The world's best grass milers compete in this race around two turns on the turf course for horses 3-years-old and older.

Breeders' Cup Mile

The 2025 Breeders' Cup Mile will be held on Saturday, November 1 at Del Mar Thoroughtbred Club. Bet & watch the race with OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) - US Legal Online Wagering.

Rhetorical

Victories over fellow state-breds can be underestimated but Rhetorical makes the case that it's really a question of which state and which horse is doing the beating.

Going into the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 4, Rhetorical had won four of five starts -- all but one of those races restricted to his fellow New York-breds. His three-quarters of a length, stretch-running victory in the race showed that preparation was more than sufficient.

The Not This Time gelding, trained by Will Walden, did not race at age 2 and made only two starts at 3, both at Saratoga.

He went to the post as the favorite in his debut July 26 and justified the faith, winning the 1-mile heat on the inner turf course by 5 lengths, despite starting last of 10. He was his own worst enemy in his return, starting last of 11 and running greenly for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. before getting his mind right to finish third.

Nine months went by before Rhetorical returned to competition. Made the odds-on favorite despite the layoff, he finally got a clean start, stalked the pace and easily drew off to win by 5 lengths.

Back at Saratoga July 19, he again surged out to a huge lead and won by 2 1/2 lengths, geared down late by Ortiz. That race was his first against open company but had a lengthy list of other conditions.

The next stop was the West Point Stakes Aug 24 at the Spa, another state-bred affair. Rhetorical again dominated, winning by 2 1/4 lengths with a stretch rally, setting up the big class jump to the Keeneland race.

The Keeneland field was anything but restricted, featuring horses bred as far afield at South Africa, England and France. It wasn't as easy for Rhetorical as his previous races, but a similar effort saw him home first by three-quarters of a length.

Bred by Mallory and Karen Mort, Rhetorical originally raced for Siena Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC. He changed hands midseason and now carries the silks of Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable LLC and Wachtel Stable.

Gran Oriente (CHI)

Gran Oriente (CHI) went to the post as a bit of an underappreciated factor in the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella (G1) in Santiago, Chile, on May 25 but emerged as a potential international ambassador for the South American nation.

With the hard-won victory over some of Chile's top young horses, the 3-year-old snagged a "Win and You're In" Challenge spot in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The quality of the competition and Gran Oriente's lack of a Group-level win contributed to his 17-1 starting odds. He had not won since June and came into the race off a 10th-place finish in the Gran Premio Hipodromo Chile (G1) May 3.

After launching from the No. 13 gate, Gran Oriente worked out a ground-saving trip under jockey Joaquin Herrera while last year's winner, Frateli La Vita (CHI), prompted the pace set by My Way (CHI) and Lonwhite (CHI).

As the leaders gave way, Chile's 2024 champion juvenile filly, Cassis Violetta (CHI), took the front. She, in turn, tired and passed the baton to Gran Oriente, who held off a late bid by Dia de Otono (CHI) for a 1-length victory. He finished 1 1/4 miles in 1:57.71.

While it was his first Group win, Gran Oriente had finished second in four previous starts in Group races all at or about the same distance.

Gran Oriente's pedigree would be familiar to any serious fan of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

His sire, Classic Empire, was the 2016 Eclipse Award 2-year-old male champion after winning the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). He, in turn, was sired by Pioneerof the Nile, who was fifth in the 2008 Juvenile, then second to Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Gran Oriente's dam, Oresteia (CHI), is by Verrazano, fourth in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and he is by More Than Ready, fifth in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Oresteia's dam, Oshawa (CHI), is by Scat Daddy, fourth in the 2006 Juvenile.

Johannes

The secret to Johannes seems simple enough: Never, ever take him out of California.

The 5-year-old entire son of Nyquist is a dynamo in top-level California turf racing but 0-for-3, and fairly well-beaten, in out-of-state races.

In fairness, the road games were tough ones. He started his career finishing 10th in a maiden heat at Churchill Downs in June 2022. He immediately went west to trainer Tim Yakteen and, after two more foundational efforts, found the winner's circle in his final start of that year.

The CUYATHY LLC runner won both the Baffle Stakes and Pasadena Stakes (Listed) to start 2023, then returned to Churchill Downs for the American Turf (G2) in May. There, he was last of 13 through much of the race and could only manage to improve to finish fifth.

