Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Daryz wins Arc, leads 21 qualifiers

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 24 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Daryz edges Minnie Hauk in thrilling Arc de Triomphe

In a spectacular drive to the finish line, Daryz edged fellow three-year-old Minnie Hauk to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp in France.

Daryz rated in midfield before kicking on with a powerful drive over very soft turf to secure his first Group 1 win by a head. The filly Minnie Hauk, coming off wins in the Epsom Oaks (G1), Irish Oaks (G1), and Yorkshire Oaks (G1), ran gallantly in second place, pulling 5 1/2 lengths clear of the rest.

Daryz earned an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), though it remains to be seen whether he’ll target Del Mar. Minnie Hauk remains under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup, but isn’t yet a definite participant.

Gin Gin upsets Thorpedo Anna, Nitrogen to earn Distaff ticket

Gin Gin earned her way into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) by upsetting a strong field in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland.

Gin Gin led all the way to prevail by a head over Alabama (G1) winner Nitrogen, who endured a slow start before rallying wide. Reigning Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna tracked the pace in second place before uncharacteristically fading to finish fourth.

Ted Noffey, Tommy Jo, among a dozen juvenile qualifiers

Between Friday and Sunday, a dozen horses qualified to compete in the Breeders’ Cup’s five juvenile races

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) picked up three qualifiers. Hopeful (G1) winner Ted Noffey made his two-turn debut a winning one in Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1), triumphing by 2 3/4 lengths. With two Grade 1 wins to his credit, Ted Noffey is shaping up as the favorite for the Juvenile.

Napoleon Solo looms as a major threat to Ted Noffey after smashing Aqueduct’s Champagne (G1). Setting fractions of :22.53, :44.24, and 1:07.88 did little to tire Napoleon Solo, who drew off in the homestretch to win by 6 1/2 lengths.

Out west at Santa Anita, Intrepido impressed in the American Pharoah (G1). After waiting in traffic around the final turn, he surged once clear to prevail by three-quarters of a length. He’s already won at Del Mar and will have a home-court advantage for the Breeders’ Cup.

Two qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) took place. Spinaway (G1) winner and previous Juvenile Fillies qualifier Tommy Jo earned a redundant ticket in the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland, but not without drama. Percy’s Bar crossed the wire first by 2 3/4 lengths, but was disqualified to second place for bumping Tommy Jo in the homestretch.

At Santa Anita, Explora earned her Juvenile Fillies berth outright in the Oak Leaf (G2). She tracked the pace in third place before taking over to dominate by 4 1/4 lengths.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) qualifiers impressed on both sides of the Atlantic. Aqueduct’s Miss Grillo (G2) went to Ground Support, a Kentucky Downs maiden winner who led all the way, beating Deep Learning by two lengths.

At Keeneland in the Jessamine (G2), Imaginationthelady closed from three lengths off the pace to defeat deep closers Infinite Sky and Time to Dream by one length. She’s now 2-for-2, having previously won her debut at Kentucky Downs.

Across the ocean in France, the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) went to the undefeated Diamond Necklace. The Aidan O’Brien trainee closed from midpack to prevail by one length, but it sounds like she’ll skip the Breeders’ Cup in favor of a winter break.

Bottas led a trio of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) qualifiers when he triumphed tenaciously in the Pilgrim (G2) at Aqueduct. The impressive Saratoga maiden winner outkicked the graded stakes-placed Heeere’s Johnny to win by a head.

At Keeneland, Final Score earned his Juvenile Turf ticket with a decisive Bourbon (G2) win. Previously victorious in the With Anticipation (G3), Final Score led almost all the way to score by 1 1/4 lengths, bringing his record on turf to 3-for-3.

Puerto Rico took home top honors in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), giving Aidan O’Brien a sweep of the juvenile races at ParisLongchamp. The son of Wootton Basset led all the way to dominate by 2 1/2 lengths, and a trip to Del Mar could be in the cards.

Lastly, the Futurity (G3) at Aqueduct awarded a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) berth to Intricate Spirit. Making his stakes debut, Intricate Spirit pressed fast fractions of :21.31 and :43.91 before taking over to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:07.98.

