2025 Breeders’ Cup: Longshots to consider

Three of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar last year were won by double-digit longshots, including 19-1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Soul of an Angel, who was tabbed in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup longshots feature at TwinSpires.com. Shahryar, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at 8-1, was another longshot spotlighted.

My colleague Vance Hanson highlighted potential vulnerable favorites for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup, and I will focus on longshots to consider. Horses must be listed at 10-1 or higher on the morning line, and as well as being potential upset candidates, runners will be included underneath in vertical exotic wagers for value.

#3 Meaning (15-1), Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)

In a nine-horse field lacking serious speed, Meaning may look to dictate terms from the inside. She chased a hot pace before drawing off to a convincing win in her debut over 6 1/2 furlongs, and the Gun Runner filly is bred to relish the added ground. After her first start on Sept. 20, Meaning came right back to the work tab 13 days later, recording four consecutive five-furlong drills in the 41-day interim, including a bullet :59 2/5 move for Michael McCarthy last Saturday. It’s not a fast Juvenile Fillies field based on numbers, and I will use Meaning at an expected price.

#5 Big City Lights (15-1), Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1)

The pace scenario should be interesting from the outside, and Big City Lights will look to settle into a favorable stalking position. Well-drawn toward the middle and tied for the top last-out Brisnet Speed rating in the field, a 105 for a 7 3/4-length romp in the restricted California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, Big City Lights showed his affinity for Del Mar two back, winning the restricted Cary Grant S. by 8 1/2 lengths, and his most recent Speed and Brisnet Late Pace numbers are on par with his main rivals. The six-year-old gelding will make his first start since January, but horses have performed well off lengthy layoffs in previous Sprints. This year’s field lacks the star appeal and depth of most editions, with 5-2 morning line favorite Bentornato counting last year’s Gallant Bob (G2) for three-year-olds as his lone graded stakes win. Big City Lights has trained forwardly in preparation and rates as an upset candidate.

#10 Antiquarian (10-1), Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)

Can’t afford to be too far back during early stages and well-drawn on the outside for an up-close stalking trip, with the main speed in the first four posts. The four-year-old has improved since stretching to 1 1/4 miles two starts back, earning a 107 Brisnet Speed rating for a head second in the Suburban and a 108 figure for a 1 1/2-length score in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last out, and Antiquarian appears primed for a career-best effort in the Classic.

#2 Stellify (30-1), Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

Dominated Ladies Matron (G3) at Kentucky Downs in stakes debut, and frontrunning four-year-old daughter of Justify has never been exposed, reeling off four straight convincing wins. Trained by Brad Cox, Stellify has thrived since stretching out in distance, romping at 12 furlongs two back, and she figures to try to clear early with her speed in the Filly & Mare Turf.