He was sidelined for the rest of the year but blossomed again to start 2024, winning the American Stakes (G3) and the Shoemaker Mile (G1), both at Santa Anita, the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) at Del Mar and the City of Hope Mile (G1) back at Santa Anita, all in succession.

The City of Hope Mile earned him a spot in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), where he finished second to More Than Looks. That was followed by a win in the San Gabriel (G2) on Santa Anita's festive Opening Day Dec. 26.

Another long layoff ensued and Johannes shipped to Saratoga to open 2025, only to finish ninth in the Fourstardave (G1) in September. Back home, he was back to his winning ways, repeating as winner of the City of Hope Mile, again earning a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup.

The homebred is out of the Congrats mare Cuyathy. Joe and Debby McCloskey, the owners of CUYATHY LLC, bought Cuyathy for $50,000 at the Keeneland September sale in 2014 -- their first toe in the ownership waters. "Cuyathy" is an acronym for a motto Debby McCloskey coined, "Call Upon Your Angels to Help You."

Qirat (GB)

When Qirat (GB) lined up for the Sussex Stakes (G1) July 30 at Glorious Goodwood in England, he was taking on Group stakes company of any kind for the very first time. Even his owners at Juddmonte initially had scoffed at the idea of running the 4-year-old Showcasing (GB) gelding in such a prestigious event.

Juddmonte also had the hot favorite in the Sussex -- Field of Gold (IRE), who was being compared to the immortal Frankel (GB) after emulating that one's victories in the 2,000 Guineas (G1) and St James's Palace (G1). The assumption was that Qirat, after finally being supplemented into the race, would be a rabbit for Field of Gold, ensuring a fair pace.

And so he was. But as he came down the stretch on the lead, he didn't stop and won by a neck at odds of 150-1 -- one of the biggest upsets in the history of Group 1 racing in England and Ireland. Field of Gold struggled home fourth.

While it's true Qirat had been toiling in a different league than his rivals in the Sussex, he probably should not have been let go at 150-1. His pedigree, by Showcasing out of the Dansili (GB) mare Emulous (GB) is just dandy and represents generations of Juddmonte's patient, successful breeding operation. Emulous produced the 2024 winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) -- Bluestocking (GB).

Also overlooked by the punters was Qirat's record at Goodwood -- 2-for-2 coming into the Sussex. A whole different level, of course. But the "horse for the course" angle is always worth a look. And he was a proven competitor, finishing second in three straight starts before being swallowed up in traffic in the Royal Hunt Club Handicap at Royal Ascot. He finished 27th in the straight 1-mile cavalry charge with trainer Ralph Beckett blaming himself for adding blinkers.

The Sussex victory was good for a "Win and You're In" Challenge bid for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

In his next start after the Sussex, Qirat raced just behind the leaders in the 7-furlong City Of York (G1) but could not repeat his Goodwood success as he finished fifth of 10 behind Never So Brave (IRE), beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Qirat ventured to Longchamp for the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) going a mile on very soft ground and finished seventh of 10 after tiring late to wind up 3 ¼ lengths behind the victorious Ridari (FR).

One Stripe (SAF)

One Stripe (SAF) looks like part of a building wave of South African exports heading for top competition around the globe.

With a recent easing of export regulations, South African connections, after more than a decade of frustration, have a bit more freedom of movement and One Stripe's itinerary points directly to Del Mar and the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 1.

The colt is from the first crop of One World (SAF), himself a well-bred product of the country's strong breeding industry.

One Stripe flashed his potential with a victory in the Cape Guineas (G1) Dec. 14, rallying stoutly from near the back of the field, switching to the stands-side rail and just up in the final strides to win by 1 1/4 lengths. He followed that on Jan. 4 by winning the King's Plate (G1), squeezing through between rivals for a 1 3/4-length score, becoming just the third 3-year-old winner in the history of that race, per Racing Post.

After that run, he was purchased by Hollywood Racing, a syndicate headed by Owen Heffer with an international eye and a focus on the Breeders' Cup.

With his transport warming up, One Stripe then took on the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap as the overwhelming favorite, looking to head out of Africa a winner. That dream screenplay was erased in the stretch as jockey Gavin Larena was forced to take up abruptly in a chain-reaction traffic jam and One Stripe had to settle for sixth.