Nakatomi, Praying sprint to Breeders’ Cup berths

Nakatomi, the third-place finisher from the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), earned a return ticket to the Sprint when triumphing in Keeneland’s Phoenix (G2). The six-year-old veteran rallied resiliently from last place to beat clear leader Durante by a neck.

Also at Keeneland, Praying secured a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) berth via the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2). The three-year-old Prioress (G3) winner closed steadily from midfield to conquer older rivals, including Grade 1 winner Vahva, by half a length.

Rhetorical, Maranoa Charlie qualify for the Mile

Fresh off winning the West Point S. against fellow New York-breds, Rhetorical successfully stepped up in class to defeat a strong field in the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1).

A well-timed kick from fourth place carried Rhetorical across the finish line three-quarters of a length ahead of multiple Grade 1 winner Program Trading. Rhetorical is now an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Also earning a Mile berth over the weekend was Maranoa Charlie. The improving three-year-old used his speed to carve out the pace and defeat older rivals by 1 1/4 lengths in the Prix de la Foret (G1). The Breeders’ Cup is reportedly under consideration.

Barnavara, Mission of Joy stamp tickets to Filly & Mare Turf

Thousands of miles apart, two talented females fought hard to earn entries into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

At ParisLongchamp, three-year-old Barnavara made her Group 1 debut a winning one in the Prix de l’Opera (G1), setting the pace and turning back an onslaught of challengers to prevail by a short neck.

At Santa Anita, five-year-old Mission of Joy proved narrowly in the Rodeo Drive (G2), rallying from sixth to first place in the final eighth of a mile to beat fellow closer Speed Shopper by a head.

Asfoora nabs an extra Turf Sprint berth

Plans don’t currently call for Asfoora to start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), though she’s thoroughly earned her way in. She secured one invitation by winning the Nunthorpe (G1) and picked up another when taking the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) at ParisLongchamp.

The decorated seven-year-old mare charged home in front by half a length over Jawwal, who in turn finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of the rest.

Iron Orchard prevails in tight Frizette battle

Although Aqueduct’s Frizette (G1) isn’t a Win and You’re In qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Iron Orchard figures to be a major Breeders’ Cup player after taking the Frizette in determined fashion.

Despite racing wide, Iron Orchard wore down Spinaway (G1) third-place finisher Rileytole to win by a nose, bringing her career record to a perfect 3-for-3.

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Qualifiers

The following horses have secured Win and You’re In berths to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series:

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Antiquarian
Costa Nova
Fierceness
Forever Young
Journalism
Hit Show
Mindframe
Nevada Beach
Ombudsman
Sierra Leone

Breeders’ Cup Turf

Calandagan
Danon Decile
Daryz
Delacroix
El Cordobes
Gold Phoenix
Intense for Me
Meisho Tabaru
Ole Crazy Bone
Ombudsman
Sinsel

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Cavalieri
Dorth Vader
Gin Gin
Sarawak Rim
Seismic Beauty
Thorpedo Anna

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Deterministic
Docklands
Gran Oriente
Jantar Mantar
Johannes
Maranoa Charlie
Notable Speech
One Stripe
Qirat
Rhetorical
Soul Rush

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Imagination
Lovesick Blues
Nakatomi
Patriot Spirit
Self Improvement
Straight No Chaser

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Book’em Danno
Diktaean
Dr. Venkman
Raging Torrent 
Touch of Destiny

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Ascoli Piceno
Barnavara
Bellezza
Double Grand Slam
Fallen Angel
La Kika
Minnie Hauk
Mission of Joy
She Feels Pretty
Whirl

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Haulin Ice
Hope Road
Praying

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Ag Bullet
American Affair
Arizona Blaze
Asfoora
Bear River
Motorious

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Intrepido
Napoleon Solo
Ted Noffey

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Explora
Tommy Jo

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Argos
Bottas
Benvenuto Cellini
Final Score
Gewan
Puerto Rico

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Corsia Veloce
Diamond Necklace
Ground Support
Imaginationthelady
Precise

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Charles Darwin
Lady Iman