2025 Breeders' Cup contenders worth considering at a price

Compared to the chalk-heavy results of the 2023 Breeders' Cup, the 2024 edition at Del Mar was rather kind to longshot players. Nine of the 14 winners were sent off at 5-1 or higher, including some real bombs in a few races. 

It remains to be seen whether history repeats itself next weekend, but here are a few potentially higher-priced contenders worth keeping an eye on.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1)

Multiple Group 1 winner Precise is more than qualified to assert her class against this field, but there are several other intriguing contenders to consider. One is the Joseph O'Brien-trained Queen of Hawaii.

Only sixth in her debut to eventual multiple Group winner Composing, Queen of Hawaii made great strides in her next two starts at the Curragh over this one-mile distance. She won both by more than two lengths, including the Flame of Tara (G3).

By Kingman and out of a full sister to 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Line of Duty, Queen of Hawaii may lack the CV of the Coolmore contenders, but she remains with a tremendous amount of upside.

Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

While this is being billed as a clash between the three-year-old filly Minnie Hauk and two-time Turf winner Rebel's Romance, the German-bred Goliath is hardly a vanity entry on the part of Kentucky-based owner John Stewart (Resolute Racing).

True, Goliath tends to be an unreliable sort. But when he's on his game, he can be one of the best in Europe. That was in evidence last year when he coasted in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Ascot, defeating eventual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) heroine Bluestocking and Rebel's Romance, who finished more than five lengths adrift of Goliath. Goliath himself couldn't compete in the Arc, being a gelding, so he turned his attention to Asia last fall, where he lost the Japan Cup (G1) by three lengths. 

Goliath's form has admittedly been spotty this season. He didn't show up at all in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) during a jaunt to Hong Kong in April, and later fared rather poorly in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) won by Calandagan. His form, otherwise, has been solid, albeit against lesser Group 1 types. His last-out win in the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) in Germany was a return to better form, and he shouldn't be automatically dismissed against the two marquee contenders.

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1)

The mile division in Europe didn't yield a true leader this season, but I don't think that means they can't win this race.

Entering on a high is the France-based three-year-old Sahlan, who has pulled off back-to-back upsets in the Prix Daphnis (G3) at Deauville and Prix du Moulin (G1) at Longchamp. The latter was achieved with a late surge by a nose, with notable rivals Rosallion, The Lion in Winter, and Henri Matisse behind him.

Like Goliath, Sahlan is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, who also conditions the brilliant Calandagan and Arc winner Daryz. A rising force in the French training ranks, Graffard is sure to be heard from at the Breeders' Cup for many years to come, and Sahlan seemingly has the tools to provide the trainer with his first U.S. success.