As an indicator of One World's sire potential, another of his offspring, All Out For Six (SAF), ran on to win the Big Cap.

One Stripe arrived in the United States in July and joined trainer Graham Motion's string at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. One Stripe made his North American debut on Sept. 13 in Canada in the Woodbine Mile (G1) in which he finished fifth in the field of nine, 5 lengths behind the victorious Notable Speech (GB).

One Stripe's dam, Silver Stripe (SAF), is a daughter of another South African bloodstock stalwart, Silvano (GER). Silvano traveled the globe, competing in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Australia. In a 2001 visit to the United States, he won the Arlington Million (G1) by 3 lengths, then finished second behind With Anticipation in the Man o' War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Notable Speech (GB)

Notable Speech (GB) spent the first 10 races of his career running 1 mile, winning the 2000 Guineas (G1) and the Sussex Stakes (G1) at that distance in 2024 in his 3-year-old season, capping things off with a stretch-running third-place finish, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1).

Fast forward six months and the now 4-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE) was ready to start over, without benefit of a warm-up heat, in the Lockinge Stakes (G1) on May 17 at Newbury. Inside the 2-furlongs marker, the entire eight-horse field spread across the course, almost in a line. Notable Speech, on the stands side, made some progress but settled for fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

Persevering at the mile distance, trainer Charlie Appleby sent Notable Speech on to Royal Ascot and the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), with the same result -- fourth place. There was some excuse as Notable Speech raced in tight quarters through the first 6 furlongs but he didn't have the needed kick when jockey William Buick found him daylight.

Fourth-place finishes were not satisfactory for a colt with Notable Speech's breeding and early promise so Appleby called an audible, paying a supplement fee to cut back to 6 furlongs for the July Cup (G1) July 12 at Newmarket. The experiment, if such it was, failed as Notable Speech loomed boldly nearing the furlong marker but again could not find the needed oomph to carry on, finishing fifth.

"William (Buick) was really disappointed," Appleby said, per Racing Post. "He didn't hit the line like we thought he would."

Back at a mile on Aug. 17 at Deauville in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1), Notable Speech turned in his best performance of 2025. Rallying from the back of a 10-horse field, Notable Speech's late charge fell a head short of catching Diego Velázquez (IRE) at the finish line.

Building on his effort at Deauville, Notable Speech delivered as the odds-on favorite in the Woodbine Mile (G1) in Canada on Sept. 13. Racing mid-pack early on, Notable Speech launched his winning bid at the top of the stretch. He collared pace-setting My Boy Prince at the sixteenth pole and drew off for a 1 3/4-length victory.

Notable Speech was produced by the Godolphin mare Swift Rose (IRE), a daughter of Invincible Spirit (IRE). The latter was a Group 1-winning sprinter and stands at the Irish National Stud.

Cabo Spirit

Throughout his career, Cabo Spirit consistently has shown the spirit of a racehorse -- almost always in the mix against top-shelf opponents in some of the country's most prestigious races.

Through the middle of his 6-year-old year, that career had produced in excess of $1.2 million in purse money, seemingly a decent return to owner Kretz Racing LLC for a horse sold for $575,000 at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

If there's any issue, it would be a relative scarcity of wins. The Pioneerof the Nile gelding posed in the winner's circle only six times from his first 37 starts -- a statistic cushioned by five seconds and nine thirds and, of course, his earnings.

The veteran has competed on all surfaces and a variety of distances for trainer George Papaprodromou and for a time even flashed potential on the 2022 Triple Crown trail.

He started inconspicuously enough, taking five tries to get his first win. With that under his belt, he jumped right up to graded stakes company, where he done the bulk of his running.

As a 3-year-old, he finished second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, stirring Kentucky Derby aspirations. Those hopes were stilled with a fifth in the San Felipe (G2) and sixth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the Turfway Park all-weather course.

The winding trail then took Cabo Spirit to the green course, where he hit career highlights with victories in the La Jolla Handicap (G3) in August 2022 at Del Mar and the Twilight Derby (G2) in October at Santa Anita.

