The Breeders' Cup Turf is run at 1 ½ miles on the grass course, for horses 3-years-old and older. The race attracts the top grass talent from Europe and North America to compete for a $4 million purse.

Breeders' Cup Turf

The 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf will be held at Keeneland on Saturday, November 5th. Bet & watch the race with OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) - US Legal Online Wagering.

Gold Phoenix

Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred Belardo gelding, won his debut on an all-weather track in Ireland in February 2021 and was then sent to the U.S. and trainer Phil D'Amato. He lost his American debut in January 2022 by a half-length at Santa Anita Park and finished second again in a race on Santa Anita Park's downhill turf course in March, but broke through with his first U.S. win in a 1-mile allowance-optional claiming race on April 2 at Santa Anita. He then made his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes and rallied to finish third by 1 3/4 lengths.

The gelding finished second and third in his next two races at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Finally, he put it all together at a most opportune time, rallying six wide to just get up at the finish and defeat Master Piece (CHI) by a head to win the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by Japan Racing Association on Sept. 3. Gold Phoenix earned a "Win and You're In" berth to the 2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf with the victory.

Gold Phoenix is out of the winning Mizzen Mast mare Magnifica, who is a full sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Sea Defence and to dual Grade 2 winner Jibboom.

Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge earned an expenses-paid berth in the 2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf by winning the Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes Oct. 15 at Ascot Racecourse. The 4-year-old New Bay colt prevailed by a half-length over 2021 English Derby winner Adayar in a race where heavy favorite Baaeed, who had won all 10 of his prior starts, finished fourth.

Bay Bridge finished third once in his two starts at age 2 but was 4-for-4 at age 3 in 2021, including a stakes win. He won the Group 2 Coral Brigadier General Stakes in May 2022 in his first start at age 4 and then finished second by a length in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes and fifth in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes prior to his breakthrough win in the Champion Stakes.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Bay Bridge roughly quadrupled his career earnings in the Champion Stakes, boosting his bankroll to $1,284,827. He is out of the Multiplex mare Hayyona.

Nautilus

Nautilus placed in a pair of Group 1 races in 2021 in his native Brazil before a breakthrough victory at that level in the 1 ?-mile Grande Premio Brasil at Hipodromo Gavea. The neck victory over Don Cambay earned the Drosselmeyer colt an expenses-paid berth for the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf via the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series.

Nilson Lima trains Nautilus for breeder Stud Valentin in partnership with co-owner Jarussi. His dam (mother) is Namaste, by 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given.

Highland Chief

Highland Chief started to find his best form as a 3-year-old. He was stakes-placed three times in England in 2020, including a second-place finish by three-quarters of a length in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 30. He raced just once as a 4-year-old, finishing fifth in the Group 1 Coral Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 4.

For his 5-year-old season, Highland Chief was shipped to the United States and placed in the barn of trainer Graham Motion. He made his American debut in a second-level allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct on April 14, 2022, and was a non-threatening ninth.

Off that performance, Highland Chief was a 19.20-1 outsider in the Grade 1 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park on May 14. However, he pulled off a shocking upset over reigning Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir. That was the first Grade 1 win in the career of his jockey, Trevor McCarthy.

War Like Goddess

In just her fourth career start, War Like Goddess picked up her first graded stakes win. She came from behind with a dramatic rally to win the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Mar. 27, 2021, surging to nail Always Shopping in the last few strides. Julien Leparoux had the winning mount for trainer Bill Mott. She followed with a dominant victory in the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes April 23 at Keeneland to record her fourth victory in her first five races.

After a few months off, War Like Goddess returned to the races with a 3 1/4-length win in the Grade 3 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 7, 2021. She came from last and won going away under Leparoux.

Already one of the leaders in her division, War Like Goddess officially earned her spot in the starting gate for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with a win in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes. She rated off a slow pace, then got into gear and rolled by everyone for an impressive 2 1/4-length win.

On the strength of her numerous stakes wins, War Like Goddess went off as the favorite in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6. After sitting in last early on, she made her move as they rounded the far turn. Although she closed gamely, she ended up third, beaten less than a length by Loves Only You.

Mott gave War Like Goddess a break of nearly six months after the Breeders' Cup. She returned for a repeat bid in the Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland on April 29, 2022, and fought jockey Joel Rosario's restraint early on in the 1 ?-mile race while sitting off of the pace. But in the stretch, Rosario turned her loose and she powered to the lead with a furlong remaining to win her 5-year-old debut by 1 ? lengths.

War Like Goddess was purchased for $30,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sale in June 2019. Her sire, English Channel, was voted champion male turf horse in 2007.

