America
Gstaad wins the Juvenile Turf for O'Brien and Starspangledbanner
By Alan Carasso
Team Ballydoyle was dealt a bit of a blow Friday when having to scratch their once-beaten dual Group 1 winner Precise (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a cough. But the opening day of championship weekend ended on a high note for the operation, as heavily favored Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) overcame a slow break and torrid trip to take out the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf by a three-fourths length margin that entirely belies the dominating nature of the victory.
For trainer Aidan O'Brien, it was a history-making success, as Gstaad was providing him with his 21st Breeders' Cup winner, surpassing the record previously held by the recently departed Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. It was an eighth victory fourth consecutive winner of the Juvenile Turf for O'Brien, following on from Victoria Road (Ire), Unquestionable (Fr) and Henri Matisse (Ire) the last three years.
“I'm just so delighted,” said O'Brien, whose first Breeders' Cup victory ironically came on the dirt with Johannesburg at Belmont Park in 2001. “Obviously everyone knows that we're in just this unbelievably privileged position. To (be) working for the lads that put so much in since we have come to Ballydoyle, all the way, breeding, buying, employing everybody, putting the pedigrees together and letting the horses and asking them and wanting them to come here for everyone to see them race.
“We feel so privileged. And like obviously working for such special people. And today what could I say. Incredible. Christophe gave him a beautiful ride.
“We feel so privileged. And like obviously working for such special people. And today what could I say. Incredible. Christophe gave him (Gstaad) a beautiful ride.” - Aidan O'Brien
I'm so delighted, so delighted for the lads, really. They're the ones that make it happen day in and day out. Like I say, we feel very privileged to be in the position that we are, really.”
It should be noted that just two of Lukas's 20 victories came following the expansion of the Breeders' Cup in 2007, but did include a win in the short-lived Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint with Hightail in 2012.
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The aforementioned Henri Matisse overcame the outside barrier 12 in validating favoritism at odds just short of 4-1 last year, but off his body of work at home this season, Gstaad was nevertheless backed to the tune of 6-5 despite once again landing the visitors' draw this past Monday.
With Ryan Moore forced to miss this year's Breeders' Cup meeting with an injury, Christophe Soumillon has been riding the Ballydoyle first-stringers over the course of the recent weeks, but was in search of his first win at the championships since piloting Germany's Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) in the 2005 Turf at Belmont Park.
Things were off to a fairly inauspicious beginning Friday afternoon. Gstaad missed the kick by perhaps a half-length and the Belgian-born, but French-based rider asked this year's G2 Coventry Stakes romper for a bit of early zip to gain some semblance of early position and was more or less able to slot in Gstaad into about the three path as 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Outfielder (Speightstown) went at it hammer and tong with local hope Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never).
Trapped out three deep with no cover rounding the first turn as the top two match-raced away from their rivals, Soumillon was content to play the hand he'd been dealt and Gstaad was still off the course and slightly worse than midfield passing halfway. Slipped a bit of rein by Soumillon with three and half furlongs to travel, the 450,000gns (AU$950,000) Tattersalls December foal acquisition had improved into about fifth position and was well in hand while working into the race ominously despite covering stacks of ground.
On the back of the prominent-throughout Street Beast (Street Sense) four wide off the final corner, Gstaad was yanked off that one's heels and stayed on nicely to score as GIII Zuma Beach Stakes hero Stark Contrast (Caravaggio) made late inroads at the fence to spice up the exotics. North Coast (Ire) (Starman {GB}) improved for the firmer footing to round out the trifecta.
“I was loaded last, and when the guy who put me in the gate went backwards, he got a bit scared and turned his head and they opened the gates,” Soumillon explained. “I think if I had been loaded before the last, I think he would have jumped nearly in front because he's got that much speed. I was quite happy to be able to get him in, because doing three or four deep on the first corner is not a big advantage.
A debut winner at Navan in Ireland May 17, Gstaad rolled home by three lengths in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot a month later. In three subsequent tries in some of Europe's top juvenile Group 1 contests, Gstaad was beaten by a length combined, going down by a neck in Deauville's Prix Morny Aug. 21, by a head in the Sept. 14 National Stakes at the Curragh and by three-parts of a length when last seen in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 11.