Despite a few blips along the way, including a 12th-place finish in the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), and a couple of trips to compete in Kentucky, he has been a consistent graded stakes performer on the Southern California grass courses since, concentrating on the region's top 1-mile events.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Cabo Spirit was produced by the Shamardal mare Fancy Day (IRE).

Simply in Front

Who could have known when the 2-year-old fillies lined up for the Natalma Stakes (G1) for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine Sept. 16, 2023, that the first two finishers would go on to be superstars in their division?

She Feels Pretty won the race, the first of many at the top level for her. Not a big shocker. But the 29-1 surprise was Simply in Front, a Summer Front filly who finished second in just her second career start. She was no threat to She Feels Pretty but the game effort foreshadowed an impressive run of her own.

Simply in Front got into the win column three weeks after the Natalma and hasn't looked back from an almost total diet of graded stakes since then, starting with the Mazarine Stakes (G3) in her 2-year-old finale.

Trainer Eddie Kenneally kept the filly in Kentucky for the first half of 2024, shipped to Woodbine to finish second in the Ontario Colleen (G3) for 3-year-old fillies in July and then discovered Simply in Front had an affinity for the unique layout of Kentucky Downs, where she earned $1,154,900 for a victory in the Music City Stakes (G2).

She finished up the track in two starts at Churchill Downs and Keeneland to end the year and, after a six-months break, won the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on Derby weekend 2025.

Making her first Grade I start since the Natalma, Simply in Front showed little in finishing fifth in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) at Saratoga June 6 but rebounded to win a Kentucky Downs qualifying race at Ellis Park Aug. 3.

That got the filly into the Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. A late run could only claim second behind Ag Bullet in that race but was still worth a $379,000 bump to her bankroll. It also convinced Kenneally she was ready for the First Lady Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 at Keeneland and she emerged victorious in a five-way photo finish there.

Out of the Blame mare Complicated, Simply in Front was bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo.

Formidable Man

With a bit of experience and maturity to his credit, Formidable Man has turned into quite the formidable colt.

By City of Light, the $375,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale got things going with a win in his first career start in September 2023 at Del Mar. It was a tough duel through most of the 1 mile on the turf and he prevailed by a half-length.

From that, trainer Michael McCarthy dropped Formidable Man directly into the deep end in the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita a month a later. The colt finished sixth, beaten 11 lengths.

McCarthy then took a swing at the Triple Crown series but Formidable Man ended that experiment, finishing sixth and last in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) on the dirt. The needed adjustment back to conditions on the turf produced a second and a win -- enough for a road trip and a return to stakes company in the American Turf Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. He led most of the way but gave it up in the final sixteenth, finishing second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Trikari.

After a sixth-place finish in the Audubon Stakes (Listed) four weeks later in Louisville, Formidable Man was back in California where he got it all together. A win in the listed Oceanside Stakes was followed by another in the Del Mar Derby (G2) and yet another in the Hollywood Derby (G1).

The first test as a 4-year-old came in January's Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Again, he led into the stretch but the 1 1/8 miles was more than a bit too much and Formidable Man faded to finish last.

Back home and back at his preferred distance, the colt won the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) in March, finished fourth in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in May and traveled back to Del Mar to win the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) July 27. In the Eddie Read, Formidable Man employed a stalking tactic and successfully negotiated 1 1/8 miles -- perhaps the product of experience and maturity.

On Aug. 30, Formidable Man ran his undefeated streak at Del Mar to six by surging to the front at the sixteenth pole and drawing off for a 1 1/2-length victory in the Del Mar Mile (G2),

His sire, City of Light, won four Grade I events, all on the dirt and including the 2018 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. His dam, Fanticola, was a graded stakes winner on the turf. She is by Silent Name (JPN).

Gas Me Up

Gas Me Up has produced some high-test results when he's been on the track. But a 20-month, mid-career layoff, followed by a move from Southern California to Ontario and a change of trainers, limited his opportunities.

The now-5-year-old Hard Spun gelding cranked things up in July 2022 for trainer Peter Eurton, finishing fifth in a maiden affair at Los Alamitos. He followed that with a second, then a victory, at Del Mar and moved north and up in class to the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) Oct. 9.

He finished fourth in the 1-mile Zuma Beach after racing greenly into the first turn, where he was forced to steady between rivals. And then he went to the sidelines.