Master Piece

Chilean-bred Master Piece began his career in South America and won four of his first 10 starts, including a Group 2 race in his native country. The Mastercraftsman (IRE) ridgling made his U.S. debut in October 2020 and ran fourth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Belmont Park.

Following an extended layoff, Master Piece returned in April 2021 at Keeneland and won an allowance race by three-quarters of a length. He did not win again in four subsequent starts that year but ran second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association in August.

In 2022, Master Piece earned a breakthrough stakes win in the U.S. when he drew in off the also-eligible list to win the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes by 3 ? lengths July 31 at Del Mar at 16--1 odds. Master Piece next ran second by a head in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by Japan Racing Association on Sept. 3 at Del Mar.

Group stakes winner Torre Laguna, by Proud Citizen, is the dam (mother) of Master Piece.

Bye Bye Melvin

Bye Bye Melvin needed four starts to earn his first career win, but the Uncle Mo colt did so impressively in his final race as a juvenile when he rolled to an 8 1/4-length romp in a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Tampa Bay Downs. He followed with a front-running, half-length victory going a mile on the grass at Tampa in an allowance/optional claiming race in January in his 3-year-old bow.

Tested on the main track on the Triple Crown trail, Bye Bye Melvin was well beaten in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Two starts later back on the grass, Bye Bye Melvin finished second in the Jersey Derby July 26 at Monmouth Park.

Bye Bye Melvin earned a breakthrough stakes win Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes, when he closed willingly in the stretch to catch Don Juan Kitten in the final strides.

Out of Grade 1 winner Karlovy Vary, by Dynaformer, Bye Bye Melvin is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Mean Mary.

Stone Age

Although winless in five starts as a juvenile, Stone Age showed plenty of promise with three runner-up finishes and one third. His best effort was a second-place finish in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October 2021, and he also was runner-up by a head in the Group 2 KPMG Champions Golden Fleece Stakes in September in Ireland.

The bay Galileo colt opened his 3-year-old season with back-to-back wins, the second coming in the Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes May 8, 2022, at Leopardstown. After an unplaced finish in the Group 1 Cazoo Derby in Memory of Lester Piggott, trainer Aidan O'Brien shipped Stone Age to New York for a pair of races. Stone Age finished third by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes July 9, and four weeks later he finished fifth, beaten by three lengths, in the Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes. He subsequently was fifth in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Stone Age was produced by the winning Anabaa mare Bonanza Creek, a full-sister (same dam [mother], same sire [father]) to multiple group stakes winner Board Meeting and a half-sister (same dam, different sire) to French Oaks winner Bright Sky.

Kitodan

Kitodan began his career with a series of dirt sprint outings early in the 2021 in his 2-year-old season at Gulfstream Park, which included the maiden win at 7 furlongs on July 23, 2021.

Kitodan's next successes came at the beginning of his 3-year-old campaign when he reeled off back-to-back wins at Gulfstream Park in February and March of 2022, with one win on turf and the other coming on Gulfstream's synthetic Tapata course. It was the synthetic track victory in particular that propelled Kitodan to his next start in the $200,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park on April 2, which turned into the first stakes victory of the colt's career when he won by 3 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Kitodan, trained by Eric Foster, added another stakes victory, this time on the turf, when he won the $200,000 Audubon at Churchill Downs at 1 1/8 miles on June 4.

On Labor Day Sept. 5 at Kentucky Downs, Kitodan not only earned the biggest payday of his career so far, but also earned his first graded stakes victory when he scored by 4 decisive lengths in the Grade 3 $750,000 Dueling Grounds Derby at 1 5/16 miles on the turf over a field of 12.

Thunder Kiss

Irish-bred Thunder Kiss won one of four starts during her debut 3-year-old season but improved a year later by winning three of seven starts, including the Group 3 Munster Oaks at Cork Racecourse and the listed Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Bluebell Stakes at Naas. The gray daughter of Night of Thunder tallied another stakes in her 5-year-old debut, romping by 4 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/2-mile Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Noblesse Stakes back at Cork.

Thunder Kiss continued to race well over the next several months without picking up another win, checking in second twice and third twice in group stakes races. Two of those defeats - a third in the Group 1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Group 3 Paddy Power Stakes - were by a nose.

Thunder Kiss is by the winning and stakes-placed Teofilo mare Desert Snow and has several relatives in her female family who won stakes at 1 1/4 miles or longer.

