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 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile will be held on Saturday, November 2 at Del Mar Thoroughtbred Club. Bet & watch the race with OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) - US Legal Online Wagering.

RESULTS: MORE THAN LOOKS TAKES FANDUEL BREEDERS' CUP MILE

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2024) - Victory Racing Partners' More Than Looks ($15.80), last early in the field of 10, rallied strongly in the stretch to post a 3 ¼-length victory over Johannes to win the 41st running of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, More Than Looks completed the mile over a firm turf course in 1:32.65. It is the first Breeders' Cup victory for DeVaux and the sixth for Ortiz.

Goliad led the field through fractions of :22.73, :45.90 and 1:08.89 while receiving light pressure from Ten Happy Rose (JPN) and Geoglyph (JPN). Heading into the far turn, Ortiz moved More Than Looks off the inside and began picking off horses. Swinging into the stretch six wide but in the clear, More Than Looks quickly overtook the field and coasted to victory.

Johannes held off favored Notable Speech (GB) by a head to hold second.

More Than Looks is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Ladies' Privilege. The victory was worth $1,040,000 to $1,870,715 with a record of 11-5-3-1.

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Johannes

Sometimes, even in the "no guarantees" business of horse breeding and racing, things just work out. That's been the case for Joe and Debby McCloskey as they've watched their homebred colt Johannes develop from an inauspicious start to a grass-racing star.

The success story started back in 2014 at Keeneland when the Solana Beach, California, couple haltered a yearling filly named Cuyathy at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. For that prestigious event, the $50,000 price tag was a relative bargain.

It became a good investment when Cuyathy earned just shy of $108,000 in 20 starts, all in California. The McCloskeys named their racing enterprise CUYATHY LLC in honor of the mare and in 2019 bred her to Nyquist, winner of the 2015 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1). The result was Johannes.

The colt made his first three starts on dirt, first at Churchill Downs, then at Santa Anita and Del Mar, without finding the winner's circle. In December 2022, trainer Tim Yakteen opted to give Johannes a chance on the grass and that decision, too, worked out well.

Johannes won his first try on the green course by 9 lengths, showing heels to 10 rivals while going 6 furlongs. Back in action just more than two months later, he won the Baffle Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs down the Santa Anita hillside turf course and backed that up with another victory in the Pasadena Stakes (Listed), easily mastering two turns for the first time.

He came up short with a late run in the American Turf presented by BMW (G2) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby (G1) weekend, finishing fifth but beaten only 2 lengths. After that, he regrouped with an 11-month layoff.

The rest obviously agreed with Johannes. Back in California, he started 2024 with a win in the American Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on April 4 and followed that with victories in the May 27 Shoemaker Mile (G1) and the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) July 28 at Del Mar.

Johannes remained perfect in 2024 when he delivered a 1 1/4-length victory as the 4-5 favorite in the City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita over seven foes.

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Carl Spackler (IRE)

Early in his career, the most notable thing about Carl Spackler (IRE) was his name. Think Bill Murray's role as the madcap groundskeeper in "Caddyshack" -- a tough image to forget and one no horse should have to live up to.

Fortunately, the equine Carl Spackler quickly showed more than enough talent to push his namesake down the list of attributes, well below his impressive accomplishments.

A son of Lope de Vega (IRE), Carl Spackler kicked off his career at Gulfstream Park in January 2023, He finished second in his debut, a head behind the talented Far Bridge, then won the next time out -- by 8 3/4 lengths as the 1-5 favorite. Clearly, the word was out about the speedy chestnut colt.

Trainer Chad Brown was sufficiently impressed to enter Carl Spackler next in the American Turf Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day only to have his charge tire late in the 1 1/16-mile race and finish eighth. For all that, he was beaten only 4 1/2 lengths and better results were in the offing.

After a three-month break, Brown brought Carl Spackler back in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) and he returned to his winning ways with a 2 1/4-length score going 1 mile on the Saratoga grass. That was followed by a 3 1/2-length win in the Saranac Stakes (G3) as Carl Spackler kicked clear late while going 1 1/16 miles.

That was it for the year.

A win in the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend got the 2024 campaign going in the right direction but a flat effort in the Poker Stakes (G3) back at Saratoga on June 8 produced only a fifth-place finish going a mile.

Making the most of the Saratoga meeting, he followed that with a hard-fought victory over Talk of the Nation in the Kelso Stakes (G3) and earned a "Win and You're In" spot in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) with an authoritative score over another top field in the FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap (G1) Aug. 11.

