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2025 Breeders' Cup: guide to every race and a 40-1 ante-post tip

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sat 25 Oct 2025

Ahead of the 2025 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, US racing expert Glenn Toner has taken a detailed look at the meeting and shares a selection for each race, every one of which is live on Racing TV.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

The US won the first four renewals of this and Wesley Ward won three of them. He is represented by Schwarzenegger this time around. The colt was surprisingly beaten on debut but clung on to take the Indian Summer last time. He looks the best of the American contingent.

Europe has taken the last three renewals. Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore have a strong hand with three of the first five in the betting; True Love,who took the Cheveley Park last time, having previous also won the Railway Stakes and Queen Mary; Mission Central, who won the new conditions race at Ascot recently; and Brussels, who has had numerous Stakes placings since making a winning debut. True Love look by far the best of that trio.

Donnacha O’Brien looks set to saddle HAVANA ANNA here, she was second to True Love last time, but I think the five furlongs around here will suit much better than the six furlongs at Newmarket.

After a couple of placings over six furlongs, including behind Gstaad, she broke her maiden impressively and followed up with another good win both at Naas, before being pipped just before the line at Longchamp. She should be able to sit just off what is sure to be a fast pace and hopefully get home in front.

Netjets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

As you’d expect, Bob Baffert appears to have a strong hand here, with both Explora and Bottle Of Rouge. The former won impressively on debut before falling short behind her stable companion in the Del Mar Debutante, she’s since bounced back with an authoritative win in the Oak Leaf and looks a worthy favourite at this stage.

Bottle Of Rouge was beaten by her stablemate Himika on debut. The less said about Himika the better, as she was my original long-term selection for this. Bottle Of Rouge has since won her maiden well and, as mentioned above, took the Grade One Del Mar Debutante. She’s not raced since, but has been working consistently, however, you can’t help but feel she is still the second string for Baffert.

The best from the “East” appears to be Tommy Jo, Percy’s Bar & Iron Orchard.

The Pletcher trained Tommy Jo has plenty to recommend her, by Into Mischief out of the Grade One-placed Mother Mother, she’s officially ‘unbeaten’ in three starts. Winning her maiden at Saratoga before trouncing Percy’s Bar in the Spinaway there too. However, last time in the Alcibiades at Keeneland she was awarded the race after finishing second to Percy’s Bar. The fillies bumped in the straight and it would take a brave man to suggest that Tommy Jo was definitely going to win.

Percy’s Bar won her first two starts very nicely before as mentioned twice now finishing behind Tommy Jo. It’s probably best to believe she underperformed at Saratoga rather than overperformed at Keeneland. She’s a danger to all too.

On a personal level, I would like to see Iron Orchard win as she is by Authentic, who I still have a couple of shares in. She won a restricted maiden at Saratoga before taking a New York State-bred Stakes race at the same track.

In open company, she gamely took the Grade Two Frizette from the likely re-opposing Rileytole. Whilst I wish connections luck, I think this is a step too far.

A $440K yearling, MEANING made her debut at Los Alamitos on September 20. She was backed as though defeat was out of the question and duly won easily from Thank You India. The runner-up had previously shown good form behind both La Wally, who is also likely to run here, and Himika, on her both two starts, but was firmly put in her place by Meaning.

Trained by Michael McCarthy and owned in partnership by Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, I’m hoping this filly can give some consolidation to Umberto Rispoli as he has lost the ride on Journalism. It’s fair to say that Meaning’s road to the Breeders’ Cup is unorthodox but she’s a very classy filly and looks the standout value option.

John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

As with Lake Victoria last year, there seems to be little point in overcomplicating things, if PRECISE turns up in form, then she will win. By Starspangledbanner and trained by Aiden O’Brien for ‘the lads’, she has won four on the bounce since being beaten into second place on debut. Her last two wins have been at Group One level, in the Moyglare and the Fillies' Mile, and she was hugely impressive last time. A similar performance will be more than enough here.

Of the home-based runners, the best looks to be Repole/Pletcher’s Time To Dream, she won her first two starts at Saratoga, including the PG Johnson, before only finishing third in the Jessamine at Keeneland last time. That run can be upgraded as she was given a less than stellar ride from Irad Ortiz.

The Japanese runner Switch In Love may be interesting at a price on the day. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi who knows a thing or two about winning BC races, she is by Contrail and was an expensive yearling. She won on debut but disappointed slightly when only second on her next start.

