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World’s Best Coming to Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar: 207 Pre-Entries Set Stage for Epic Showdown
- Updated: October 22, 2025
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Lexington, KY – October 22, 2025 – The Breeders’ Cup today unveiled a powerhouse field of 207 pre-entries for the 42nd running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, promising an unparalleled festival of Thoroughbred racing on October 31 and November 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. With 52 international contenders from Europe, Japan, and beyond joining America’s elite, the two-day event – featuring $31 million in purses across 14 Grade 1 races – is poised to deliver high-stakes drama on the historic California oval.
The announcement, broadcast live on FanDuel TV, marks the first step in assembling the fields for the championships, with final entries due October 28 and post positions to be drawn October 27. From undefeated juveniles to battle-tested Classic warriors, the pre-entries showcase a blend of rising stars and proven champions, underscoring the Breeders’ Cup’s role as the pinnacle of global racing.
“This is an incredible group of horses that has pre-entered for the 14 Breeders’ Cup Championships on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President & CEO. “We have champions, Classic winners, and international stars all converging on Del Mar. We are grateful to our participants and partners for delivering an unforgettable show, fueled by the passion of our fans and bettors.”
Friday’s Juvenile Showcases: Future Stars Take Center Stage
The opening day card highlights the next generation of racing talent, with several undefeated prospects drawing early buzz.
In the $1 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Aidan O’Brien’s Precise – a four-time winner including the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and Fillies’ Mile (G1) – tops the list as the probable favorite. Her unbeaten streak in recent starts positions her as a formidable force on the mile turf course.
The $1 million Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) features Bob Baffert’s Explora, a near-perfect 3-for-4 campaign capped by a victory in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2). Her only blemish? A narrow second in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), setting up a redemption arc on familiar ground.
No horse embodies juvenile promise more than Spendthrift Farm’s homebred Ted Noffey in the $1 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Into Mischief colt remains perfect in three starts, including dominant wins in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1). Pletcher called him “the buzz horse of the meet,” and with his tactical speed, Ted Noffey could launch his Derby trail right here.
On the turf, O’Brien’s Gstaad brings Dewhurst Stakes (G1) form into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), where his consistent closing kick has yielded three straight runner-up finishes. Meanwhile, the sprint-oriented Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) surprises with Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) winner True Love – another O’Brien trainee – dropping back to five furlongs, joined by Middle Park Stakes (G1) placer Brussels in a nod to European speed.
Saturday’s Marquee Battles: Classics, Distaffs, and International Intrigue
Saturday’s program escalates with the sport’s blue-ribbon events, headlined by the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) – a 1¼-mile test expected to crown Horse of the Year.
Godolphin’s Sovereignty, victor of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1), enters as the consensus favorite in a loaded field of 11. He’ll face a rematch with Preakness winner Journalism, Pennsylvania Derby (G1) conqueror Baeza, and a trio of Eclipse Award contenders: Sierra Leone (defending Classic champ and Whitney winner), Fierceness (2023 Juvenile winner in his swan song), and Mindframe (seeking a unique treble). Japan’s Forever Young, fresh off a Saudi Cup (G1) triumph, adds global firepower, while Locked, Antiquarian, Nevada Beach, and pace-setter Contrary Thinking round out a cast primed for fireworks.
The $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) spotlights Baffert’s Seismic Beauty, a three-race winner including the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) on Del Mar’s main track. She’ll tackle Spinster Stakes (G1) runner-up Nitrogen and Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) second Dorth Vader in a battle of West Coast versus East Coast power.
Turf enthusiasts will relish the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), where Charlie Appleby’s two-time winner Rebels Romance seeks a historic third victory. O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk, a head second to males in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) after six unbeaten starts against her sex, brings unbeaten filly flair to the 1½-mile test.
In the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Appleby’s Notable Speech – hero of the Woodbine Mile (G1) – eyes a fourth straight Mile win for his barn. The sprint divisions sizzle too: Straight No Chaser defends his Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) crown against Baffert’s Imagination and José D’Angelo’s Bentornato, while the Dirt Mile (G1) reunites Nysos after his resilient San Diego Handicap (G2) return.
The Filly & Mare divisions promise depth, with Cherie DeVaux’s She Feels Pretty (E.P. Taylor Stakes G1 winner) clashing with Godolphin’s Cinderella Dream (three-time G1 winner and 2024 placer) in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The Turf Sprint (G1) pits Irish G1 winner Arizona Blaze against California invaders Ag Bullet and Motorious, and the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) sets up a rematch between Kopion and Sweet Azteca.
With fields penciled in and the world watching, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar – returning to the seaside track for the first time since 2017 – guarantees a spectacle of speed, stamina, and storylines. Tickets and wagering information are available at breederscup.com.
About the Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup is the pinnacle of Thoroughbred racing, uniting the world’s best horses, jockeys, trainers, and fans for two days of world-class competition. Since its inception in 1984, the Championships have grown into a global phenomenon, crowning champions and creating legends on the track. For more information, visit breederscup.com.