Carl Spackler added another Grade 1 victory on Oct. 5 at Keeneland when he posted a front-running 1-length triumph in the Coolmore Turf Mile.

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Win for the Money

Maybe it's just appropriate that a horse named Win for the Money, a bargain buy as a youngster, now should be popping up in races involving seven-figure purses.

Win for the Money, a Mohaymen gelding, was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. He went through the sales ring twice, bringing just $95,000 as a yearling. As a 2-year-old, he was purchased by Live Oak Plantation for $350,000 -- a tidy profit for the interim owners but still, as it turned out, a bargain for Live Oak's Charlotte Weber.

The chestnut spent most of his first seven starts working through his conditions, primarily on all-weather tracks from Woodbine in Canada to Turfway Park in Kentucky and down to Gulfstream Park in Florida. In his second start at Gulfstream, trainer Mark Casse put Win for the Money on the grass and the light bulb came on.

He finished second in that race, won a turf allowance at Colonial Downs in Virginia and then got his first brush with the "Million" figure with a big class jump up to the Arlington Million (G1) on the Colonial Downs turf in August 2023. He finished fifth of 11 in that against some world-class turf runners.

He was back at Woodbine and back on the all-weather to finish 2023 with a second and a third, both in graded stakes. The 2024 campaign commenced with a win in the Mr. Steele Stakes on the Gulfstream turf and a fourth in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) on the Churchill Downs lawn.

He was back in seven-figure territory with a victory in the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile (Listed) at Ellis Park in Kentucky. While that race was worth "only" $250,000, it was a qualifier for the actual $2 million Mint Millions (G3) a month later at Kentucky Downs.

Rather than take that challenge at a meeting suddenly flush with excellent runners from America and overseas, Casse opted to bring Win for the Money back to Woodbine for the Rogers Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) Sept. 14.

His victory in that CA$1 million race was worth US$440,059, bringing his earnings, per Equibase, to $794,997 and counting with five wins, five seconds and a third from 16 starts.

It also was worth a "Win and You're In" ticket to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 2 -- which offers a purse of $2 million.

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Ten Happy Rose (JPN)

The result was so stunning that even jockey Akihide Tsumura said it was beyond his wildest imagination. Partnered with Ten Happy Rose (JPN), who never had won a graded stakes race in her previous 23 starts, they pulled off the 208-1 upset in the prestigious Victoria Mile (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse on May 12 and in the process earned a berth for her in the starting gate for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. The victory was also the first Grade 1 win for the rider and the second top level score for trainer Daisuke Takayanagi.

In seven previous appearances in graded stakes, the best finish by the now 6-year-old mare was a third in the Artemis Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds in 2020 on the Tokyo course. She had lost both of her two 2024 starts prior to the Victoria Mile, finishing seventh in the Kyoto Himba Stakes (G3) on Feb. 17 and then sixth in the Sankeisports Hai Hanshin Himba Stakes (G2) on April 6.

In her return to the races following the Victoria Mile, Ten Happy Rose finished seventh of 18 in the 6-furlong Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) at Chukyo on Sept. 8.

The most recent time Ten Happy Rose had visited the winner's circle was August 2023 for the Toki Stakes (Listed) at Niigata Racecourse and that victory was her first since May 2022 in the Freeway Stakes at Tokyo. Moreover, she had been competing mostly at 7 furlongs (1,400 meters) in her career, which no doubt contributed to her 208-1 odds.

Ten Happy Rose is a daughter of 2014 Japan Cup (G1) winner Epiphaneia (JPN) out of the Tanino Gimlet (JPN) mare Fatal Rose (JPN) and is owned by Yasushi Tenpaku. She could become the fourth Japanese-bred horse to win a Breeders' Cup race and the second to win the Filly & Mare Turf along with Loves Only You (2021).

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Notable Speech (GB)

If it were not for one inexplicable blip, Notable Speech (GB) already would have built a case for year-end honors before the calendar turned to autumn. The Godolphin homebred son of Dubawi (IRE) has been that good through a tough 2024 campaign -- except that one time.

Unraced at 2, Notable Speech got started early in 2024, jumping into England's increasingly competitive all-weather winter competition with three consecutive victories. One of those, coincidentally as it turned out, came in the "European Road to the Kentucky Derby" conditions stakes at Kempton - part of the series designed by Churchill Downs to lure overseas horses to the Run for the Roses.

The Charlie Appleby trainee, with those three races in the win column, headed directly to the turf and the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4, which in actual coincidence was Derby Day in Louisville.