O'Brien and Soumillion will likely be favored to add to their totals when teaming with Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
Pedigree Notes: Gstaad is the 10th elite-level scorer for his sire, whose other notable produce includes State of Rest (Ire), a Group 1 winner in America, France, England and Australia; and the Hong Kong-based milers California Spangle (Ire) and Beauty Eternal (Aus). Rhea Moon (Ire) won the GI American Oaks on this circuit. Daughters of Exceed and Excel have now produced 16 winners at the top level.
Bred by Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud, Gstaad is one of five winners from six to race from his dam, whose son Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) took the Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes as a 2-year-old in 2023 and was third in the 2024 G1 July Cup at Newmarket.
Hailing from the deeper female family of July Cup winner Anabaa (Danzig) and French Classic winner Always Loyal (Zilzal), Gstaad is the last listed produce for the now 18-year-old Mosa Mine.
Balantina explodes late to capture Juvenile Fillies Turf
By Stefanie Grimm
Sometimes a horse just tells you when they're sitting on go.
Nearly all the way from the post parade to the gate Friday at Del Mar, Donnacha O'Brien's Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) was taking jockey Oisin Murphy for a ride, kicking up her heels in dramatic fashion through her warm up and generally looking like a filly ready to roll.
And ready she was. With a powerful late-running move, the 20-1 longshot exploded up the rail to capture the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The most experienced runner in the field with five starts already under her belt and perhaps the most well-traveled filly as well, Balantina began her career in Ireland, taking two starts to break her maiden at the Curragh going six furlongs each time. Clearly her connections saw something promising as they shipped her to England's prestigious Royal Ascot meet where she came third in the G3 Albany Stakes 2 1/2 lengths behind classy filly and subsequent Group 1 winner Venetian Sun (Starman {GB}).
From Ascot, O'Brien then shipped his filly to France where she just missed by the narrowest of margins in the G3 Prix Six Perfections Stakes at Deauville Aug. 3. From there, she returned to Ireland where she could manage no better than a non-factor fifth in the G2 Debutante Stakes Aug. 23.
Overlooked on the wagering boards Friday even after the day-of scratch of near-undefeated morning-line favorite Precise (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Balantina continued a trend she'd down in previous races and was one of the last fillies to leave when the gates opened. Drawn wide and only faster than two other rivals who both dropped down to her inside, the longshot was able to clear that trailing pair and make the rail by the time Japan's Switch in Love (Jpn) (Contrail {Jpn}) led the field into the clubhouse turn.
On the fence and nicely covered up for the run up the backstretch, Balantina stayed boxed in through fractions of :22.33 and :45.96 with race favorite Ultimate Love (Curlin) just in front of her nearing the half-mile pole. As the pacesetter began to wilt around the far turn amid pressure from 64-1 shot Celebrity Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), the field began to swarm to the front and Balantina was left with nowhere to go with less than a quarter mile to run. It was the undefeated Ground Support (Army Mule) who burst through to lead but the rail was left open for Balantina and she needed no further encouragement, coming through along the fence in decisive fashion to clear off ahead of a closing Pacific Mission (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who made up ground late to steal second. The final time for the mile was 1:35.07.
With Balantina's win, O'Brien picked up his first Breeders' Cup victory while Oisin Murphy added a second to his tally having first taken the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2021 for Japan with Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Orfevre {Jpn}). She is also the second Breeders' Cup winner on the day for the Medallion Racing partnership who also took down the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with Cy Fair (Not This Time) to open the championship action at Del Mar.
“This is very special,” O'Brien said. “It was fantastic. Precise is a Champion filly so when she was scratched it made it a little bit easier for us, but it's incredible. Oisin was majestic on her. She was slow away but when he got her on the rail he had the luck and had enough filly beneath to go and win the race so it's brilliant.”
“She probably ran a bit tired last time at the Curragh but she was just beaten on the line when Tom (Marquand) rode her at Deauville and she was beaten by a filly, the best 2-year-old French filly (Green Spirit),” Murphy added. “If she didn't run disappointing at the Curragh, she'd have been the favorite. Irad (Ortiz Jr.) broke inside me but he didn't have a great start and I was able to get up inside him and save ground on the first turn. Got in the back of the favorite (Ultimate Love) and when she switched out turning in, I was able to go up the inside, but I had the horse though. She's a great athlete and that's why she was able to handle the track so well.”
