Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 2024 Preview

By Jarrod Horak

In this road to Kentucky Derby 2025 article, I will recap the Grade 1 Champagne, Breeders’ Futurity, and American Pharoah Stakes, the final three major prep races for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Juvenile will be run Friday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

In the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, Oct. 5, my top choice Chancer McPatrick, the 1-2 favorite, ran his record to 3-for-3 in a last-to-first score by 2 3/4 lengths at 55 cents on the dollar. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Chad Brown, and this $725k McKinzie colt also won the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga over the summer. He will stretch out around two turns for the first time in the BC Juvenile. He completed his one mile journey around one turn in 1:36.51. For comparison purposes, 2-year-old filly Scottish Lassie won the Frizette (G1) by 9 lengths at Aqueduct on Oct. 5, and she completed her one mile journey in 1:36.73. 

The Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland was also run on Oct. 5. East Avenue romped on the front end in his sprint debut at Ellis Park, and he made all the running in a 5 1/2 length victory as my top choice over post time favorite Ferocious (G1 Hopeful runner-up) in the Breeders’ Futurity at 1 1/16 miles. Tyler Gaffalione rode the Medaglia d’Oro colt for Brendan Walsh. The final time was 1:43.17. By comparison, 2-year-old filly Immersive won the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 4, and her final time was 1:44.64. 

The final Grade 1 race on Oct. 5 for 2-year-old males was the American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Citizen Bull, an Into Mischief colt at 3-1 odds for Bob Baffert, made the lead under Martin Garcia and held sway by 2 lengths over his stablemate and my top choice Getaway Car. Those two were well clear of show finisher McKinzie Street. The final time over the deep racetrack was 1:44.30. By comparison, 2-year-old fillies traveled the same 1 1/16 miles distance in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) on Oct. 5, and Bob Baffert’s Non Compliant stalked and scored by 2 1/4 lengths. She stopped the clock in 1:45.08. 

Looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, East Avenue earned a decent number in the Breeders’ Futurity and might be the one to catch and beat.