The punters were not impressed with the three all-weather wins and let Notable Speech go to the post at odds of 16-1. He mocked that verdict, rallying from last to win the first of the British Classics by 1 1/2 lengths with the favorite, City of Troy, trailing home ninth.

Then came the shocker in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. This time, Notable Speech was the favorite. And this time, he was the disappointment, failing to fire while finishing seventh. Neither Appleby nor jockey William Buick had an explanation.

While his connections pondered the shocking result, Notable Speech shrugged it off in his next start, the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) at Glorious Goodwood July 31. Again racing behind the leaders, he responded when asked and drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths, leaving him with a record of five wins from his first six starts, two of the wins in Group 1 races.

Notable Speech's quest for another Group 1 victory failed on Sept. 8 at Longchamp as he finished fifth of seven, beaten 6 1/4 lengths, in the Prix du Moulin Longchamp.

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Chili Flag (FR)

Trainer Chad Brown's magic touch with turf runners was just what Chili Flag (FR) needed after the Cityscape (GB) mare failed to deliver on her promise in her native France.

Chili Flag started off well enough in 2021, turning in a win and two runner-up finishes, including the season capper in a Listed race at Chantilly. As a 3-year-old, however, she reported for work at minor French racecourses and was able to muster only lukewarm results even in those venues.

Enough was enough and the filly changed hands and locale, acquired in partnership by Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisber and entrusted to Brown's care and training.

It didn't take long for the change in scenery to pay off as Chili Flag hit the board in all of her first five allowance starts for Brown in 2023, running first at Gulfstream Park, then Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct. The new trainer then gave Chili Flag her first stakes start Nov. 19 in the Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct at 1 1/16 miles and she responded with a late-running win.

Back in Florida to start 2024, Chili Flag joined Brown's elite corps of turf-running fillies and mares. That assignment started with a sixth-place finish, beaten less than 3 lengths, in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Stakes Invitational (G2), followed by a late-running win in the Honey Fox Stakes (G3).

She moved up another notch to capture the Longines Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby (G1) Day and traveled back to Saratoga to win the Just a Game Stakes (G1) a month later -- a race in which Brown saddled five of the seven starters.

The Diana Stakes (G1) at the Spa proved too much as Chili Flag never fired and beat only one horse while trying to extend her range to 1 1/8 miles. A break of almost three months and a return to a straight mile seemed to fix things up as she finished a close second in the First Lady Stakes (G1) Oct. 5 at Keeneland as Brown runners finished 1-2-3.

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Goliad

** coming soon **

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More Than Looks

It's worth taking a second look at what the record shows for More Than Looks.

The More Than Ready colt, trained by Cherie DeVaux for Victory Racing Partners, went to the sidelines after finishing sixth in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita and did not resurface until Aug. 11 -- more than nine months later -- when he finished second to the talented Carl Spackler (IRE) in the FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap (G1)at Saratoga.

About those second looks ...

No. 1. The Breeders' Cup effort featured a come-from-behind run in which More Than Looks, starting from the outside gate, rallied from last of 13 runners and miss by only 2 lengths of winning it all. The field was, as usual, world-class and the horse that finished fifth, just three-quarters of a length in front of More Than Looks, was the race favorite, Japan's superstar Songline (JPN). Hardly a bad effort.

No. 2. More Than Looks had been slated to contest the Lure Stakes at Saratoga but rain washed that off the grass and forced DeVaux to enter her colt against tougher rivals even though he wasn't yet is top form. Given that, and considering he finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of the favorite, Ottoman Fleet (GB), the Fourstardave was not a bad effort at all.

In his next start, More Than Looks rallied late to close to within a length of Carl Spackler in the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland in a runner-up finish.

More Than Looks was a relative bargain at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Victory Partners snapped him up for $135,000.

After a learning experience in his first start, the dark bay or brown colt won at second asking, finished second and won again while racing at Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Ellis Park. He then jumped right into graded stakes company with a win in the Manila Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.

He then was third in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, won by Carl Spackler, and won the Jefferson Cup under the Churchill Downs Twin Spires as a prep for the Breeders' Cup.

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Mountain Bear (IRE)

Aiden O'Brien is one of that small group of trainers who can so dominate a race that a few of their horses get lost in the shuffle. For example, it's easy to forget O'Brien saddled not only the winner of the 2023 Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Unquestionable (FR), but also the runner-up, Mountain Bear (IRE).

