

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5. Wesley Ward

An acclaimed trainer of speedy 2-year-olds, Ward sent out the shortest-priced winner of the weekend, when 4-5 favorite Golden Pal dominated the Juvenile Turf Sprint in gate-to-wire fashion.

Ward also secured a third-place finish in the Juvenile Turf with Outadore, who set the pace and weakened slightly to finish third.