Breeders’ Cup Classic: Notes, quotes for all 10 contenders
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Here are notes and quotes from Tuesday morning from Del Mar looking ahead to Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic.
Antiquarian
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Morning activity: Galloped 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar under exercise rider Edy Quinteros.
Planned activity: Will go to the track for a routine gallop and to visit the starting gate.
The quote: On post positions drawn by Mindframe (8) and Antiquarian (10): "I thought good posts for both of them. They both have tactical enough speed to kind of secure a spot they're happy with, get into a good rhythm and go from there." – Todd Pletcher
Baeza
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Morning activity: Galloped on the main track
Planned activity: Similar routine Wednesday
The quote: Trainer John Shirreffs brings plenty of experience to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The legendary figure in North American horse racing has earned nearly 600 career wins and 39 Grade 1 triumphs, with three Breeders’ Cup victories to his credit, including the 2009 Classic with Hall of Fame mare Zenyatta.
Zenyatta famously went on to finish a close second to Blame in 2010 Classic at Churchill Downs in one of racing’s most memorable stretch runs. Fifteen years later, Shirreffs is back at the Classic for the first time since that fateful duel under the Twin Spires, hoping to land back in the winner’s circle with the talented sophomore colt Baeza.
“Everything is different. It’s a different time, different horse, but there’s so much excitement around the Breeders’ Cup, especially around the Classic because it’s the race everyone talks about,” Shirreffs said. “It’s exciting and there’s a lot of anticipation. It’s a fun situation because it builds up to a huge climax.”
Baeza has been hanging tough with the best of his division all year, finishing third behind a Sovereignty-Journalism exacta in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes before a second to Sovereignty in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. He then added an elusive top-level victory when annexing Parx Racing’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last out on Sept. 20.
“It was very important for Baeza,” Shirreffs said. “He’s run well and has been close to Journalism and Sovereignty, and we felt if things went well in a (Grade 1) race that he could win it.”
Now, Baeza can further his case as a top player in his division, along with his veteran conditioner’s legacy, in a race in which one of its most beloved winners was trained by the Hall of Fame finalist.
Contrary Thinking
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Morning activity: Galloped 1 1/2 miles
Planned activity: Gallop 1 1/2 miles
Fierceness
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Morning activity: Galloped at Del Mar under exercise rider Danny Wright.
Planned activity: Will go to the track to gallop and visit the starting gate.
The quote: On drawing the rail in the Classic field: "(Breeder-owner) Mike Repole summed it up best: He’s undefeated from the 1 hole at Del Mar."
"I don't anticipate it's going to be an issue. Made a mistake the last time and think Johnny (Velazquez) will be prepared for it. We’re not going to overthink it." – Todd Pletcher
Forever Young
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Morning activity: One lap canter
Planned activity: Will breeze Wednesday, probably his jockey will ride
The quote: "He had light work this morning. Ryusei will breeze him along with his stable companion, American Stage, tomorrow." – Yoshito Yahagi
Closer look: Forever Young's redemption to bring first Japanese Classic success
"I always aim to be the first Japanese. Of course, we are here to win a great race, the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, and become the first Japanese to win it," Yahagi said. "The Classic has been our target for a year."
Since his third-place finish in the Classic last year, Forever Young retains his unbeaten record in Japan. Internationally, he claimed the Saudi Cup (G1) title by winning an epic battle against Hong Kong's hero Romantic Warrior and finished disappointingly third in the Dubai World Cup. (G1).
Yahagi arrived in Los Angeles on Monday and checked his 4-year-old Tuesday morning.
"He was 75% fit in his prep race, Nihon TV Hai, as we planned and everything goes well so far. He is very relaxed as he has grown up, and this is his second trip to Del Mar.
"I believe his condition is better than last year. His hind quarter got much stronger, it is beautiful, as well as he's mentally matured."
Forever Young will race from post 5 this year as a result of the draw on Monday.
"Last year was unfortunate that he raced from stall 1. We wanted to be in a prominent position, following the leader, but it ended up a crazy fast pace. My strategy was wrong," Yahagi said.
"Forever Young is versatile horse and can race in any position, however, I would like to see him in a middle, on pace."
Yahagi's stable jockey, a 28-year-old Ryusei Sakai, has ridden Forever Young in all of his 12 races and will ride him in the Classic.
"I have never thought other options, and I won't as long as Ryusei is listening to what the trainer says," Yahagi said.
Sakai has won seven Grade 1 races. This year, Sakai won the Saudi Cup with Forever Young and the Neom Turf Cup with Shin Emperor. He also claimed a success in a Shergar Cup race at Ascot.
"Global success is crucial for me," Sakai said.
"I got mentally stronger particularly by ridding Forever Young and the previous Japanese Champion Dirr horse, Lemon Pop. I got so much pressure when I was riding them because simply the expectation is winning, and through those experiences I am now used to it."
So many eyes are on the Japanese dirt champion, domestically and internationally.
"Forever Young is a special horse in the world. I would like to be a jockey who deserves to be on him." Sakai said.
The Japan's dirt hero placed both in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, dual pinnacle of the U.S. racing, but has yet to win a Grade 1 in the U.S. Japanese horses have won 60 Grade 1 races abroad and only four of them on dirt, and three of them were recorded by Yahagi. The man in the hat is set to become the first Japanese trainer to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.
Journalism
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Morning activity: Galloped 1m at Del Mar under exercise rider Marc Witkowski.
Planned activity: Will gallop.