He did not return to competition until June 16, 2024, at Woodbine, now trained by Kevin Attard, who had him ready to run right off the bench. Rallying six-wide from well back in the field, Gas Me Up won the 6 1/2-furlong turf allowance by three-quarters of a length.

Similar tactics didn't get the job done in his second start that came nearly a year later as Gas Me Up again came wide from off the pace but then ran out of fuel at midstretch and finished fifth as the favorite.

Third race off a layoff often is a key spot and it was for Gas Me Up in his next start, a 6-furlong allowance test. Escaping a traffic jam near the furlong marker he put it into overdrive and won going away, by 3 3/4 lengths.

Attard sent the gelding on to the 1-mile King Edward Stakes (G2) for his next test and again was rewarded with a win. Gas Me Up took his usual late lead and held it by three-quarters of a length at the wire.

The gelding ran into a top-shelf international field in the Woodbine Mile (G1) Sept. 13. For a change, he stuck close to the pace made by My Boy Prince but they both surrendered in the late going to Godolphin star Notable Speech (GB). Gas Me Up finished third, 3 1/2 lengths adrift.

Gas Me Up was bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm and produced by the Smart Strike mare Chic Thrill. He runs for the partnership of Exline-Border Racing LLC, Michael Jawl, Aaron Kennedy and Tom Zwiesler.

Almendares (GB)

Almendares (GB) came to California in mid-2023 after posting a second and two wins in Ireland for trainer Andrew Slattery to start his season. Those races, and both his starts at 2, came on all-weather tracks in unheralded events but his new trainer, Phil D'Amato, quickly rewrote that script.

D'Amato picked the Del Mar Derby (G2), 1 1/8 miles on the seaside grass, for the Havana Grey gelding's first U.S. stakes run and he responded with an encouraging third. Next up was the Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita and a fifth-place finish but only 1 length short of the winner.

D'Amato dialed back to an allowance run at Del Mar Dec. 3 and was rewarded with Almendares' second U.S. win. He finished a busy few months with a second, beaten a nose, in the Mathis Mile (G2) on Santa Anita's opening day, Dec. 26.

Rested until May, Almendares finished third in the Daytona Stakes (G3), fifth in the Wickerr Stakes (Listed) in July, second in the Del Mar Mile (G 2) in August and second in the City of Hope Mile (G2) in September. A well-beaten ninth-place finish in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar Nov. 30 prompted another three-month break.

Freshened for 2025, he returned in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita March 1 and finished fourth in a multihorse photo, got more than four months more on the sidelines and reversed form at Del Mar, winning the Wickerr.

Only the formidable Formidable Man kept him from victory in the Del Mar Mile (G2) Aug. 30 and he again ran well but settled for third in the City of Hope Mile Sept. 27.

Almendares' close calls have a lot to do with running against the likes of Johannes, who has won two races Almendares contested. He also has butted heads with several others in D'Amato's always well-stocked turf barn.

Sahlan (IRE)

How nice when a young horse suddenly turns the corner and gets good just at the right time, as Sahlan (IRE) seemed to have done for owner-breeder Al Shaqab Racing late in the summer.

Much obviously was expected of Sahlan, a 3-year-old son of Wootton Bassett (GB) out of the Toronado (IRE) mare Wasmya (FR), especially after he won by 4 lengths on debut in his only start at age 2, in Deauville.

When trainer Francis-Henri Graffard unwrapped the colt for his 3-year-old season, he started him off in Group company, in the Prix de Fontainebleau (G3) at Longchamp. Charging down the stretch in that race, Sahlan looked poised for victory, only to lose a head-bob photo to Ridari (FR) from the late Aga Khan's forces.

That effort earned Sahlan a spot in the Poule de Essai des Poulains (G1) or French 2,000 Guineas, where a hold-up trip and traffic issues found him finishing ninth. Henri Matisse (IRE), winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), won that event.

Graffard opted for a bit softer spot for Sahlan's next outing -- the Prix de Saint-Patrick, a listed race at Chantilly on June 28. Sent off as favorite, Sahlan didn't embarrass himself but didn't turn in the expected result, either, finishing sixth, beaten just 2 lengths.

