2025 Breeders’ Cup: Spotlighting top returnees from 2024

For the second consecutive year, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup will be held at Del Mar, and the two-day, 14-race program will feature many notable performers from last year’s edition. Let’s preview the top returning horses.

$7 million Classic (last year’s finish)

SIERRA LEONE (1st) has piled up minor awards over the last two seasons, recording two wins from the last nine starts, but the late runner can still bring it, winning the Whitney (G1) two back and recording a troubled second most recently in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). And we know Sierra Leone loves Del Mar, turning in his fastest career performance (114 Brisnet Speed rating), posting a 1 1/2-length victory in last year’s Classic.

CLICK HERE FOR SIEREA LEONE'S HORSE PROFILE!

FIERCENESS (2nd) comes on during the fall every racing season, winning the 2022 Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita convincingly and recording a courageous second in last year’s Classic after being forced to duel through wicked opening splits (:22.43, :44.96 and 1:09.44). Pace figures to be more moderate in this year’s Classic, and Fierceness returns in fine fettle, recording a smashing 3 1/4-length win in the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar last out.

CLICK HERE FOR FIERCENESS'S HORSE PROFILE!

FOREVER YOUNG (3rd) didn’t receive the best trip from the innermost post position before admirably rallying for third last year, and supporters will be expecting more from the four-year-old this time around. International raider prepped for the Classic with a sharp win in Japan recently, and Forever Young rates as a dangerous wildcard.

CLICK HERE FOR FOREVER YOUNG'S HORSE PROFILE!

$5 million Turf

REBEL’S ROMANCE (1st) will seek an unprecedented third win in the Turf, capturing the 2022 edition at Keeneland and prevailing by a head at Del Mar last year. A five-time winner this season, classy seven-year-old gelding showed his affinity for tight American turf courses when romping in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Aqueduct last out.

CLICK HERE FOR REBEL'S ROMANCE'S HORSE PROFILE!

$2 million Sprint

STRAIGHT NO CHASER (1st) needed his last start, finishing third in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) following a near six-month layoff, and his speed is always dangerous. And easy to appreciate the versatility he showed in last year’s Sprint, getting up late to prevail.

CLICK HERE FOR STRAIGHT NO CHASER'S HORSE PROFILE!

BENTORNATO (2nd) made his first start versus older horses and only second U.S. graded attempt in last year’s Sprint, dueling through hot fractions before grudgingly giving way late by a neck. Returned in September with scintillating stakes victory at Churchill Downs and may have more to offer at Del Mar this year.

CLICK HERE FOR BENTORNATO'S HORSE PROFILE!

MULLIKIN (3rd) is a hard-trying sort who runs well off the freshening, and Grade 1 winner figures to be well-spotted up close with his tactical ability.

CLICK HERE FOR MULLIKIN'S HORSE PROFILE!

$1 million Dirt Mile

FULL SERRANO (1st) came to hand for John Sadler last fall, recording a convincing win over allowance rivals at Del Mar before a second in the Pacific Classic, and rolled to a comfortable 1 1/2-length decision at 13-1 in the Dirt Mile. And he’s followed a similar pattern this season, finishing a commendable second in the Sept. 27 Goodwood (G1) at Santa Anita after opening the year with an easy allowance win at Del Mar. 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SERRANO'S HORSE PROFILE!

$2 million Mile

JOHANNES (2nd) will try to do one spot better after missing by three-quarters of a length in last year’s Mile, tuning up for this year’s edition with a nice win in the City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita.

CLICK HERE FOR JOHANNES'S HORSE PROFILE!

NOTABLE SPEECH (3rd) rallied belatedly for a minor award as the favorite last year and figures to receive plenty of support again following a sharp win in the Woodbine Mile (G1) in mid-September.

CLICK HERE FOR NOTABLE SPEECH'S HORSE PROFILE!

$2 million Filly & Mare Turf

CINDERELLA’S DREAM (2nd) missed by a half-length last year and has carried her form forward as a four-year-old, winning the Falmouth (G1) at Newmarket three starts back.

CLICK HERE FOR CINDERELLA'S DREAM'S HORSE PROFILE!

$1 million Turf Sprint

MOTORIOUS (2nd) loves Del Mar’s turf, winning four of five sprint attempts, and will try to make amends for the lone setback, a neck second in last year’s Turf Sprint.

CLICK HERE FOR MOTORIOUS'S HORSE PROFILE!

A G BULLET (3rd) had every chance before finishing a nose back of Motorious last year, and the classy mare returns in top form at age six, recording nice wins in the Jaipur (G1) and Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) in her last two outings.

CLICK HERE FOR A G BULLET'S HORSE PROFILE!

Honorable Mention

CITIZEN BULL, winner of last year’s Juvenile (G1), will be back to compete in the Dirt Mile.

CLICK HERE FOR CITIZEN BULL'S HORSE PROFILE!