Mise En Scene

Mise En Scene (GB) has improved her finishes in each of three starts this year and just missed winning the John Musker Fillies Stakes on Sept 14 at Yarmouth. She had to pass on her planned run in the Group 1 English 1,000 Guineas on May 1 due a temperature and began her 2022 campaign in the Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas on May 22 at the Curragh, where she was 11th. Mise En Scene, which means "setting the stage" in French, was sixth after a poor start in the Group 3 JRL Group Atalanta Stakes on Aug. 20 at Sandown Park. In the 1 1/4 mile- Musker, she led early, was passed in the run toward the wire, but rallied to finish a nose back of Shaara (GB).

Managed by young trainer James Ferguson, the daughter of Siyouni (FR) opened her career on July 2, 2021 with a 4-length win at Haydock, then won the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 28. Mise En Scene was fourth, a neck and a nose from second, in the Group 1 Bet 365 Fillies Mile at Newmarket. In the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, she drew the 13th post in the field of 14, but used her speed to quickly moved into contention. She was a wide third in the second turn but ended up 10th, beaten 4 lengths.

Broome

Broome, a son of the sire Australia owned by Maasaki Matsushima, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, won seven of 20 races heading into the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 6 at Del Mar, including the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earlier in the year.

In the Longines Turf, the Aidan O'Brien trainee took a clear lead in midstretch but could not hold off the challenge of Godolphin's Yibir and settled for a game runner-up finish.

Rebel's Romance

Rebel's Romance began his career with open-length victories on the synthetic main track at Kempton Park in England in 2020.

Shipped to the Middle East for his 3-year-old season, the Godolphin homebred Dubawi (IRE) gelding opened 2021 with a head victory in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Sponsored by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal.

Rebel's Romance disappointed in his next start when he shipped to Saudi Arabia for the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby, but he bounced back with a big effort in the Group 2 UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD March 27 at Meydan. Rebel's Romance proved much the best in the UAE Derby, seizing command in early stretch and pulling away to a facile victory in 1:56.28 for 1 3/16 miles in what turned out to be his final start as a 3-year-old.

After unplaced finishes in his first two starts of 2022 in Dubai, Rebel's Romance returned to Europe and put together a three-stakes winning streak that was capped by a Group 1 win in the Westminster 132nd Grosser Preis von Berlin Aug. 14 at Hoppegarten.

Stakes-placed Minidress, by Street Cry, is the dam (mother) of Rebel's Romance. Second dam (maternal grandmother), Short Skirt, was a multiple group stakes winner who placed in the Epsom Oaks.

Mishriff

Mishriff is one of the world's all-time richest racehorses with career earnings of more than $15 million. Much of Mishriff's bankroll was earned during a memorable 2021 season when he won the $20 million Saudi Cup on the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 20, and then followed that up by winning the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Mar. 27.

Irish-bred Mishriff also won the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York in England on Aug. 18 of that year before ending his campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 16, 2021.

A versatile international performer who can win on both turf and dirt and at distances from 1 1/16 miles to 1 ? miles, Mishriff is trained by John and Thady Gosden at their base in Newmarket, England. The horse by the sire Make Believe out of the British-bred mare Contradict, by Raven's Pass, has competed in England, France, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Ireland.

He was winless through his first four outings in 2022 but hit the board in three consecutive Group 1 races in July and August, including a second in the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, a third in the QIPCO King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, and a second behind superstar Baaeed (GB) n his repeat attempt in the Juddmonte International at York. He then finished fourth in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 10.

Nation's Pride

Nations Pride (IRE) is a 3-year-old racehorse familiar to racing fans worldwide, having won races in Britain, Dubai, and the United States.

After a runner-up finish in his debut last year at Yarmouth, he notched four consecutive victories during the fall of his 2-year-old season through the spring of his 3-year-old year, scoring on all-weather tracks and on turf at distances ranging from 1 mile to 1 1/4 miles. The Godolphin-owned Teofilo (GB) colt then ran eighth in the prestigious Group 1 Cazoo Derby at Epson.

Send to the U.S. this summer, he finished second in the Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes with a troubled trip. He then regained winning form in the Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and the Grade 3 Caesars Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes during the Belmont at The Big A meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The three races in New York compromised the Caesars Turf Triple for 3-year-olds.

Last year, Godolphin and Appleby used the 1 1/2-mile Jockey Club Derby as a launching pad for Yibir (GB), who returned to win the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.

Nations Pride returned to Appleby's British base to train following the Sept. 17 Jockey Club Derby.

A Godolphin homebred, Nations Pride is out of the stakes-winning mare Important Time (IRE), a daughter of Group 1 winner Satwa Queen (FR).

2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

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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.