In fact, Mountain Bear, a No Nay Never colt, stayed a bit under the radar through most of his 3-year-old season despite all the while running against top rivals.

Mountain Bear came to the 2023 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita as winner of just two of seven starts. And one of those victories came on the Dundalk all-weather course in England a month before his California race. Little wonder he was a 22-1 longshot while Unquestionable, with a far classier resume, was the favorite.

Mountain Bear outran his odds, rallying from far back to secure second. He then was put away for the winter.

On return, O'Brien gave the colt every chance at the top level but he finished seventh in the Tattersall's Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) and fourth in the Jersey Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot. That was followed by a sixth in the Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) back in Ireland.

Things began to turn around a little in August as Mountain Bear again outran long odds while finishing second, beaten just a half-length, in the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown. Another good effort was rewarded with a decent third-place finish in the Tonybet Solonaway Stakes (G2) over the same course.

Perhaps recalling Mountain Bear's success in his first trip to America, O'Brien opted to give him a trial spin in America before the 2024 Breeders' Cup and selected a stiff test -- the Oct. 5 Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

Despite acting up leaving the paddock and struggling with the left-handed turns, Mountain Bear at least earned a passing grade by rallying from near the back of the field to finish third, behind Carl Spackler (IRE) and More Than Looks -- opponents as tough as any likely to show up at the Breeders' Cup.

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Raqiya (IRE)

A good horse can certainly pop up anywhere but it's most likely a sudden emergence will come from one of the world's great breeding and ownership operations -- as Raqiya (IRE) may be poised to do for Shadwell.

The Shadwell Estate Company bred and raced some of the world's top horses from its founding in 1980 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum and continues since his death under the direction of his daughter, Sheikha Hissa.

Raqiya is by the super Godolphin stallion Blue Point (IRE) but was bred by Shadwell, out of the Dansili (GB) mare Rihaam (IRE). She was withdrawn from a September 2022 yearling sale and turned over to trainer Owen Burrows, who gave her a gentle introduction to racing.

Her first two starts came in the summer of 2023 at Newbury and Salisbury, producing a fourth and a victory. She won again as the favorite in a fillies novice race at Haydock in September. Sent north to Scotland, she went to the post as favorite again in the Firth of Clyde Stakes (G3) two weeks later but seemed unsuited to the soft turf and finished fifth.

It was eight months to her next start in the Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury in May 2024 and she won that by a neck over Funny Story (GB). On to York, she was back in Group 3 company in the William Hill Summer Stakes and finished sixth, again having to deal with good to soft turf.

Her breakthrough came July 31 at Goodwood in the Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes (G3). As Raqiya was making her move toward the front along the rail, the favorite, Jabaara, drifted in front of her inside the final furlong and took the lead. Raqiya rallied to finish second, a head in front of Jabaara but the stewards ruled the interference was serious enough to award Raqiya the victory.

The Oak Tree was run on ground rated "good to firm" and all three of Raqiya's previous wins came on "good" going. Whether foot-rattling conditions or a move up the class ladder will suit the filly is to be determined but the foundation certainly is in place.

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Spirit of St Louis

Trainer Chad Brown's magic touch with imported European turf runners is well documented but Spirit of St Louis is a case in point for his ability to start good ones from scratch and put them in position for success.

Spirit of St Louis was acquired by Michael Dubb for what now seems a bargain price of $280,000 at the 2023 April Keeneland Sale of horses of racing age. Already trained by Brown, he had run twice carrying Peter Brant's colors.

Dubb partnered in ownership of Spirit of St Louis with Madaket Stables LLC and Richard Schermerhorn. But the horse obviously didn't care about the color of his silks as he went on a tear through the remainder of 2023 and the first half of 2024, winning seven of his next nine starts and finishing second in the other two.

The tour de force was accomplished at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga and took full advantage of the New York Racing Association's well-funded program for state-bred horses. Seven of the races were stakes events and one, the Danger's Hour at Aqueduct in April 2024, came against open company.

Spirit of St Louis just missed capping the string of successes with another win in the West Point Handicap for state-breds at Saratoga Aug. 25. He got the lead in the stretch with a late rush from well back in the field but wasn't quite able to hang on, finishing a nose behind Dakota Gold.

That encouraged Brown sufficiently to ship Spirit of St Louis to Keeneland for a much tougher assignment in the Oct. 5 Coolmore Turf Mile (G1). Not only was he facing Group 1 rivals for the first time, but he also was one of three Brown-trained runners in the race.

While he acquitted himself well enough, Spirt of St Louis finishing fifth, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner -- Carl Spackler (IRE), another of the Brown trio.

