Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Haulin Ice romps in Princess Rooney

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 38 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Haulin Ice earns Filly & Mare Sprint berth in Princess Rooney

Last year, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sent out Soul of an Angel to post back-to-back wins in the Princess Rooney (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

Joseph is halfway to repeating the double with Haulin Ice. Winner of the Vagrancy (G3) and three other stakes during the first half of 2025, Haulin Ice continued her ascent through the female sprint ranks with a decisive score in the 2025 Princess Rooney.

The four-year-old filly left no doubt about her superiority. She established a clear lead through fractions of :23.01 and :45.50 before drawing off to dominate the seven-furlong sprint by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:22.80.

The victory earned Haulin Ice an automatic berth into the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. With five stakes wins under her belt this year, she’ll warrant respect at Del Mar.

Baeza, Clicquot stamp Classic, Distaff credentials

A pair of Grade 1 races for three-year-olds held at Parx Racing over the weekend could have implications for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

The Pennsylvania Derby (G1) saw Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) third-place finisher Baeza secure his first stakes win. Getting away from division leaders, Sovereignty and Journalism did the trick, as Baeza launched a strong rally from as far back as eighth place to score by 2 1/4 lengths over multiple stakes winner Magnitude in 1:48.03.

Baeza has improved throughout the year, and his triumph at Parx marks his best effort to date. However, the Pennsylvania Derby outcome also cements Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty as the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Sovereignty defeated Baeza three times during the spring and summer, and in the Travers (G1), he finished more than 20 lengths ahead of Magnitude.

Meanwhile, the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion (G1) for sophomore fillies upended the division as established Grade 1 winners Scottish Lassie, La Cara, and Good Cheer, respectively, finished fourth, fifth, and sixth. Instead, it was Indiana Oaks (G3) winner Clicquot who recorded her fourth straight triumph, rallying tenaciously from fifth place to win by a neck in a three-horse photo finish.

Clicquot reached the finish line in 1:42.85 and thrust her name into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff picture. Only time will tell if she can handle reigning Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna, but there’s no doubt Clicquot is progressing rapidly in the right direction.

Santa Anita hosts four weekend qualifiers

Santa Anita’s autumn meet gets underway this week with a bevy of graded stakes, including four Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifiers:

• Saturday’s Goodwood (G1) awards a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano leads the prospective field, with Grade 1 winners Express Train and Gaming other possible entrants.
• Saturday’s City of Hope Mile (G2) serves as a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). The list of nominees includes Johannes, a Grade 1 winner who ran second in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
• On Sunday, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) offers the winner a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Straight No Chaser swept both races last year and seeks to repeat the feat in 2025.
• Also on Sunday, the Zenyatta (G2) points to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Nominees include Beholder Mile (G1) winner Cavalieri and Clement L. Hirsch (G1) conqueror Seismic Beauty, a pair of talented four-year-olds trained by Bob Baffert.

Sprint ticket on the line in Vosburgh, Rebel’s Romance leads Joe Hirsch field

An action-packed weekend of stakes races at Aqueduct includes Saturday’s Vosburgh (G3), a Win and You’re In stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Nine horses have entered the seven-furlong dash. They include Carter (G2) winner Crazy Mason, Forego (G1) runner-up Scotland, and the occasionally brilliant 2024 True North (G2) winner Baby Yoda.

The Saturday card at Aqueduct also includes the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1). While not part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, the 1 1/2-mile grass contest has drawn two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Rebel’s Romance, who has already won four group stakes in three different countries this year.

Others in the entries are defending Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner Far Bridge and recent Sword Dancer (G1) conqueror El Cordobes.

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
Ombudsman
Sierra Leone

Breeders’ Cup Turf

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

Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Dorth Vader
Sarawak Rim
Seismic Beauty
Thorpedo Anna

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Deterministic
Docklands
Gran Oriente
Jantar Mantar
Notable Speech
One Stripe
Qirat
Soul Rush

Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Dark Saffron
Lovesick Blues
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
Bellezza
Double Grand Slam
Fallen Angel
La Kika
Minnie Hauk
She Feels Pretty
Whirl

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Haulin Ice
Hope Road

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Ag Bullet
American Affair
Arizona Blaze
Asfoora
Bear River
Motorious

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

Tommy Jo

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Argos
Benvenuto Cellini
Gewan

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Corsia Veloce
Precise

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Charles Darwin
Lady Iman