Pedigree Note: Balantina is the third top-level winner (joining Zulu Kingdom and Lush Lips {also co-owned by Medallion}) and fifth overall group/graded winner for Ten Sovereigns, a son of No Nay Never who began his second career at Coolmore Stud and was sold to Turkey to stand at the end of 2024. A €100,000 (AU$176,550) purchase out of the Arqana August Yearling Sale for Avenue Bloodstock/Parkland/Bawnmore, she is the fourth winner from as many to race for Balankiyla (Fr), a mare who has already produced French GSW Baiykara (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).
Second dam Balankiya (Fr) also had a prolific second career, responsible for GI Secretariat Stakes winner Bayrir (Fr) (Medicean {GB}) and GSP Evershed (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Balantina, now with group/graded placings in three countries, has a yearling half-brother by Churchill (Ire). Balankiyla, culled for just €36,000 (AU$63,560) in 2021 at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, has not produced a foal nor been reported bred since 2024.
Ted Noffey completes undefeated season in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
By Steve Sherack
Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' completed his championship season a perfect four-for-four with a one-length decision in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
Longshot Mr. A. P. (American Pharoah) rallied to grab second from 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Brant (Gun Runner).
Ted Noffey is the 16th Breeders' Cup winner for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and his fifth in the Juvenile.
“What I think is impressive is, when you're shipping cross country and you're coming to Del Mar, running against Bob Baffert and his best colts, it's tough,” Pletcher said. “It's a road game and you've got to have a really good horse to do that.”
“It's a road game and you've got to have a really good horse to do that.” - Todd Pletcher
Off as the much-deserving 4-5 favorite in the scratched-down field of six following top-shelf wins in the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. Sept. 1 and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Oct. 4, Ted Noffey shadowed second-choice Brant in second through fractions of :23.46 and :46.99.
Traveling smartly beneath Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Ted Noffey turned up the heat approaching the top of the stretch and gained command as they straightened.
Ted Noffey looked like he was well on his way to a runaway victory, but the two-for-two Brant, making his two-turn debut for Bob Baffert off a win in the GI Del Mar Futurity, was a stubborn foe along the rail.
Brant battled back gamely down the lane, but Ted Noffey was always going the better of the two. Ted Noffey finally put away his fellow gray in deep stretch and was never seriously threatened by the late run of Mr. A. P., a $150,000 claim by David and Holly Wilson.
“I was very confident,” Velazquez said of his 22nd career winner at the Championships. “The only thing he did a little bit was he idled really bad at the eighth pole, getting to that shadow between the building, and he kind of waited. After that, he passed the shadow and the two horses came in and he went back in and re-engaged again.”
Everyone knows the 'typo' story behind his name now. Ted Noffey is named, tongue in cheek, for Spendthrift Farm's longtime General Manager and Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club 2024 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year Ned Toffey, who had his named misspelled in a recent interview with a trade publication.
“I think the thing that has struck me about it is just the reaction from people, just all the well wishes and people seem to get a charge out of it,” Toffey said. “So, that's fun. I think we're having fun with it. People are having fun with it. I think that's a good thing for the sport.”
Spendthrift Farm owner Eric Gustavson added, “We just feel so blessed to have Ted, and the two Hall of Famers got all that God-given ability out of him and that we're sitting here today. What a thrill.”
Pedigree Notes: Ted Noffey, a $650,000 (AU$993,500) Keeneland September yearling purchase, becomes the ninth Breeders' Cup winner and second straight Juvenile winner for Spendthrift Farm's six-time reigning champion general sire Into Mischief. He is one of Into Mischief's 27 top-level winners.
Ted Noffey's dam SW & MGSP Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned) brought $620,000 (AU$947,650) from winning breeders Aaron and Marie Jones at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. She is also responsible for a yearling filly by Munnings ($425,000 (AU$649,600) KEESEP yearling purchase by Repole Stable) and an Into Mischief colt of this year. She was bred back to Not This Time.
Superstar: Gun Runner's Super Corredora an upset winner in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
By Steve Sherack
Super Corredora (Gun Runner) cleared her eight rivals beneath an aggressive Hector Berrios heading into the clubhouse turn, and never looked back in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.
Favored 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame) was second. Fellow 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Percy's Bar (Upstart) was third.
Super Corredora becomes the fourth Breeders' Cup winner for trainer John Sadler and first for Berrios.