The colt then turned things around, fairly dramatically, in the Prix Daphnis (G3) at Deauville Aug. 10. Racing from well back among the "pursuivants", or pursuers, Sahlan kicked into gear smartly well inside the 200-meter mark and got home first by 1 1/2 lengths.

Was he finally back to Group 1 contending form? Graffard said he wasn't sure but had few options and convinced Al Shaqab to supplement Sahlan to the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) Sept. 7 at Longchamp in the hope he'd finish in the first five. Instead, and to the trainer's pleasant surprise, he won.

Left even more to do in the straight than in the previous race, Sahlan delivered his best effort to edge the talented Rosallion (IRE) by a short head. The Lion In Winter (IRE) was just a neck behind that one in third and Henri Matisse, the favorite, finished fifth.

Graffard said Sahlan prefers firm turf so, "Why not go to the Breeders' Cup?"

Wasmya, Sahlan's dam, won three of her first four starts, including a listed race at Baden-Baden in the German Black Forest. Also bred and raced by Al Shaqab and trained by Graffard, she never quite clicked at higher levels.

Never So Brave (IRE)

Sometimes a small change or two and a little time off can make a big difference in a horse's performance. In the case of Never So Brave (IRE), a big change, a new trainer and a good bit of time off presaged massive returns.

The No Nay Never colt, second in both his starts at 2, certainly seemed in need of something different as he wound up his 3-year-old season in 2024. He started that campaign with two victories at Thirsk and Chester -- unpretentious events, to be sure, but both efforts against top-shelf competition.

It was clear much was expected as trainer Sir Michael Stoute called in Ryan Moore to ride in the Chester event and Never So Brave was sent off as the favorite.

The wheels came unstuck when Sir Michael upped the ante to the Jersey Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot. Never So Brave was brave enough and even held the lead with 2 furlongs to run but tired to finish sixth. Dropped back down in class, he then was seventh in a 7-furlong handicap at Chester.

By Aug. 22, the colt was on the Chester all-weather course for another 7-furlong handicap but could only manage second in a field of just five. When he wound up the year with a 10th-place finish in a 6-furlong handicap at Ascot Oct. 4, change was at hand.

The colt didn't run again until the last day of May 2025 and, when he did, it was with a new trainer -- Andrew Balding replacing Sir Michael, who retired after a most distinguished career.

The changes and/or the time off produced results as Never So Brave was second on return, beaten just a nose. He then ripped off three consecutive wins in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal Meeting, the Summer Mile Stakes (G2) in July, also at Ascot, and the City of York Stakes (G1) in August at York.

Never So Brave was bred by Charlie Osgood Philip Hanbury. He is out of the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Chica Whopa (IRE). He races in the colors of Dubai businessman Saeed Suhail.

Jonquil (GB)

Just when it seems Jonquil (GB) has things figured out and is ready to, well, blossom -- something seems to go south for the blue-blooded Juddmonte homebred colt.

The 3-year-old son of Lope de Vega (IRE) flashed another in a series of positive signs with a victory Aug. 24 in the Celebration Mile (G2) stakes at Goodwood.

With well under a furlong to go, Jonquil and jockey Colin Keane still trailed the leading duo of Saqqara Sands (GB) and the favorite, Make Me King (FR). With momentum on his side, Jonquil got the job done in the final strides.

While cause for celebration, the win also was a return to form that trainer Andrew Balding could only hope carried forward.

Jonquil started 2025 with plenty of promise, winning the April 12 Greenham Stakes (G3) at Newbury. Full of hope, Balding sent the colt across the Channel to contest the Poule de Essai des Poulains (G1) or French 2,000 Guineas, where he finished an impressive second, sandwiched by talented Coolmore 3-year-olds Henry Matisse (IRE) and Camille Pissaro (IRE).

Then, the colt seemed to forget his lessons.

Lining up as one of the favorites among 21 runners in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot, Jonquil was never in the mix early and lacked room late, finishing 13th. The disappointment continued a month later in the Lennox Stakes (G2) at Goodwood. Again one of the favorites despite the Ascot misadventure, Jonquil again failed to land a blow, finishing fifth of 10 while beaten 7 1/4 lengths.

