Thorpedo Anna and Sierra Leone were among the stars on day two of teh Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Here is a 2024 Breeders’ Cup Saturday recap.
Total all-sources, global common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was $179,218,631, Breeders’ Cup Limited announced, the third highest total handle in the history of the event and a 1.7% increase over the 2023 total handle.
Total common-pool handle on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $115,538,687. All-sources common-pool handle on Breeders’ Cup’s 10-race Future Stars Friday card was $63,679,944.
On-track handle for the two days was $18,450,724. Saturday’s attendance was 36,436.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will return to Del Mar in 2025 when the 42nd edition will be held October 31-November 1.
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2024 Breeders’ Cup Saturday Recap
“Angel” Upsets in Filly & Mare Sprint
C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable and Ken Reimer’s Soul of an Angel ($41.60) rallied from dead last to spring a 19-1 shocker by a half-length over Society to win the 18th running of the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) to kick off the Saturday portion of the World Championships at Del Mar.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Soul of an Angel completed the 7 furlongs over the fast main track in 1:21.59. The victory is the first in the World Championships for Joseph and the second for Van Dyke who won the 2018 Turf Sprint on Stormy Liberal.
Society and Pleasant dueled through early fractions of :21.94 and :44.22 as Soul of an Angel lagged far back. On the far turn with a wall of horses vying for the lead, Van Dyke took Soul of an Angel to the outside and hit the top of the stretch six wide.
With clear running, Soul of an Angel wore down the leaders to prevail by a half-length over Society, who finished a nose in front of Pleasant.
Soul of an Angel is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Atreides out of the The Factor mare Factor One. Sprinting for only the third time in 41 career starts, Soul of an Angel earned $520,000 for the victory and increased her earnings to $1,192,675.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Replay
Starlust Scores in Turf Sprint
Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Starlust (GB) ($69.20), last early on, found clear running along the rail in the stretch to score a neck victory over Motorious (GB) to win the 16th running of the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at Del Mar on Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Rossa Ryan, Starlust completed the 5 furlongs on a firm turf course in :55.92. It is the second World Championships victory for Beckett, who previously won with Muhannak (IRE) in the 2008 Marathon. It is the first Breeders’ Cup win for Ryan.
Heavily favored Cogburn rocketed out to an uncontested lead and maintained a daylight advantage until mid-stretch when the field began to close in. Ag Bullet and Star of Mystery (GB) closed in first on Cogburn while to the inside, Starlust had clear sailing and got up in the final strides for the victory. Motorious got up for second by a nose over Ag Bullet.
Third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita last year, Starlust is a 3-year-old son of Zoustar (AUS) out of the Invincible Spirit mare Beyond Desire (GB). Now carrying a record of 18-6-3-3, Starlust picked up $520,000 for the victory that boosted his earnings to $915,137.
Click here for our 2024 Breeders’ Cup Friday Recap.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Replay
Thorpedo Anna Brilliant in Distaff
Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, breeder Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s brilliant Thorpedo Anna capped a banner 2024 by leading all way to post a 2 ½-length victory over Raging Sea to win the 41st running of the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna completed the 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:49.10. It is the first Breeders’ Cup victory for McPeek and second for Hernandez, who won the 2012 Classic on Fort Larned.
Hernandez put Thorpedo Anna right on the lead and with Raging Sea tracking a close second to her outside through fractions of :23.81, :47.99 and 1:12.01. On the far turn, Raging Sea inched closer only to see Thorpedo Anna kick away again to claim her sixth victory in seven starts this year. Raging Sea held second by 3 ¼ lengths over Candied.
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased her earnings to $3,843,663. It was her fifth Grade 1 victory of the year with her only defeat coming against males when she fell a head short of catching Fierceness in the Travers (G1).
Thorpedo Anna is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Fast Anna out of the Uncle Mo mare Sataves.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Replay
Rebel’s Romance Wins His Second Turf
Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance (IRE) ($5.80) surged to the lead on the far turn and then held off a late bid from Rousham Park (JPN) by a neck to win the 41st running of the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Rebel’s Romance covered the mile and a half on a firm turf course in 2:26.07. It is the second win in the race for Rebel’s Romance, who was victorious at Keeneland in 2022.
For Appleby it is his third win in the race and the second for Buick, who teamed with Appleby to win the 2021 running with Yibir (GB).
Cabo Spirit shot out to the early lead, but by the time the field reached the first of three turns, Rebel’s Romance had drawn up alongside and hounded the leader through fractions of :24.33, :48.77 and 1:13.82. Going into the far turn, Rebel’s Romance shot to the front and opened a daylight advantage entering the stretch.
He maintained that comfortable margin until deep stretch when Rousham Park was closing rapidly only to come up a neck short. It was another 1 ½ lengths back to Shahryar (JPN), who was third in the race for the second consecutive year. Gold Phoenix (IRE) was another 1 ¾ lengths back in fourth, his second consecutive year of finishing in that position.
The victory was worth $2,600,000 and increased his earnings to $11,777,574 with a record of 22-15-0-1.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Replay
Sierra Leone Outduels Fierceness in Classic
Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone ($15.80) charged into contention exiting the far turn and then outdueled Fierceness through the lane to prevail by 1 ½ lengths to win the 41st running of the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone covered the 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.78. The victory is the 19th for Brown in the World Championships and first in the Classic. Prat picked up a second Classic victory to go with the Flightline triumph at Keeneland in 2022 and sixth overall.
