Breeders’ Cup Saturday 2024 Recap Part 1

By Jarrod Horak

The Breeders’ Cup Saturday card is complete and I will recap all of the action in three posts. In this report, I will look back at the BC Filly & Mare Sprint, BC Turf Sprint, BC Distaff, and BC Turf. My next article will feature a recap of the BC Classic, and I will recap the final four BC races after that.

BC Filly & Mare Sprint (21.94, 44.22, 1:08.63, 1:21.59) – Winner: Soul of an Angel ($41.60)

There was a pressured pace with Society, Pleasant, Scylla, and Ways and Means jockeying for early position. One Magic Philly was right behind them and that whole group raced in a tight pack. Nobody was getting away from the others and you just knew a late runner would tag them, but after falling far behind early, it was surprising to see Soul of an Angel get involved late. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee was ridden by Drayden Van Dyke and she was 7 lengths behind the next-to-last runner after the opening quarter. She started picking off rivals around the far turn and rumbled down the center of the track and got up late to score by a half-length. Society held off Pleasant by a nose for the place, and Scylla, Ways and Means, One Magic Philly, Zeitlos, Valva, and 52-1 outsider Frost At Dawn completed the order of finish. Soul of an Angel was exiting a win in the Princess Rooney (G3) at Gulfstream and she packs a big late kick around one turn. 

BC Turf Sprint (21.59, 43.72, 55.92) – Winner: Starlust ($69.20)

Strong favorite Cogburn dueled early with Bradsell (GB), and Steve Asmussen’s multiple stakes winner put that one away and was clear by 3 lengths with two furlongs to go. At this point it looked the chalk would romp, but he got weary late and Longchamp shipper Starlust (GB) went last-to-first and rallied inside to win by a neck over course specialist Motorious (GB). The latter was my top choice in this race last year and I liked him underneath this time, and he ran a quality race under Antonio Fresu. Ag Bullet landed the show and Star of Mystery (GB) came on late for fourth. Cogburn weakened to 5th and was followed by Arzak, Isivunguvungu (SAF), Big Evs (IRE), Howard Wolowitz, Big Invasion, and Bradsell. Rossa Ryan rode the winner for Ralph Beckett and he was exiting a 9th of 16 in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) Oct. 6.  

BC Distaff (23.81, 47.99, 1:12.01, 1:36.61, 1:49.10) – Winner: Thorpedo Anna ($2.80)

Thorpedo Anna was the controlling speed from post 2 and second choice Raging Sea was forced to chase under Flavien Prat. Nobody could run with Ken McPeek’s talented 3-year-old filly and she started to edge away from Raging Sea turning for home. Brian Hernandez Jr. had the favorite in front by 2 lengths in the stretch and she maintained that advantage and scored by 2 1/2 lengths. Raging Sea never stopped trying and was clearly second best, and Candied stalked from the inside post and completed the trifecta. Alice Verite (JPN), Sugar Fish, Che Evasora (ARG), and Honor D Lady also ran. Thorpedo Anna had a tremendous sophomore filly campaign. Prior to winning this race, she went 5-for-6 with wins in the Fantasy (G2), Ky Oaks (G1), Acorn (G1), CCAO (G1), and Cotillion (G1). Her lone 2024 loss was a head defeat in the Travers (G1), and she has a strong case for Horse of the Year honors. 

BC Turf (24.33, 48.77, 1:13.82, 1:38.51, 2:02.50, 2:26.07) – Winner: Rebel’s Romance ($5.80)

Cabo Spirit controlled the pace as expected and the 51-1 outsider was nowhere at the end. Rebel’s Romance (IRE) was always moving like a winner under William Buick. He won this race in 2022 and he was eager to put himself in the race from post 11. He took over from Cabo Spirit with two furlongs to go and was quickly clear 3 1/2 lengths in the stretch. His work was not done because Rousham Park (JPN), last of 13 for the opening mile, was making strong progress in the lane and made a final lunge and came up a neck short. Shahryar (JPN) rallied through traffic to finish a clear third. Gold Phoenix (IRE) completed the superfecta and was followed by Wingspan (IRE), Luxembourg (IRE), Jayarebe (FR), Emily Upjohn (GB), Far Bridge, There Goes Harvard, Grand Sonata, Cabo Spirit, and El Encinal (ARG). I have to mention Emily Upjohn’s trip, which might rank as the worse journey of the entire 2024 BC. She was of slow under Frankie Dettori and that contributed to her problems. She was never able to get comfortable and was eager to run, but lacked running room for much of the race. It must be frustrating to come all this way and never have a clear path.  Rebel’s Romance won this race for the second time for Charles Appleby and Godolphin, and he was exciting a victory in a Grade 1 race in Germany.