Breeders’ Cup Roundup: El Cordobes earns Turf berth

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 80 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

El Cordobes ships in, takes the Sword Dancer

The rapidly improving Irish-bred El Cordobes earned a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) when making a victorious U.S. debut in Saratoga’s Sword Dancer (G1) last Saturday.

Starting at 4-1 off a win in England’s Princess of Wales’s (G2), El Cordobes found stateside racing to his liking. The four-year-old gelded son of Frankel settled as far back as sixth place against solid fractions of :23.59, :47.40, and 1:12.90 before unleashing a big stretch kick to win the 1 1/2-mile grass contest by half a length in 2:25.04.

Rebel Red took second place over multiple Grade 1 winner Nations Pride, while defending Sword Dancer winner and heavy favorite Far Bridge finished sixth in a subpar performance.

Owned by Godolphin, El Cordobes is shaping up as a serious Breeders’ Cup candidate for trainer Charlie Appleby, whose 11 Breeders’ Cup wins include three Breeders’ Cup Turf scores with Yibir (2021) and Rebel’s Romance (2022 and 2024).

Fort Washington stretches out, wins the Arlington Million

During the first half of 2025, Fort Washington gave the impression of being a Grade 3-caliber runner with slightly more stamina than a miler. He sandwiched wins in the 1 1/16-mile Canadian Turf (G3) and 1 1/8-mile Dinner Party (G3) around a fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and a fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Wise Dan (G2).

But Fort Washington stepped up his game when stretching out over 1 1/4 miles for the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs last Saturday. He raced last in a seven-horse field through fractions of :23.94, :48.36, 1:12.25, and 1:36.00, then unfurled a giant charge and outkicked all comers to win by half a length in 1:59.58.

Fort Washington conquered a quality field, including 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan and the multiple Grade 1-placed Integration. If it turns out running long is Fort Washington’s true forte, then stretching out over 1 1/2 miles for the Breeders’ Cup Turf must be considered a possibility.

Meanwhile, Mystik Dan finished fourth in his turf debut. Options remain open for the 150th Kentucky Derby conqueror, with a return to dirt and a cutback in distance for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) a possibility.

Ready for Shirl aims for Breeders’ Cup berth in E. P. Taylor

A Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) berth is up for grabs earlier than usual in the E.P. Taylor (G1), a 1 1/4-mile grass race for fillies and mares taking place at Woodbine this Saturday.

Historically, the E.P. Taylor has been held in mid-October. Last year, it moved to September, and this year it’s shifting a full two months ahead of its past placement on the calendar. The date change may reinvigorate the E.P. Taylor as a Breeders’ Cup stepping stone; its mid-October date made for arguably too quick a turnaround to the Breeders’ Cup.

Entries for the E.P. Taylor won’t be finalized until Wednesday, though one expected starter is Ready for Shirl. A Charles Fipke homebred trained by Roger Attfield, Ready for Shirl’s dam is Perfect Shirl, who gave Fipke and Attfield a 27-1 upset victory in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Ready for Shirl heads to the E.P. Taylor in strong form. Last month, she launched a determined rally to win the 1 1/8-mile Canadian (G2) over the Woodbine turf. Her stiffest competition may come from Excellent Truth, an improving Chad Brown trainee who upset Saratoga’s Diana (G1) last month.

Good Cheer seeks rebound in Alabama

An excellent six-horse field has entered Saturday’s Alabama (G1) at Saratoga. While not part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, the 1 1/4-mile dirt race for sophomore fillies is an important stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

The field is led by Good Cheer, who rattled off seven straight wins to start her career. Most notably, she overcame a wide trip to rally and win the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

But Good Cheer misfired in the Acorn (G1) last time out, finishing a distant fifth behind gate-to-wire winner La Cara, who had previously won the Ashland (G1). La Cara is back for the Acorn, while the three-time Grade 1-placed Nitrogen adds further depth to the field.

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

Costa Nova
Forever Young
Journalism
Hit Show
Mindframe
Sierra Leone

Breeders’ Cup Turf

Calandagan
Danon Decile
El Cordobes
Intense for Me
Meisho Tabaru
Ombudsman
Sinsel

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Dorth Vader
Sarawak Rim
Seismic Beauty
Thorpedo Anna

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Deterministic
Docklands
Gran Oriente
Jantar Mantar
One Stripe
Qirat
Soul Rush

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Lovesick Blues
Straight No Chaser

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Raging Torrent 
Touch of Destiny

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Ascoli Piceno
Double Grand Slam
La Kika
Whirl

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Ag Bullet
American Affair

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Charles Darwin
Lady Iman