The quote 1: On the colt’s post-position draw: "I’m fine with drawing post position nine. There will be a little bit of speed inside of us, Jose (Ortiz) will be able to bounce out of there and kind of find his way. No complaints." – Michael McCarthy
The quote 2: More on draw: "We've obviously got an idea of what we'd like to see happen. Fierceness drawn down inside, I put nothing into that. He was drawn down inside in the Pacific Classic and you saw what happened. I don't think that will happen again." – Michael McCarthy
Mindframe
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Morning activity: Galloped 11/4 miles under exercise rider Carlos Quinonez Perez
Planned activity: Will go to the track for a routine gallop and to visit gate.
The quote: On post positions drawn by Mindframe (8) and Antiquarian (10): "I thought good posts for both of them. They both have tactical enough speed to kind of secure a spot they're happy with, get into a good rhythm and go from there." – Todd Pletcher
Nevada Beach
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Morning activity: Galloped 1 1/2 miles
Planned activity: Will gallop.
The quote: “I think my horse is doing well. He’s a good horse and he is getting better. I think he’ll like the distance. You just don’t know because he has not run with these kind of horses before.” – Bob Baffert
Sierra Leone
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Morning activity: Galloped 1 1/2 miles
Planned activity: Gallop 1 1/2 miles
Closer Look: A bittersweet Sierra Leone goodbye for Brown
Considering the level at which trainer Chad Brown has performed for the better part of two decades in horse racing, the high praise he pours on star pupil Sierra Leone always seems that much more significant. In direct proportion, it will be decidedly bittersweet for the 46-year-old when he saddles the son of Gun Runner for the final time in his defense of the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. A winner of 19 Breeders’ Cup races and 171 Grade 1s, Brown takes a conscious moment to put his five-time winner of more than $7 million into deserved context.
"You hate to retire a horse that’s the best you’ve ever trained, of course, and as they leave your barn you worry you may never get another one as good as this one," Brown said. "As a trainer, that’s something you have to get your head around. You hope that another Sierra Leone comes along, but there’s certainly no guarantee on that.
"He’s certainly a very rare horse, that’s the bitter part of this," Brown continued. "The sweet part is that he’s going to the top breeding operation in the world and he’s getting a much-deserved pampered retirement where he’s going to have every chance to excel in his second career and be cared for like a king, and he’ll go home safe. For a horse that’s meant so much to you, to send him off to the best possible home for a second chapter, that’s the sweet part."
In the spotlight since selling for $2.3 million at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga sale in 2022, Sierra Leone has long been a welcome burden of pressure for the nation’s leading trainer, with undeniably lofty expectations. Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith, the blue-blooded bay has gone to post as the favorite seven times in 13 starts, including the Travers (G1) and Belmont. Only twice have his odds been north of 2-1, his head loss in the Kentucky Derby at 9-2 and his triumphant Classic last year at 6-1, and he rewarded connections with a trio of Grade 1 tallies, including last year’s Blue Grass and this year’s Whitney.
"He’s taught me a lot," Brown said. "You feel, as a trainer who has been doing it long enough at a high level in races like the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cups, like you’re really prepared to handle any sort of situation. Then you get a horse like him and realize there’s even more to learn and experience. I feel like, as we close out his career, like I learned a lot from him to use going forward. The Derby is such a hard race to win and I think that managing a horse of his caliber, I learned a lot and I think that we did really well. But also there’s always little things you can go back and say, ‘man, I can use this little nugget of information to improve in a couple little areas,’ of course.
"For a horse who’s never been off the board and been so sound and healthy while being managed under a microscope and a lot of pressure, I feel a lot of gratitude and accomplishment for me and my team," he said. "I feel like we did a really fine job and as good as anyone could have done with him. Some things in racing and in sports, unfortunately, are always going to be left to luck and circumstance and there are so many factors, especially with horses. All the intangibles and human elements on the field of play, when you look at what we have done with Sierra Leone, I know we did the best we could to put him in a position to perform every time. I think we accomplished that."
Sovereignty
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Update: Sovereignty, the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, spiked a fever overnight, and his status for Saturday’s race is in question.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, standing near Sovereignty’s stall on the Del Mar backstretch Tuesday morning, said the winner of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers (G1) was treated with an anti-inflammatory and blood work has been taken.
Owned and bred by Godolphin, the son of Into Mischief will be monitored all day Tuesday and into Wednesday.
“The results are pending,” Mott said, “but if he spikes another fever between now and whenever, we’re done. He’ll be scratched. If I don’t think he is right, he’s not going to run.”
Sovereignty worked four furlongs at Del Mar on Monday and Mott said he was thinking about sending him to the track on Tuesday, but that was scrapped after the fever was detected.
Mott said Sovereignty has not shown any sign of discomfort. The colt was standing in his stall Tuesday morning, looking alert.
“He looks fine, he ate everything,” Mott said. “He hasn’t missed an oat. He seems normal.”
A normal temperature for a horse, Mott said, is 101. Sovereignty’s temperature got as high as 103 he said before being treated at 6 o’clock. Tuesday morning and his temperature returned to normal.
“Sometimes, horses have little issues and people try to sugarcoat it,” Mott said. “I’m not trying to sugarcoat anything. This is what we’ve got. And don’t be surprised if we scratch. If we do run, and things look good, I hope I’ve made the right decision. I don’t want to to do anything to tarnish this horse’s record.”
Godolphin and Mott have not announced what the plan is for Sovereignty after the Breeders’ Cup.
The leading 3-year-old in the nation and a top contender for horse of the year, Sovereignty has won five of six starts this season, the lone loss coming in the Florida Derby (G1), where he finished second.
Since then, he has won his last four starts, the most recent being a 10-length romp in the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 23. Sovereignty shipped to Del Mar from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., last Wednesday.
Although the news was not good on Tuesday, Mott is going to stay as optimistic as he can.
“I guess there is an outside possibility we’ll be OK,” Mott said. “Is it 10%? Is it 50%? I don’t know. It depends on the horse. Unless we think he’s himself or 100%, we’re not going to run.”
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