Spirit of St Louis is a gelded son of Medaglia d'Oro, out of the Grade 3-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Khancord Kid.

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Ramatuelle

Ramatuelle got her career off to a rousing start in France in 2023, then seemed to settle into a bridesmaid's role in the first half of 2024, not quite able to get to the starring role in top-level races.

Ramatuelle won her first start at Chantilly in April 2023, romping home first by 4 1/2 lengths for trainer Christopher Head under jockey Aurelien Lemaire as the favorite in a field of 15.

Her next start in May produced a second-place finish, beaten just a head as the odds-on favorite in a minor stakes event at Saint-Cloud.

On to Chantilly, Ramatuelle reeled off back-to-back wins in a Group 3 event, then the Prix Robert Papin (G2). Climbing to the top of the class ladder, Head put her in the prestigious Sumbe Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville where she held the lead through the final 100 meters before being edged by a short neck in the final strides by then-undefeated Vandeek (GB).

Ramatuelle opened her 3-year-old season with another runner-up showing, losing to Godolphin runner Romantic Style (IRE) by a half-length in the Prix Imprudence (G3) at Deauville April 9.

The bridesmaid pattern was clear after she finished third, beaten only a half-length, in the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket behind Elmalka (GB) and Porta Fortuna (IRE) -- the latter a close second in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Nonetheless, Ramatuelle went to the post as the favorite in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, only to finish third with Porta Fortuna the winner and Opera Singer second.

After more than three months off, Ramatuelle returned to the races Oct. 6 at Longchamp and posted an impressive 3-length victory in the 7-furlong Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) over very soft ground.

Ramatuelle and Opera Singer are both by the 2018 U.S. Triple Crown winner Justify, whose progeny are finding success around the globe. Ramatuelle is out of the Raven's Pass mare Raven's Lady (GB). Raven's Pass, a top-shelf turf miler in Europe, finished his career winning the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles on an all-weather course at Santa Anita.

Ramatuelle was bred by Yeguada Centurion and sold as a yearling to a syndicate involving Infinity Nine Horses and Ecurie des Monceaux. Ramatuelle is an ancient village near St. Tropez in France. The name roughly translates from the Arabic to mean "divine providence."

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Full Count Felicia

It was billed as the battle royale between the two most recent Canadian Horses of the Year Fev Rover and Moira but once the gate opened Full Count Felicia upstaged them both in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine on Sept. 14.

Confidently ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Full Count Felicia went right to the front, set slow fractions while opening a lead of almost 20 lengths at one stage in the 1 ¼-mile contest, and then fended off all challengers to cross the wire 3 ½ lengths in front. The win was the first at the top level for the 5-year-old mare trained by Kevin Attard for Al Gold's nom de course Gold Square.

With the win, the daughter of War Front and the Galileo (IRE) mare Claire De Lune (IRE) parlayed her victory in her previous effort in the Canadian Stakes (G2) on Aug. 10 on the same course, prompting her trainer to remark that Full Count Felicia keeps improving and continues to get better with each successive start.

Nonetheless, Attard said the filly's victory in the E.P. Taylor, as impressive as it was, may not earn her a start in the Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf (G1) because Moira is also in his stable and she is headed to the Breeders' Cup by virtue of her August score in Colonial Downs' Beverly D. Stakes (G2), which is a "Win and You're In" race as part of the Challenge Series.

Full Count Felicia took eight tries in her juvenile and sophomore seasons to break her maiden when in the barns of two previous trainers. She became a first-time graded stakes winner on Dec. 23, 2023 by taking the Suwannee River Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, but then after starting her 2024 campaign with a sixth-place finish in the Endeavor Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 3 she was transferred to Attard.

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Geoglyph (JPN)

Only two horses finished ahead of 2023 World's Best Horse Equinox (JPN) and Geoglyph (JPN) is one of them. Since that early-career triumph, however, Geoglyph has traveled the world and faced some of the toughest opponents imaginable, all without quite living up to the promise.

The son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Drefong started out with two wins and a second from his first four starts in Japan, sandwiched around a fifth-place finish in the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1). That earned him a berth in the 2022 Satsuki Sho (G1) or Japanese 2,000 Guineas, in which he pulled out the victory by 1 length over Equinox.

Equinox went on to become the superstar of 2023, ending his career with six consecutive top-level victories. Geoglyph slid in the other direction.

He finished seventh in the Tokyo Yushun (G1) or Japanese Derby as Do Deuce (JPN) upset Equinox.