Derma Sotogake (JPN) led the field through rapid early fractions of :22.43, :44.96 and 1:09.44 with Fierceness tracking just off his flank. Going into the far turn, Fierceness ranged up to the outside of Derma Sotogake and took over with Sierra Leone on the move right behind him.
Sierra Leone drew on even terms with Fierceness at the top of the stretch and shot on by and slowly extended his margin to the wire. Forever Young (JPN) rallied to finish third, 1 ¼ lengths behind Fierceness and a half-length in front of Newgate.
The victory was worth $3,640,000 and improved Sierra Leone’s earnings to $6,008,000 with a record of 9-4-3-2. It is the second Grade 1 victory for the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner out of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love.
2024 Breeders Cup Classic Replay
Filly & Mare Turf Goes to Moira
The third time was the charm as K-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing’s Moira assumed command entering the stretch and held off a late bid from Cinderella’s Dream (GB) by a half-length to win the 26th running of the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Kevin Attard and ridden by Flavien Prat, Moira completed the 1 3/8 miles over a firm turf course in 2:14.95. The victory is the first for Attard at the World Championships and the seventh for Prat and first in the Filly & Mare Turf.
The 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare had been fifth in this race in 2022 at Keeneland and third last year at Santa Anita.
Moira’s stablemate Full Count Felicia set the pace with fractions of :25.38, :49.84 and 1:15.08 with Moira racing in mid-pack. On the far turn, Sunset Glory went after Full Count Felicia with Moira on the move right behind and taking over at the top of the lane.
Moira opened a daylight advantage in the lane and had enough left to hold off Cinderella’s Dream, who got up to get second by a nose over Didia (ARG).
The victory, her first Grade 1, was worth $1,040,000 and boosted Moira’s earnings to $2,996,017 with a record of 17-7-6-2.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Replay
Straight No Chaser Wins Sprint for Blacker
MyRacehorse’s Straight No Chaser ($14.20) rallied from just off the pace to take command in deep stretch and post a half-length victory over Bentornato to win the 41st running of the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Dan Blacker and ridden by John Velazquez, Straight No Chaser covered the 6 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:08.62. It is the first Breeders’ Cup victory for Blacker and the 21st for Velazquez and second in the Sprint. His first Sprint victory came 20 years ago at Lone Star Park with Speightstown.
Federal Judge set the pace with fractions of :21.74 and :44.12 with Bentornado in closest pursuit and Straight No Chaser stalking in third. In the upper stretch, Bentornado took over, but was immediately challenged by Straight No Chaser who gradually pulled away.
Favored Mullikin finished another 2 ½ lengths back in third with stablemate Federal Judge fourth.
The victory, the first Grade 1 for Straight No Chaser, was worth $1,040,000 and improved his earnings to $1,416,300 with a record of 10-6-0-1.
Straight No Chaser is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightster out of the Johannesburg mare Margarita Friday.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Replay
It’s More Than Looks in Mile
Victory Racing Partners’ More Than Looks ($15.80), last early in the field of 10, rallied strongly in the stretch to post a 3 ¼-length victory over Johannes to win the 41st running of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, More Than Looks completed the mile over a firm turf course in 1:32.65. It is the first Breeders’ Cup victory for DeVaux and the sixth for Ortiz.
Goliad led the field through fractions of :22.73, :45.90 and 1:08.89 while receiving light pressure from Ten Happy Rose (JPN) and Geoglyph (JPN). Heading into the far turn, Ortiz moved More Than Looks off the inside and began picking off horses. Swinging into the stretch six wide but in the clear, More Than Looks quickly overtook the field and coasted to victory.
Johannes held off favored Notable Speech (GB) by a head to hold second.
More Than Looks is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Ladies’ Privilege. The victory was worth $1,040,000 to $1,870,715 with a record of 11-5-3-1.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile Replay
Full Serrano Victorious in Dirt Mile
Hronis Racing’s Full Serrano (ARG) ($28.80) swept to the front at the top of the stretch and had more than enough to hold off Post Time by 1 1/2 lengths to win the 18th running of the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) to conclude the two-day World Championships program at Del Mar.
Trained by John Sadler and ridden by Joel Rosario, Full Serrano completed the mile on a fast main track in 1:35.48. It is the third Breeders’ Cup victory for Sadler and 16th for Rosario. Rosario previously won the Dirt Mile with Dakota Phone in 2010 and Knicks Go in 2020.
Longshot T O Saint Denis (JPN) led the field through fractions of :22.30 and :45.47 with Full Serrano lurking just to his outside. On the far turn, Full Serrano went looking for the lead and in the stretch quickly opened up. Post Time rallied from last to get second, 2 ¼ lengths in front of favored Domestic Product.
Ful Serrano is a 5-year-old son of Full Mast out of the Jump Start mare Serra Do Mar (ARG). The victory, which came on the heels of a runner-up effort in the 1 ¼-mile Pacific Classic (G1), was worth $520,000 and increased his earnings to $797,223 with a record of 17-6-5-2.
