Purse:	$4,000,000	Grade:	1
Distance:	1 ½ Miles	Age:	3+

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One of the most memorable renewals of the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), came in 2018 at Churchill Downs when Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Magical (IRE) took on the mighty Enable (GB) in an epic battle to the wire, with the latter prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

Magical is back this year and has had a brilliant career, highlighted by seven Group 1 wins among her 12 victories. This year, the 5-year-old daughter of Galileo (IRE), trained by Aidan O'Brien, has won three Group 1 races, including the "Win and You're In" Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. O'Brien, who has saddled six winners of the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, also has pre-entered Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) winner Mogul (GB).

John Gosden, who trained the recently retired Enable throughout her remarkable career, brings over Godolphin LLC's 4-year-old Lord North (IRE), who captured the "Win and You're In" Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. The Dermot Weld-trained 4-year-old Tarnawa (IRE) has won all three of her starts this year for HH Aga Khan Studs, including the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1).

Among the American leaders, LNJ Foxwoods' 5-year-old gelding United finished second by a head to subsequent Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. This year, United, trained by Richard Mandella, has won four of five starts, including the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2) on Sept. 26.

From the East Coast comes Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker, who has won two straight for trainer Bill Mott and earned an automatic berth into the race when he won Saratoga's "Win and You're In" Sword Dancer (G1) in August. The 7-year-old son of 2007 Turf winner English Channel has been a divisional stalwart for the past several years, and has seemingly turned a corner of late, as he also won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park Oct. 3.

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Magical (IRE) is the morning line favorite at 5-2 in a field of 10 for the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) to be contested over 1 ½ miles.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Magical was second in this race in 2018 at Churchill Downs to the champion Enable (GB). Owning a 5-3-1-1 record in 2020 with all starts in Group 1 company, Magical will be ridden by Ryan Moore and break from post position two.

For the same ownership, O'Brien also will send out Mogul (GB), winner of the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) in his most recent start. Listed as the 4-1 second choice on the morning line, Mogul will be ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot and exit post position 10.

Headlining the U.S. contingent are Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and Peter Coneway's Arklow, and Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker, the 5-1 co-third choices.

Trained by Brad Cox, Arklow is making his third start in the Turf. Winner of the Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) in his most recent start, Arklow will be ridden by Florent Geroux and break from post one. Channel Maker, winner of Grade 1 races in his past two starts, also will be making his third start in the Turf.

Trained by Bill Mott, Channel Maker will break from post nine under Manny Franco. In the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1), Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables' Uni will take on the boys again as she bids for a repeat in the race. She is listed as the 5-1 second choice in the field of 14 with one also-eligible.

Trained by Chad Brown, Uni has won two of three starts over the Keeneland turf course with the victories coming in the past two runnings of the First Lady (G1). Joel Rosario has the mount and will break from post position 12.

2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

What is the Breeders' Cup Turf?

The Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade 1) is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up since it's inauguration in 1984. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The forerunner for this race was the Washington, D.C. International Stakes at Laurel Park Racecourse. Inaugurated in 1952, it was raced on turf at 1-1/2 miles and drew the best horses from North America and Europe. A winner of this race was the American legend Kelso, albeit on his fourth attempt, after being second three times in a row.

Analyzing the statistical records, it has been found that the European contingents find it suitable to hold their feet in this event ever since the race started. Possibly due to the Breeders' Cup racing schedule - it generally takes place at the end of October or beginning of November every year - that is just at the end of European Racing Season. Another possibility may be the hot and humid weather condition at the Florida or Southern California Breeders' Cup sites.

Though the American owners have groomed some outstanding grass runners in the past, they have been defeated by the top-level European competitors in recent years. While comparing these facts to the world racing calendar, the Breeders' Cup Turf seems a North American championship race. British jockey Frankie Dettori has registered the most number of wins in the Breeders' Cup Turf category with three - capturing the race in 1999, 2001 and 2006. The Breeders' Cup Turf has come to be dominated by European horses that are reflected by the first four horses in the 2005 contest. High Chaparral, the then Irish champion - clinched the winning title back-to-back in 2002 and 2003, followed by Conduit with back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009.

Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed "The Breeders' Cup Challenge," a series of races in each division that allotted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has between three and six of these "Win and You're In" qualifiers. In the Breeders' Cup Turf Division there are five automatic births. In 2011, the Win and You're In races were: the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, the United Nations S. (Gr.I) at Monmouth Park, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. (G1) at Ascot, the Arlington Million (Gr.I) at Arlington Park, the Del Mar Handicap (Gr.II) at Del Mar, the Irish Champion S. (G1) at Leopardstown, the Qatar Prix Niel (G2) at Longchamp, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (Gr.I) at Belmont Park, and the Pattison Canadian International S. (Gr.I) at Woodbine Racetrack.