Geoglyph followed that disappointment by posting five consecutive Grade 1 or Group 1 runs with no outcome better than fourth. The string included a sixth-place showing in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) in December 2022, then fourth and 11th in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February and the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March, both on the dirt.

Things didn't get much better when he returned to Japan as Geoglyph finished ninth in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in June 2023.

After a break, trainer Tetsuya Kimura tried him again on dirt, only to see him finish ninth in the Mile Championship and 15th in the Mile Championship (G1).

The 2024 season started with a mild promise as Geoglyph finally hit the top three again, finishing third in the Nakayama Kinen (G2) on the turf. Back against top company, though, he was fifth in the Osaka Hai (G1) in March and sixth in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) in June. The latter was won by Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior (IRE).

Another glimmer of hope came with a second-place finish in the Sapporo Kinen (G2) on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido Aug. 18.

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Diego Velazquez (IRE)

The early stages of Diego Velazquez (IRE) career have been marked by peaks and valleys -- high peaks and pretty substantial valleys. But as the calendar pages turn on his 3-year-old season, it could be that mountaintops are in sight.

The Coolmore runner, a son of Frankel (GB), got things going the right direction in his first two starts. He won at first asking in August 2023 at the Curragh in Ireland, romping home 4 3/4 lengths clear of his nearest rival as the odds-on favorite. He reprised that with a hard-fought victory over stablemate Capulet in the KMPG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) at Leopardstown.

The future looked bright. But that was the peak before a long slide, albeit while racing against some of Europe's best.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien brought the colt back in the Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) at Doncaster, a traditional prep for the following year's Classics. He finished sixth of seven, although beaten only 4 1/4 lengths, and was done for the season.

O'Brien and his Coolmore owners persisted in tackling top-level competition, starting Diego Velazquez off in France for his 3-year-old campaign in mid-May. He was fourth in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) or French 2,000 Guineas only a length in back of the winner in a field of 13.

His stock started to slip a bit when he finished eighth in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) or French Derby and took another hit when jockey Ryan Moore basically eased him through the final furlong of the King Edward VII (G2) at Royal Ascot at 1 1/2 miles.

Maybe it was the soft Irish air or some serious class relief but Diego Velazquez abruptly turned things around back at Leopardstown, winning the Meld Stakes (G3) July 18 -- by 7 lengths. From there, it was back up in class and performance as the colt won the Tonybet Solonoway Stakes (G2), also at Leopardstown, Sept. 14.

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Porta Fortuna (IRE)

Porta Fortuna (IRE) is Italian for "lucky charm" but the Caravaggio filly has made her mark with talent, rather than good fortune, early in her career.

Bred by Whisperview Trading Ltd., Porta Fortuna wasted no time getting things off to a good start for trainer Donnacha O'Brien, son of Aidan O'Brien. After racing last of eight, she unleashed a steady charge along the rail and was just up to win by a neck in her April debut at the Curragh.

That was followed by another narrow win as she held off a late closer by a neck to take the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (G3).

On to Royal Ascot, she added Frankie Dettori to her entourage for the Albany Stakes (G3) and won that prestigious event by 1 length over Matrika (IRE), trained by the elder O'Brien.

Back in Ireland after a 50-day break, Porta Fortuna settled for second in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) against colts, then was third in dead heat in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1). The Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) on Sept. 30 at Newmarket produced a turn of fortune as Porta Fortuna emerged from the field in the final furlong to win well, by 1 1/2 lengths.

Donnacha O'Brien, who has competed in the Breeders' Cup World Championships as a trainer and jockey, saw enough in that to book passage to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), in which his star came up just a half-length short of the winner, Hard to Justify as the second choice in a field of 14.

The transition from 2-year-old stardom to 3-year-old success is one of the toughest jumps in racing but Porta Fortuna, if anything, came back better from a long winter's rest. Starting directly in the Qipco 1000 Guineas (G1) without a prep, she just missed posting an upset win, finishing a neck behind Elmalka (GB).

With that warmup, it was back to Royal Ascot where Porta Fortuna easily dispatched a top-shelf field in the Coronation Stakes (G1) with Opera Singer, another trained by Aidan O'Brien, second and Elmalka fourth.

Three weeks later and back at Newmarket, Porta Fortuna romped home first by 3 1/4 lengths in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1).

Porta Fortuna notched her third consecutive Group 1 victory on Sept. 14 at Leopardstown when she bested eight other rivals with a 1-length victory in the 1-mile Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes.

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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