“She's a filly we had really high hopes for,” Sadler said. “We're in our own backyard. We weren't sure we were going to run, but we trained her a little bit here and she trained well and here we are.”
Berrios added, “(John Sadler) told me to be confident. And now I'm very excited for this moment. It's an amazing day for me today, for my career.”
She led by a length through fast fractions of :22.42 and :45.63 and let it out a notch rounding the far turn. She kept finding in the stretch to win in game fashion by 3/4 of a length.
Super Corredora is campaigned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, Spartan Equine Racing, Robert C. Gardiner and Michael W. Olszewski. West Point was among the ownership group behind the Sadler-trained Classic winner and Horse of the Year Flightline.
Pedigree Notes: Super Corredora, a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, becomes the third Breeders' Cup winner–his second in the Juvenile Fillies–for leading young sire and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Gun Runner. He is now the sire of 12 winners at the top level. This is the second GISW for broodmare sire Super Saver.
“I always expected her to improve around two turns. The Gun Runners, there's not a hotter stallion in the country than Gun Runner,” Sadler said. “And to me they move up.”
Super Simple, a winning homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds, brought $300,000 (AU$611,400) from winning breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. Super Simple is a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of MGISW Gunite (Gun Runner). She had a colt by Taiba this year.
Not This Time’s Cy Fair takes Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
By J.N. Campbell
On 'Future Stars Friday' at the Del Mar Breeders' Cup World Championships, there was a special twinkling in the eye of Reagan Swinbank, the co-owner of 2-year-old Cy Fair (Not This Time–Remarqued, by Arch). The Texan had just watched his filly take the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and become only the second female to accomplish the feat in this race.
An OBS April grad, Cy Fair was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', after being unveiled a winner by 3 1/4 lengths while sprinting over the grass at the Spa July 10. Taking on a black-type over course and distance, the filly just missed in the Bolton Landing Stakes Aug. 17.
Cy Fair was last seen shipping up to Woodbine where she faced open company in the Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine Oct. 5. Cutting back a touch to five panels on the turf, the bay won by same margin as her maiden.
Installed as a 5-1 shot here, Cy Fair broke clean and fast, which allowed jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who was looking for his 21st Breeders' Cup win, to shift over a couple of lanes, as Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) carved out the fractions.
The George Weaver trainee was initially between horses as the far turn arrived, but the filly started to accelerate and go after the leader. At the top of the lane, Cy Fair was just finding her best stride and at the eighth pole she told Schwarzenegger as she went by, 'I'll be back.” The 2-year-old bested the bunch by 1 3/4 lengths.
Fellow 'TDN Rising Star, present by Hagyard', Brussels (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) rallied to finish as the runner-up.
“I can't describe it,” said trainer George Weaver, who celebrated his first Breeder' Cup win. “It's why we all get in the game. It's hard to win these big races like this, and it's my first Breeders' Cup. We've had a great year, and I'm thankful to my staff, thankful to all the clients that supported me. We've got some nice horses, and she's one of the top ones.
“She's been a bullet all year long,” he said. “Frankly, I don't know how she got beat the second time we ran her in a stake. But she looked fantastic at Woodbine, like a super, special horse. She came over here and did it against the best in the world. We're thrilled.”
Pedigree Notes: On the same week as a stallion share (2% interest) in budding super sire Not This Time (by Giant's Causeway) went to John Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale fame for $3 million (AU$4.59 million) during the Keeneland Championship sale, Cy Fair handed the Taylor Made sire his 10th top level victory. She joins fellow Grade I winning females Sacred Wish and Princess Noor, who both made a visit to the Del Mar winner's circle.
The winner's dam is responsible for a yearling filly by Omaha Beach. After being taken home by Hickory Grove Farm for $225,000 (AU$343,910) at the 2025 Keeneland January sale, Remarqued foaled a filly by Nyquist in March. She was bred back to that same Darley sire for next term.
Cy Fair's second dam, MSW Citizen Advocate (Proud Citizen), produced MSW Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), who conquered not one, but two Group 2 races during the Royal Meeting at Ascot.
This is a strong family because Citizen Advocate's half-sister is the winning dam Come a Callin (Dixie Union), who in her own right is responsible for champion 2-year-old filly & GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Caledonia Road (Quality Road) and also MGSW Officiating (Blame).