Fanduel Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Ted Noffey is a worthy favourite here. Owned by Spendthrift and trained by Todd Pletcher, he made a winning debut at Saratoga at the beginning of August before following up in the Grade One Hopeful Stakes winning impressively by over eight lengths.

His third start came at Keeneland where he firmly put Blackout Time and Litmus Test firmly in their place when he took the Breeders’ Futurity. In a normal year he’d be the obvious choice but….

Bob Baffert has six wins in this, more than any other trainer, and I fully expect him to add another in 2025 with BRANT.

Brant was a $200,000 yearling, but just a few months later, was sold for $3,000,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale. He made his debut at the end of July here at Del Mar and won without breaking sweat by over five lengths from Stakes performers Civil Liberty, Balboa and Intrepido - the latter won the Grade One American Pharoah recently.

He followed up in the Del Mar Futurity from Desert Gate, Civil Liberty and Litmus Test. Whilst he wasn’t quite as impressive then, he never ever looked in danger. He’s been working consistently well since and I fully expect him to take this.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Gstaad: looks a class apart in the Juvenile Turf.

As with the fillies’ equivalent, this looks destined for the Coolmore partners and Aidan O’Brien with GSTAAD. He won on debut in May and followed up with an impressive win in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He has raced three times since and finished runner-up each time, in the Prix Morny, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. He may be an unoriginal pick but looks different class to his rivals.

PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

I believe Spendthrift Farm and Richard Mandella hold the key to this race. The current favourite in most lists is Kopion. She won five of her first seven starts, including the Grade One La Brea and Derby City Distaff, but has been beaten the last twice by Sweet Azteca in the Great Lady M Stakes and Seismic Beauty in the Clement L Hirsch Stakes. At the time of writing, it’s been suggested that she is being considered for the Sprint against the boys.

Tamara looked like a superstar on her first two starts back in 2023, winning her debut here at Del Mar before following up in the Del Mar Debutante. She was my banker of the meeting in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup, but was hugely disappointing in the Juvenile Fillies. She was only seen once in 2024 when runner-up in an allowance race here and, again this season, she has raced just once, when winning the Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita at the beginning of this month.

Whilst on paper she still has plenty to prove, I do believe she can still fulfil her potential and make up for, not only her failure in 2023, but also her sire's Bolt D’Oro in 2017. It is worth mentioning her dam, the great Beholder, had no such issues. She won the Juvenile Fillies' in 2012, and the Distaff in 2013 and 2016 in her three Breeders’ Cup appearances.

Of the others, the most obvious danger is Sweet Azteca. She has won seven of her nine career starts and is unbeaten in two runs this season. As mentioned, she beat Kopion at Los Alamitos in July and easily took the Rancho Bernado last time. She’s a threat to all, but preference at the odds is TAMARA.

Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

Current favourite Motorious isn’t getting any younger at the age of seven, but he showed he is as good as ever when winning his third Green Flash Handicap over course and distance in August, though he was granted that victory after the disqualification of Reef Runner who bested him by a nose.

Motorious has had two previous attempts at this, finishing fifth to Nobals in 2023 and when second to Starlust last year. He deserves his place at the head of the market.

Amo Racing and Adrian Murray have a strong hand with both Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte. Preference is for is for Arizona Blaze, who took the Flying Five last time with his stable companion back in third. Arizona Blaze has experience here too as he was runner-up in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year.

Which leads me to my selection, GOVERNOR SAM. After finishing unplaced on his debut, he rattled off a four timer in 2024 before finishing in third place in Juvenile Turf Sprint here. He has only won once so far this season when he took the Quick Call at Saratoga but has run with credit throughout 2025. His current odds of 25-1 look generous, especially as he has shown a liking for this tight turf course.

The admirable nine-year-old Khaadem would emulate Calidoscopio as the oldest to win a Breeders’ Cup race if he were to take this. He has struggled in two starts in the UK this season, but has since returned to form finishing third to Bear River at Kentucky Downs and then taking the Woodford at Keeneland. He’d be a popular winner.

Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint

Bentornato heads the market for this and was runner-up last year. He has only been seen once this season when winning a minor Stakes race at Churchill in September - that proved he is fit and well, and he is certainly a danger to all.

However, the Santa Anita Sprint Handicap looks to hold the key to this race.

