By Anthony Stabile

DISTAFF

$2 million; 1 1/8 miles; 3up(f&m)

It’s the undisputed highlight of the Friday card and it is responsible for one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Breeders’ Cup when Personal Ensign gunned down Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors in THE final stride of the 1988 running at Churchill Downs. Bayakoa won back to back runnings the following two years. Inside Information won it in 1995 by 13 ½ lengths, the largest winning margin in Breeders’ Cup history. Before tackling the boys twice, Zenyatta graced this race with her presence when she won it in 2008. Royal Delta won her second consecutive running in 2012 before failing in her attempt to three-peat in 2013 when 2012 Juvenile Fillies champ Beholder became the first winner of a juvenile event to win another Breeders’ Cup race.

By Anthony Stabile

TURF

$3 million; 1 ½ miles (T); 3up

This event has provided us with some watershed moments in both Breeders’ Cup history in the sport itself, starting with Theatrical’s win in 1987 which helped forge the Bill Mott/Allen Paulson partnership that would rule racing for a decade. Kotashaan capped an amazing Horse of the Year season with a win in 1993. High Chaparral won it in 2002, then dead-heated with Johar in 2003, the only dead heat for win in Breeders’ Cup history.

By Anthony Stabile Mile $2 million; 1 mile (T); 3up   Where should I begin?!?! Four horses have won multiple runnings, starting with Miesque beating the boys in 1987 and 1988. The speedy Lure won back to back runnings in 1992 and 1993 before failing to accomplish the three-peat in 1994. Da Hoss, amazingly, won […]

By Anthony Stabile

FILLY & MARE TURF

$2 million; 1 ¼ miles (T); 3up(f&m)

When it comes to the Breeders’ Cup, many will split the time passed by the days of the Original Seven and the two day extravaganza it has turned into. Somewhere in between, however, came the birth of this fantastic event.

Ouija Board won it in 2004 and 2006 and was stopped by Intercontinental in 2005 when she was second. Her two wins are among the six that the Euros have managed to snatch away from the states, whose runners have won the other nine running. Favorites have won one third of the 15 runnings.

By Anthony Stabile

SPRINT

$1.5 million; 6 furlongs; 3up

In one of the more memorable moments of the Breeders’ Cup, Dayjur was home free in 1990 before famously jumping a shadow at Belmont Park and allowing Safely Kept to become one of three fillies to win this. Thirty Slews won the 1992 running, introducing the world to a then unknown trainer by the name of Bob Baffert. Kona Gold ran in the Sprint five times, grabbing the brass ring just once in 2000. Midnight Lute won back to back races in 2007 and 2008, while 2011 Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle won the 2013 renewal with just one prep in over 18 months, giving Baffert four wins to in the event.

By Anthony Stabile

JUVENILE

$2 million; 1 1/16 miles; 2YO

In my opinion, some of the biggest surprises and upsets have come in this race, starting in 1988 when Is It True upset the great Easy Goer. Who can forget Arazi’s amazing performance in the 1991 renewal at Churchill? One of the more underrated horses of our time, Unbridled’s Song, out-dueled Hennessy to win the 1995 running in just his third start at Belmont where six years later Johannesburg shipped in from across the pond and halted Officer’s winning streak. Street Sense took the first step in breaking the Juvenile/Kentucky Derby jinx by winning it in 2006.

By Anthony Stabile   JUVENILE FILLIES $2 million; 1 1/16 miles; 2YO fillies   Open Mind, Go For Wand and Silverbulletday are some of the fantastic young ladies to have captured this event. My Flag splashed home in the mud to win in 1995 before her daughter Storm Flag Flying took the 2002 renewal at […]

17 HOURS OF LIVE BREEDERS’ CUP COVERAGE BEGINS WEDNESDAY ON HRRN   Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), the Eclipse Award-winning broadcast organization based in Lexington, KY, announced Friday they will return to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia California to provide 17 hours of live Breeders’ Cup coverage beginning Wednesday, October 29.    HRRN, the exclusive radio […]

By Anthony Stabile FILLY & MARE SPRINT $1 million; 7 furlongs; 3up(f&m)   This race has become famous quite simply because Groupie Doll, the winner of the last pair of runnings and easily one of the more popular horses of this generation. When first contested in 2007 it was run at six furlongs because host […]

By Anthny Stabile TURF SPRINT $1 million; 6 ½ furlongs (T); 3up   While most had been crying out for the Breeders’ Cup to add this event for years, it didn’t happen until 2008, when Desert Code stormed down the hill to pay $75 in a shocker. Since that event, three of five favorites have […]