Jonquil made the trip to Keeneland for the Turf Mile (G1) on Oct. 4. Breaking from the outside post in the field of 11, Jonquil lagged far back early before moving into the seven path in the stretch and rallying to get fourth a length and a half behind the victorious Rhetorical.

In retrospect, the colt's 2-year-old season might have been a harbinger.

Then trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he opened his account with a stirring victory Aug 30 at Sandown, defeating Centigrade (IRE) by a short head after a challenging trip that called on all of jockey Ryan Moore's expertise.

But wrapping things up for the season, the promise went unrealized as Jonquil got home sixth of seven beaten 9 3/4 lengths in the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster Sept. 13.

Jonquil was produced by the Dubawi (IRE) dam Jovial (GB), who won three of her first four starts, two on all-weather tracks in 2019 and 2020, but failed to make much of a mark thereafter.

Field of Gold

** coming soon **

Program Trading

** coming soon **

Argine (JPN)

** coming soon **

What is the Breeders' Cup Mile?

The Breeders' Cup Mile (Grade 1) has created an interesting pattern of sorts in that, for this $2 million series on turf of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, good things have come in two's. Four Mile events of the Breeders' Cup races have had repeat winners. Also, the Mile has had three horses who have posted two victories each.

Miesque, bred by owner Stavros Niarchos' Flaxman Holdings Ltd., sparkled in the Breeders' Cup Mile in 1987 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, and conquered a significantly slower surface at Churchill Downs in Louisville the following year. Trained by Francois Boutin, the remarkable filly won by 3-1/2 lengths in California and by 4 lengths in Kentucky - the largest winning margins in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships race's history.

On the strength of her single North American victories, Miesque was voted champion grass female in 1987 and 1988. The Niarchos family also campaigned Mile winners Spinning World (1997), Domedriver (Ireland; 2002), and Six Perfections (France; 2003) in the name of Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.

In 2003, 5-1 shot Six Perfections, a 3 year old filly taking on boys, stayed in between horses back in eighth early, then came on strong down the stretch splitting rivals to win by 3/4 length over 12-1 shot Touch of the Blues. The time for the mile distance on the firm turf course was 1:33 4/5. It was a neck back to 39-1 longshot Century City. 3-1 favorite Peace Rules set the early pace but had nothing left turning for home, fading badly and finishing last.

At the 2004 Breeders' Cup Mile, Singletary emerged as the champion at 16.50 odds with jockey David Romero Flores. Antonius Pius with jockey Jamie Spencer won second at 31.40 odds while France's Six Perfections with jockey Jerry Bailey placed third at 5.90 odds.

Goldikova, based in France, won the Breeders’ Cup Mile back to back in 2008 and 2009with jockey Olivier Peslier. In her second win in 2009 she was second last for much of the race and at the top of the stretch she was forced to go 5 wide. It looked like she was going to lose, but then she changed leads again and blasted past Coragious Cat to win in 1:32.26, 0.8 seconds off of the world record held by Mr. Light.

Claiborne Farm's homebred Lure, arguably one of the most accomplished horses never to win a year-end championship, also scored two daylight victories, winning by 3 lengths in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Mile at Gulfstream Park, and by 2 ¼ lengths in the following year at Santa Anita Park for trainer Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey III.

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While not necessarily possessing talent to equal Miesque's or Lure's, Da Hoss became a two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner by virtue of his courage and the innovative training regimen of Michael Dickinson. In 1996, Dickinson had his assistant, Joan Wakefield, test the Woodbine turf course in high heels to determine the best path for the Gone West gelding, who won by 1 1/2 lengths.

Da Hoss missed the entire following season of the Breeders' Cup races due to injury and came back to run in the 1998 Breeders' Cup Mile with only one start in two years. He rallied on a firm Churchill Downs turf course to overtake Hawksley Hill (Ireland) and win the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Mile race by a head.

Also experiencing consistent success in the Breeders' Cup Mile are the European-based horses. Nine of the Mile's first 20 winners had been based with European trainers prior to their wins.

Most remarkably, the Breeders' Cup Mile has also seen the domination of the Northern Dancer sire line. Although the great Windfields Farm stallion did not sire a winner himself, six of his sons and two of his grandsons have sired winners, accounting for 12 victories in the Mile's first 20 years. His sons Danzig and Nureyev have each sired three winners.

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