Imagination took that from Dr. Venkman and 2024 BC Sprint winner Straight No Chaser. Imagination hinted that sprinting maybe his game when third in the Malibu behind Raging Torrent last December and that certainly looked so last time. He has potential to be better still and has to be feared.

STRAIGHT NO CHASER is the one to take out of the Santa Anita Sprint Handicap, that was his first start since disappointing in the Golden Shaheen in Dubai and it looked as though he just got a little tired in the last furlong which he was entitled to do. He started the year with a good win in Saudi Arabia and who can forget his game win in this last year. I’d prefer to take 7-1 for him than shorter odds on Bentornato or Imagination.

Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff

Seismic Beauty is a warm favourite for this, mainly on the basis of her win in the Clement L Hirsch here in August, she has won four of her seven starts for Baffert and has never been out of the first three. She has to be respected, but I cannot consider her at the odds.

Nitrogen has been a star this season winning on both turf and dirt, the highlight being the Alabama Stakes. She lost out be a head to Gin Gin last time, with Scylla back in third. She is the leading three-year-old.

Argentina has a great record in this, winning in 1989 and 1990 with Bayakoa, 1992 with Paseana and most recently 2019 with Blue Prize. The latter was trained by Ignacio Correas, who this year saddles Sarawak Rim. She won the Gran Premio Criadores last time, reversing form with Martana, the only horse to have beaten her in five starts. She has apparently been impressing her trainer in her work and is interesting at 33-1.

However, it’s another 33-1 shot I am going to side with, the Bill Mott-trained SCYLLA. She does not win as much as she should, but she is very consistent. She’s only been out of the first three twice in 15 starts and that was when fourth in both the Filly and Mare Sprint here last year and in the Derby City Distaff on her first start this season.

She is by Tapit out of the Eclipse Award winner Close Hatches, which makes her a full-sister to the infuriating Tacitus. Close Hatches finished second to the great Beholder back in 2013 and I’m hopeful that Scylla can go one better this year.

Longines Breeders' Cup Turf

Flashback: Rebel's Romance wins the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf in style!

The majority of people will be in one of two camps, either Rebel’s Romance or Minnie Hauk.

Minnie Hauk has only been beaten twice in seven starts, both times finishing second, her debut as a juvenile and last time in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe where she was just a head behind Daryz.

So far in 2025, she’s taken the Chesire Oaks, Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. She bids to become just the second three-year-old filly to win this after the same connections' Found. She is a deserved favourite.

Rebel’s Romance needs no introduction, he has won this twice, in 2022 at Keeneland and here last year. He’s had another stellar season in 2025, winning the Amir Trophy, Yorkshire Cup, Hardwicke Stakes, Grosser Preis Von Berlin & Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, as well finishing fourth in the Sheema Classic and third in the King George. He will ensure Minnie Hauk knows she’s been in a race.

That all said, I am going to play elsewhere and have a little each-way on GOLD PHOENIX, who has finished fourth in this for the past two years. He absolutely adores Del Mar having won the Del Mar Handicap four years in a row. Whilst it would be a surprise if he could beat the big two, his 40-1 odds are quite insulting.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic

Flashback: Sierra Leone lands the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic!

In a normal year, Grade One winners Antiquarian (Jockey Club Gold Cup), Baeza (Pennsylvania Derby) & Locked (Santa Anita Handicap) would all be considered, but although they are all consistent and classy colts, all are overlooked here.

Journalism has had a great year, winning the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness and Haskell, but has twice been put in his place by Sovereignty in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and also by Fierceness in the Pacific Classic. I don’t see any reason why he should reverse with either of them. Rispoli has been replaced by Jose Ortiz which I find a strange decision.

Forever Young performed with credit in the US last year, finishing third in both the Kentucky Derby and this race. He finished off 2024 with a win in the Tokyo Daishoten. He started 2025 with a win from Romantic Warrior in what was probably the race of the season so far in the Saudi Cup. He exertions there may account a slightly underwhelming run when only third in the Dubai World Cup. He returned recently with a smooth win in the Nippon TV Hai; he is a threat to all.

Mike Repole teams up with St. Elias Stables with Mindframe and with the Coolmore chaps with Fierceness, both trained by Todd Pletcher. Mindframe kept finding Dornoch too good in the big races this year but has been in great form in 2025, taking the Gulfstream Park Mile, Churchill Downs Stakes and Stephen Foster, the latter from Sierra Leone.

