Breeders’ Cup Roundup: Sovereignty shines again in Travers

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is 66 days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Sovereignty dominates Travers, cements Classic favoritism

On Saturday at Saratoga, Sovereignty became the first Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner in 30 years to add the Travers (G1) to his record.

Facing four rivals in the 1 1/4-mile “Midsummer Derby,” Sovereignty left no doubt about his superiority. He stayed within two lengths of the pace before taking over in the final quarter-mile to dominate by 10 lengths in the fast time of 2:00.84.

Having won three top-tier prizes over 1 1/4 miles, Sovereignty is shaping up as a clear favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over the same distance. Should he succeed at Del Mar, he’ll become the first horse in history to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, Travers, and Classic.

Thorpedo Anna, Book’em Danno, Hope Road win Saratoga qualifiers

Three Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers took place on the Travers undercard.

Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna starred in the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign (G1), an important stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She’d already earned a Distaff ticket via her win in the June 28 Fleur de Lis (G2), but she reiterated her division leadership in the Personal Ensign, tracking the pace before taking over and turning back a challenge from Dorth Vader to win by a nose in 1:49.18.

Thorpedo Anna and Dorth Vader pulled 9 3/4 lengths clear of the rest, including Grade 1 winner Leslie’s Rose and past Breeders’ Cup Distaff runners-up Raging Sea and Randomized, so it’s safe to say the top two finishers ran strongly.

In the seven-furlong Forego (G1), Book’em Danno continued his Saratoga hot streak. Having previously won the Woody Stephens (G1), Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2), and True North (G3) at the Spa, Book’em Danno started as a 9-10 favorite in the Forego and ran to expectations, sticking close to a solid pace before edging clear to win by one length in 1:22.43.

The win earned Book’em Danno a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), though he’s not certain to run in the Breeders’ Cup, and the shorter Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) will be his intended target if he does show up at Del Mar.

The seven-furlong Ballerina (G1) went to Hope Road, who ended a four-race losing streak to secure her first Grade 1 win. The Derby City Distaff (G1) runner-up tracked the pace set by Scylla before chasing down that rival to win by two lengths in 1:21.93, earning a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Ombudsman, Minnie Hauk star at York, lead international qualifiers

Across the Atlantic in England, Ombudsman turned the tables on Delacroix to win the 1 5/16-mile Juddmonte International (G1) at York and secure a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Prince of Wales’s (G1) winner finished second by a neck to Delacroix in last month’s Eclipse (G1), but the margin wasn’t nearly as close in the International. Ombudsman rated patiently as stablemate Birr Castle opened up a huge lead, then launched his bid and forged clear of late-running Delacroix by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:07.90.

The 1 1/2-mile Yorkshire Oaks (G1) at York awarded a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and star three-year-old filly Minnie Hauk claimed the prize as expected. The Epsom Oaks (G1) and Irish Oaks (G1) winner settled third in a four-horse field before kicking away in the final furlong to score by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:26.67.

Two other Breeders’ Cup entries were awarded at York. The five-furlong Nunthorpe (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) qualifier, went to Asfoora, a seven-year-old veteran who won the King Charles III (G1) at Royal Ascot last fall. Asfoora showed tactical speed on her way to victory by 1 1/4 lengths in :57.38.

Finally, Gewan became the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) qualifier when he took the seven-furlong Acomb (G3) by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:25.57. He’s now 2-for-2, having opened his career with a maiden win, dashing seven furlongs at Newbury.

After the York action wrapped up, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) picked up its first qualifier when Precise won the seven-furlong Prestige Fillies’ (G3) at Goodwood in England. Coming off a second-out maiden win at Cork, the Aidan O’Brien trainee outkicked Moon Target to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:26.31.

Dr. Venkman earns Dirt Mile ticket in Pat O’Brien

Dr. Venkman entered Saturday’s seven-furlong Pat O’Brien (G2) at Del Mar with a 0-for-3 record in 2025. But last year’s San Diego H. (G2) winner recaptured his best form with a rallying half-length triumph over a deep field including Grade 1 winners Stronghold, Express Train, and Speed Boat Beach.

Dr. Venkman reached the finish line in 1:21.53 and secured a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Considering all four of his career wins have come at Del Mar—including over 1 1/16 miles in the San Diego—Dr. Venkman is shaping up as an excellent fit for this year’s Dirt Mile configuration.

Seven qualifiers will close out August

The final weekend in August brings half a dozen Breeders’ Cup qualifiers at summer hotspots Saratoga and Del Mar, as well as one at Kentucky Downs:

• The Flower Bowl (G2) at Saratoga awards a Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf berth. The field includes La Mehana, who crushed Saratoga’s Glens Falls (G2) last month by 8 3/4 lengths, and Be Your Best, a decisive winner of the Gamely (G1).
• Saratoga’s Spinaway (G1) is the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) qualifier. Mythical is shaping up as the favorite after going unbeaten and unchallenged in three starts, including the Adirondack (G3) and Tremont S. at Saratoga.
• The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga is a pivotal Breeders’ Cup Classic qualifier expected to feature a clash between Stephen Foster (G1) winner Mindframe and reigning Classic hero Sierra Leone.
• Another Breeders’ Cup Classic berth is up for grabs in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. A strong field is expected to enter, including Preakness (G1) conqueror Journalism, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Fierceness, and four-time graded stakes winner Nysos.
• The Del Mar H. (G2) awards a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Gold Phoenix, who has won the last three editions of the race, could seek a four-peat.
• A Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint spot is on the line in Del Mar’s Green Flash H. (G3). The field is still in flux, though one nominee is Motorious, runner-up by a neck in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
• The Kentucky Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs also hands out a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint berth. The list of nominees includes the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals.

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
Ombudsman
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

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

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Ascoli Piceno
Double Grand Slam
La Kika
Minnie Hauk
She Feels Pretty
Whirl

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Hope Road

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Ag Bullet
American Affair
Asfoora

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Charles Darwin
Lady Iman

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Gewan

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Precise