History’s Top 10 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf performances

Since its inaugural running in 2007, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) has brought together the best turf juveniles from Europe and North America. European runners have dominated; 13 of the 19 previous winners were prepared on the other side of the Atlantic, eight of them by Aidan O’Brien, including the last four.

But has O’Brien, or one of the Europeans, earned the right to be called the best winner of the Juvenile Turf, or have one of the Americans shown the way? Let’s count down the 10 best Juvenile Turf performances.

10. Hootenanny (2014)

Since the Juvenile Turf started, trainer Wesley Ward has shown he can take American horses over to Europe and beat them on their turf. One of them was Hootenanny, winner of the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, who followed up with a second in France's Prix Morny (G1). Back in his homeland, Hootenanny sat behind stablemate pacemaker Luck of the Kitten before asserting himself in the stretch for Frankie Dettori. Hootenanny wasn’t a standout through the rest of his career, but he was very game in the Juvenile Turf.

9. Outstrip (2013)

Charlie Appleby began his love affair with the Breeders’ Cup when he brought Outstrip over from England after winning the Champagne (G2) and finishing third in the Dewhurst (G1). Bobby’s Kitten was odds-on for Chad Brown and led in quick time, with Outstrip seven lengths from the lead, but Mike Smith cut the final corner and produced a resolute effort to wear down Bobby’s Kitten and then Giovanni Boldini. Outstrip was Group 1-placed in Europe as a three-year-old and later sired Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Gold Ship at stud.

8. Fire At Will (2020)

Fire At Will came into the Juvenile Turf in 2020 after a decisive Pilgrim (G2) victory, but he had few friends among punters, starting at 30-1 while the market preferred the O’Brien-trained Battleground. The Declaration of War colt had other ideas, however; settling just off the pace, he surged to the front in the stretch and was unchallenged to win by three lengths. Unfortunately, racegoers only saw him twice more, and he never raced again after April of his three-year-old season, but he showed plenty in the Juvenile Turf.

7. Line of Duty (2018)

Facing a field that included future Classic winners Anthony Van Dyck (Epsom Derby) and War of Will (Preakness), Line of Duty was nonetheless well fancied at 7-2 after winning the Prix de Conde (G3) at Chantilly. With William Buick saving ground on the corner, Line of Duty swung wide into the Churchill Downs stretch and eventually picked up Uncle Benny and Somelikeithotbrown. He proved his worth at three in Europe with third-place finishes in the premier all-age mile races in France, the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) and the Prix du Moulin (G1).

6. Pluck (2010)

Injuries meant Pluck never got a chance to prove himself as an older horse after failing twice at three. But his Juvenile Turf victory was spectacular. He missed the start and then had to swerve on the first corner to avoid the ill-fated faller Rough Sailing, leaving him five lengths behind the field and 14 lengths off the pace. But Garret Gomez saved ground around the final corner and produced an irresistible stretch sprint to win by a length. It was a memorable effort. 

5. Mendelssohn (2017)

As the half-brother to three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder, Mendelssohn seemed more likely to be a dirt runner, and in time he was. But in a Juvenile Turf field that included future Epsom Derby winner Masar and future Travers winner Catholic Boy, Ryan Moore had the Dewhurst (G1) runner-up close from the inside gate and challenged in the stretch, fighting strongly to win by a length. Mendelssohn would later win a UAE Derby, finish second to Catholic Boy in the Travers, and finish fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

4. Henri Matisse (2024)

There were those ready to write off Henri Matisse in the 2024 Juvenile Turf after he drew the outside gate. They reckoned without Ryan Moore and a horse good enough to run second in the Vincent O’Brien (G1) in his homeland. Moore took Henri Matisse a long way back and came with a very fast finish to beat Iron Man Cal by a neck. Henri Matisse would win a Classic as a three-year-old, the French 2,000 Guineas (G1), and placed in both the St James’ Palace (G1) and the Sussex (G1). 

3. Gstaad (2025)

Gstaad’s effort in the 2025 Juvenile Turf was pretty much a carbon copy of Henri Matisse’s effort the year before. The only differences were that Christophe Soumillon was riding instead of an injured Ryan Moore, and that he won even more comfortably. Gstaad had been a frustrating horse, earning three second-place finishes at Group 1 level as a juvenile prior to this event, and there were three more to come as a three-year-old, all behind his arch-rival Bow Echo. But he did win an Irish 2,000 Guineas, and he’s still one of the best horses to win this race.

2. Modern Games (2021)

You couldn’t bet on Modern Games in the 2021 Juvenile Turf – in bizarre circumstances, he was released from the gate prior to the start and incorrectly declared a non-runner; he was subsequently allowed to run, but because bets had been refunded, he was treated as a non-runner for betting purposes. Connections of his opponents no doubt wish he didn’t run, as he finished best in the stretch to win comfortably. It was a very good effort, and his subsequent career was probably better than any other winner of this race; he won the French 2,000 Guineas, Woodbine Mile, Breeders’ Cup Mile, and Lockinge, all top Group 1 races.

1. Oscar Performance (2016)

Among the many good Europeans to win this race, one American winner holds his own. Oscar Performance arrived at the Juvenile Turf having won the Pilgrim (G3) by six lengths. He duly settled close to the speed before showing an exceptional turn of foot at the top of the stretch to put four lengths on a good field. He idled a little toward the end but still beat the Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up, Lancaster Bomber, by 1 1/4 lengths in what was a display worthy of his name. Oscar Performance later won the Belmont Derby (G1), Secretariat (G1), and Woodbine Mile (G1). Probably best at 1 1/4 miles, he is now a very good sire, having produced more than 20 stakes winners.