He was hampered when unseating in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last time and, though he has improved this year, I suspect he has not found enough to take this. Of the two, I prefer Fierceness. He had Sierra Leone behind a couple of times last season in both the Jim Dandy and Travers, where Thorpedo Anna was runner-up in the latter.

He also split Sierra Leone and Forever Young in this last year. Although extremely talented, he is not the most consistent as he has shown numerous times throughout his career, but he was back to his best last time in the Pacific Classic. He should be thereabouts again this year.

Sovereignty was surprisingly beaten in the Florida Derby but otherwise has won every race in 2025, the Fountain Of Youth, Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy and a runaway winner of the Travers when last seen. Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Godolphin, he is currently a warm favourite at around 6-4. Of course he can take this and will then undoubtedly take Horse Of The Year honours, but at the odds I just cannot side with him.

Baffert’s Nevada Beach is by far the least experienced in the field, he won his maiden in April but was then only runner-up on his next start, he has since won both the Los Alamitos Derby and also the Grade One Goodwood Stakes last time from 2024 Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano. Maybe 2026 will be his year, but I would not be surprised if this vastly improving colt outran his odds in this.

There’s no secret how much faith I have in 2024 winner SIERRA LEONE, who has had an up and down year. Beaten at long odds-on at Fair Grounds, second to Mindframe, he then took the Whitney before being badly hampered when Mindframe unseated last time. He made up an amazing amount of ground to finish second to Antiquarian.

However, that was similar to last season when he was placed in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy and Travers before he was a convincing winner of this last year here at Del Mar.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with Flavian Prat before last year's renewal and whilst I was confident of a big run anyway, I was even more confident as Prat stressed how much Sierra Leone loved the Del Mar dirt.

At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be as much pace in this season's race, but that’s why connections have entered a pacemaker in Contrary Thinking. This has irked some punters and owners, in particular Mike Repole, but I don’t understand the fuss. We want a truly run race to find out who is best. I’m more than hopeful that Sierra Leone will prove he is, in what is an outstanding renewal of this race.

FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile

Notable Speech is the current favourite, he won both the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes last year before finishing third in this. He has struggled in Europe this season and although he did win the Woodbine Mile last time out, that was a very weak renewal and he is easily overlooked and will surely be a much bigger price on the day.

Formidable Man has won eight from fifteen, including two Grade Ones. He is also unbeaten in six starts here. He will surely be there or thereabouts and looks little value on UK prices. He’ll be one I’ll be using in exotics on the day.

JOHANNES is the pick. He is mostly consistent but ran no sort of race on his seasonal return at Saratoga in August. He bounced back with a win in the City Of Hope Mile last time, a race he also won in 2024, before finishing a close second in this. 12-1 is an astonishing price and I’m hopeful he can go one better this time around.

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2025 Pegasus winner White Abarrio, along with Citizen Bull and Goal Orientated are good horses in their own right, but the more I look at this contest, the more it appears to be a two-horse race.

Last year's hero Full Serrano has not been out of the first two in five starts in the US. Winning two allowances, this race and finishing second in the 2024 Pacific Classic and this year's Goodwood. A return to a mile looks certain to suit and he will no doubt be involved in the finish, but may just find one too good.

That one is NYSOS. Only beaten once in six starts when behind Mindframe on his first run in well over a year, he continues to impress. He has taken the Triple Bend and San Diego Handicap since then, and I believe Bob Baffert is now happy with his workouts.

It feels as though it has been a long time coming for his first Grade One but this is the day he finally gets his day in the sun.

Maker’s Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Unfortunately, there’s no Moira this time around but nevertheless it is still a competitive renewal.

At the time of writing, I only intend on playing one horse and that is SHE FEELS PRETTY. A multiple Grade One winner, she took the E P Taylor last time out at Woodbine. She’s also perhaps a touch unfortunate not to be unbeaten this season as was just touched off in the Diana in July.

Her overall record is outstanding with eight wins in 12 starts and she has never been out of the money. She also has experience in California, albeit at Santa Anita, where she was third in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf in 2023 and took the American Oaks in 2024.

Without wanting to contradict myself, I will probably play Bedtime Story on the day too if she lines up. Only because I have every race this season, but foolishly I keep thinking she is better than what she has shown.