Breeders’ Cup: Gstaad takes wide way to win Juvenile Turf

Breaking slowly from post 14, Ireland-based Gstaad was guided through a wide, patient ride by Christophe Soumillon, closing from ninth on the first turn and seventh up the backstretch to win by three-quarters of a length Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Aidan O’Brien trained his fourth straight winner in the two-turn, one-mile race and the eighth overall. He also scored his 21st win in any Breeders’ Cup division, breaking his tie with the late D. Wayne Lukas for the career lead. At 6-5, Gstaad was the third consecutive favorite to win the Juvenile Turf for O’Brien, joining Unquestionable in 2023 and Henri Matisse last year.

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Outfielder led the field of 14 2-year-olds through early fractions of 22.20 and 46.52 seconds. Hey Nay Nay took the lead in the second turn and got the first six furlongs in 1:11.45. At this point Gstaad, who had veered out at the break, still was in sixth.

Soumillon had plenty of horse left, and he guided Gstaad into the clear down the middle of the course, powering home to a winning time of 1:34.93 on the firm grass.

Stark Contrast finished second, North Coast third and Street Beast fourth.

Bred in Great Britain, Gstaad is a Starspangledbanner colt who was a weanling when Coolmore bought him for $596,488 at the Tattersalls foal sale nearly two years ago. After winning his first two starts including the Coventry (G2) at Royal Ascot, he finished second in the Prix Morny (G1), Vincent O’Brien National (G1) and 20 days ago in the Dewhurst (G1) at Newmarket.

Soumillon was a second-time Breeders’ Cup winner, adding to his 2005 Turf triumph with Shirocco at Belmont Park.

Europe-based horses have won 14 of the 19 runnings of the Juvenile Turf, which was inaugurated in 2007. Fire At Will was the most recent U.S. winner, scoring at 14-1 for trainer Mike Maker in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup.