At $2 million, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile is the richest 2-year-old race in North America. The 1 1/16 mile race, restricted to male 2 year-olds, is often a preview of the stars of the Triple Crown races for the following year.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Intrepido

Intrepido was a star at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, purchased by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures for $385,000 - a figure nearly 13 times his $30,000 sales price as a yearling.

Call that money well spent. In winning the Oct. 4 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, he improved to 2-for-3 and put himself in championship contention among the leading 2-year-old males in North America. With the American Pharoah Stakes part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, he further earned an automatic, paid berth into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

He is already tested over the Del Mar surface, having run fourth on debut behind eventual Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Brant in a sprint and then winning a mile maiden race going a mile.

The 1 1/16-mile American Pharaoh stakes marked his longest race, and he aced the test. Stuck in traffic behind horses - in contrast to his maiden win when he controlled the pace - he found daylight at the head of the stretch and outkicked Bob Baffert-trained runners Desert Gate and Plutarch, who had been 1-2 with a furlong remaining. Intrepido was clocked in 1:43.67 for the distance.

"When I made my move to the outside he responded, although not very strongly at first," winning rider Hector Berrios said. "When I asked him again, he responded and produced an impressive change of pace. He flew down the stretch. He's an amazing horse."

The Jeff Mullins-trained Intrepido overcame Baffert's strength in numbers. Baffert, a 13-time American Pharaoh winner, started four of the six competitors.

Bloodstock agent and former trainer Mike Pender selected Intrepido at auction. The Sierra Fria Farm-bred is a son of Maximus Mischief out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Overly Indulgent.

Ted Noffey

Whether referring to Ted Noffey or Ned Toffey, the two words indicate first class.

Spendthirft Farm's 2-year-old Thoroughbred Ted Noffey - whose name was inspired by a social media misspelling of the name of Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey - has shown brilliance this year as a 2-year-old. An auspicious debut winner at Saratoga Aug. 2, he followed up that effort with an improved performance second out in capturing the Sept. 1 Hopeful Stakes (G1) by 8 1/2 lengths.

Coming from just off the pace, Ted Noffey ran 7 furlongs in the Hopeful in a sparkling 1:22.35, capped by a final eighth of a mile in :12.17.

"He's learned from the race before to this one, he learned a lot - I see him waiting a little down the lane, so I kind of had to keep his mind on running, but other than that, very well done," Hall of Famer John Velazquez said.

Todd Pletcher trains Ted Noffey, who provided the Hall of Fame conditioner with his fifth win in the Hopeful, a stallion-making Grade 1 race that is the highlight race for juveniles of the Saratoga summer season.

Pletcher said the 2-year-old "gave us the feeling he was moving forward."

Added Toffey, "My first goal was just let him be faster than me, and he's definitely accomplished that. He's really a nice horse."

Ted Noffey passed his initial two-turn test at Keeneland on Oct. 4 in the Breeders' Futurity (G1). He stalked the pace of Litmus Test, took over with a quarter-mile to go and cruised to a 2 3/4-length victory over Blackout Time.

The colt's fall objective is the Oct. 31 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar in a two-turn race at 1 1/16 miles. The Juvenile typically determines the champion 2-year-old male in Eclipse Award voting.

Bred in Kentucky by Aaron and Marie Jones, Ted Noffey is out of the dual graded stakes-placed Old Fashioned mare Streak of Luck. He was a $650,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Desert Gate

The promising 2-year-old Desert Gate is not yet a Grade 1 winner, but he's come oh so close.

After winning his first two starts in Southern California for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, including the Aug. 9 Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar, he came within a length of stablemate Brant when second in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (G1).

Next out when racing 1 1/16 miles in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 at Santa Anita, he came even closer to victory. Leading for much of the race, he spurted clear in midstretch before being collared first by stablemate Plutarch and later by Intrepido at the finish. He would finish three-quarters of a length behind the latter, while nosing out Plutarch for the place in a race timed in 1:43.67

"He was traveling very comfortably and so well," jockey Juan Hernandez said of Desert Gate. "He gave me everything he had. He opened up a couple lengths. It was the first time he was going a mile and a sixteenth so it was a little long for him the first time. He's young and he's got a lot of races to come and a lot of victories as well."

Bob Baffert trains Desert Gate for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Under their Three Amigos moniker, they purchased Desert Gate for $260,000 from the Navas Equine consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-olds in Training.

A son of Omaha Beach out of the stakes-winning Curlin mare Theogony, Desert Gate was bred in Kentucky by Twin Oaks Bloodstock.

Brant

The talented Thoroughbred Brant, acquired for a record $3 million at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, has run to his pricey sales tag this year.

A first-out winner July 26 for Zedan Racing Stables and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, he followed that victory with a quick victory as the 1-10 favorite in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (G1) there.

His connections now have eyes for the most prestigious fall race for 2-year-old males at Del Mar: the Oct. 31 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

By virtue of his pedigree - the PTK LLC-bred gray and/or roan colt is a son of 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner out of the Liam's Map mare Tynan - and his Grade 1-winning form, Brant is regarded as a leading prospect for the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile.

Heavily favored against five rivals in the Del Mar Futurity, Brant went to the front and had enough to turn back the bid of stablemate Desert Gate to prevail by a length. After setting fractions of :21.88, :44.53, 1:09.11 in the 7-furlong race, Brant posted a final time of 1:21.92 on a fast track.

"I think he was ready for the day," jockey Flavien Prat said. "When we broke he was very quick, he was very comfortable. He took a nice breather around the turn and we made it to the finish line."

With the Del Mar Futurity part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen program, Brant earned credits to apply toward his starting fees in the Juvenile. So did Desert Gate and third-place Civil Liberty.

The colt is the first foal for Tynan, a half-sister to stakes winners Pappacap and Boppy O. Brant is bred similarly to Pappacap, another son of Gun Runner. Pappacap was runner-up in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing Stables named Brant after his friend and multiple Breeders' Cup-winning horse owner, Peter Brant.

Blackout Time

Some 2-year-olds head into the fall of the year with question marks surrounding their ability to route, having racked up wins in sprints.

That is not the case with Blackout Time. After a runner-up finish in his debut when sprinting at Churchill Downs in late June, trainer Kenny McPeek opted to keep him in Kentucky rather than send him to Saratoga. Stretched out to a mile Aug. 2 at Ellis Park, he rolled by 9 3/4 lengths, clocked in 1:37.12 for the distance.

McPeek then chose to await the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland with him next, and again the Not This Time colt impressed, this time with a runner-up finish Oct. 4. Though he was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Ted Noffey, he finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Litmus Test, a talented colt also under Breeders' Cup consideration.

"He had a great effort; the horse hadn't run in two months. We've been sitting and waiting for this race," McPeek said.

With Ted Noffey appearing the likely favorite for the Oct. 31 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, this was a high-class runner-up performance, and one from which Blackout Time could improve.

"The horse that beat us is a great horse but I really like how my horse is coming from breaking his maiden to a Grade 1," said jockey Cristian Torres, who subbed for an injured Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons. "He delivers. He gave me everything he had."

Bred by Newstead Corp in Kentucky, Blackout Time is out of the Elusive Quality mare Beauty Parlor, who won the Orchid Stakes (G3) at 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2015. McPeek purchased him for $210,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale.

Civil Liberty

Trainer Doug O'Neill has put the band back together - specifically Mark Davis and Great Friends Stables, some of the owners associated with multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Torrent.

Raging Torrent is retired from racing - he enters stud in 2026 in Kentucky at Lane's End Farm - but Davis, Great Friends and O'Neill have reloaded with another graded-caliber runner.

Civil Liberty, a colt by Independence Hall out of the Tiznow mare Love and Respect, has emerged as a promising juvenile on the West Coast. Runner-up to Brant in his July 26 debut at 5 1/2 furlongs, Civil Liberty next raced in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (G1), finishing third in the 7-furlong race behind Brant and Desert Gate.

Considering that Brant cost $3 million at auction this year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Civil Liberty showed his quality to remain competitive in two starts with that rival. If Civil Liberty shows the ability to handle longer races this fall, a race such as the 1 1/16-mile FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Oct. 31 at Del Mar could be in the cards.

In his initial attempt at the 1 1/16-mile distance, Civil Liberty was a non-threatening fourth of six in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 4. He finished 6 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Intrepido.

Civil Liberty, bred by St. Simon Place, was a $160,000 buy from the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He sold twice earlier as a younger horse.

O'Neill is a five-time Breeders' Cup winner, including two runnings of Juvenile with eventual champions Stevie Wonderboy (2005) and Nyquist (2015).

Independence Hall also was a talented 2-year-old, winning both of his starts: a maiden race and the 2019 Nashua Stakes (G3). He later added the 2020 Jerome Stakes (Listed) as a 3-year-old and the 2021 Fayette Stakes (G2) as a 4-year-old. He also was third in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).

Independance Hall stood this past breeding season for $7,500 at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.

Litmus Test

After scoring on debut, Litmus Test was asked to prove himself twice in Grade 1 races this summer and fall.

He showed he is of top-level stakes caliber. First matched against Brant, Desert Gate and Civil Liberty in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (G1), he ran respectably to be fourth behind that trio, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by victorious Brant. Then taking his show on the road to Kentucky for the Oct. 4 Breeders' Futurity (G1), he shot to the lead and after carving out moderate fractions held third behind Ted Noffey and Blackout Time. He finished 5 lengths behind Ted Noffey, one of the expected Juvenile favorites.

"I had a good trip," jockey Flavien Prat said. "I thought he was traveling well on the front end and made a good effort."

Litmus Test is a 2-year-old son of Nyquist, who won the 2015 Juvenile during a championship campaign that year. Nyquist would go on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) the following year.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall out of the Malibu Moon mare Study Hard. A $875,000 yearling purchase from his breeder's consignment to The Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton in 2024, he races for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianna Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital andCatherine Donovan.

With Bob Baffert the principal trainer for the partnership, these owners focus on buying well-bred colts at auction, aim to develop them into Grade 1 winners on the racetrack, and then sell them to become stallions following their racing careers.

Comport

Joseph Sutton's Comport brings racing performances from Kentucky into the Oct. 31 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). All four of his starts have been in Bluegrass State, resulting in two wins and two runner-up finishes.

He kicked off his career with a June 1 victory for trainer Eddie Keneally at Churchill Downs and has raced in three stakes since. The first of those stakes efforts came with a second in the June 29 Bashford Manor Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs, the second when victorious in the Aug. 10 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes, and the third and most recent when runner-up to Spice Runner in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) over a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13.

Pressing the early pace in the latter race, he took command leaving the turn and came into the stretch in position to win. But Spice Runner gradually cut into his lead and nailed him by a head at the finish.

With the Iroquois part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen program, he earned entry fee credits of $15,000 to apply to starting in the Juvenile at Del Mar.

Through a separate program, he also earned 5 qualifying points toward next year's Kentucky Derby.

Bred in Kentucky by Edwin Anthony out of the Flatter mare Bartlett Narrows, Comport was a $135,000 purchase from the Stone Farm consignment to the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by his owner.

Mr. A. P.

Although Mr. A. P. has yet to race in a stakes race, much less in a top-level contest such as the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), he seems to be a 2-year-old with stakes potential.

Second in his first two starts over the summer at Del Mar, he broke through with a maiden victory at Santa Anita Oct. 13 when stretched out to a mile. Collaring pace-setting Cherokee Nation nearing the stretch, the two battled over the final quarter mile, with Mr. A. P. hitting the finish line with his nose in front in a final time of 1:38.01.

The ability he exhibited by settling and fighting through a closing duel suggests maturity and determination.

That performance earned him a career best Equibase Speed Figure of 106, though his Beyer Speed Figure was not as high, an 81. He had posted an 88 Beyer Speed Figure a start earlier as a close runner-up to Kristofferson in a 6-furlong maiden race at Del Mar Aug. 31.

Mr. A. P. has yet to race the Breeders' Cup Juvenile distance of 1 1/16 miles. The Juvenile will be his longest race to date.

Owned by Holly and David Wilson and trained by Vladimir Cerin, Mr. A. P. was claimed for $150,000 from his debut at Del Mar July 31. Claims for such a high price occur infrequently, particularly when dealing with unraced maidens.

His success at a mile was not unexpected. The 2-year-old is a bay ridgling by American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner.

He was bred in Kentucky by Pollock Farms, produced from the stakes-winning Discreet Cat mare Trenchtown Cat. Both of her foals to race are now winners. Mr. A. P. has earnings of $63,000.

2025 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

What is the Breeders' Cup Juvenile?

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) finally produced a winner that would deliver a Kentucky Derby (G1) victory with Street Saver winning the derby in 2007. With only one Kentucky Derby winner to date, this $1.5 million race of the Breeders' Cup thoroughbred championship events is regarded more as a measure of 2-year-old form, as it is basically intended to be among the Breeders' Cup races, and less as a reliable yardstick of classic potential.

In the past 20-plus years, the Juvenile has only been able to field one Derby winner, and has only produced a couple classic winners - Preakness Stakes (G1) 1995 victor Timber Country and 2007 victor Curlin, have in fact, won this race. With regularity, however, the Derby winner and other classic winners have been in the beaten Juvenile field, suggesting that classic winners were either not sufficiently precocious to win the Juvenile or found its distance to be too short for their best efforts. The Breeder's Cup Juvenile has been run at 1 1/16 miles since 2003. It was originally a 1-mile race in 1984, 1985, and 1987, and was run at 1 1/8 miles in 2002.

Chief's Crown won in the first Breeders' Cup Juvenile held in 1984 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. He finished second or third in all of the following year's classics, as well as triumphed in the Travers Stakes (G1) against 3 year olds and the Marlboro Cup Handicap (G1) against older horses. He had the 3 year old title and Horse of the Year honors in his sights until he finished fourth as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Classic (G1) in 1985.

Coming in at second to Chief's Crown in the 1984 Juvenile was Tank's Prospect, who won the following year's Preakness Stakes. Tiring to finish third, beaten only by 1 1/2 lengths, was Spend a Buck, the Derby 1985 winner, who was voted 3 year old male champion and Horse of the Year.

Subsequent editions of the Breeder's Cup Juvenile would see this pattern being repeated. Alysheba, finishing third in the 1986 Juvenile, won the following year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and was also voted 3 year old male champion. Bet Twice, who finished fourth in that same year's Juvenile, triumphed over Alysheba at the Belmont Stakes (G1) in the next year.

Pine Bluff, who placed seventh in the 1991 Juvenile, won the following year's Preakness Stakes. Sea Hero, seventh in the 1992 Juvenile, won the 1993 Kentucky Derby. Tabasco Cat, finishing third to Brocco in the 1993 Juvenile, became a dual classic winner in 1994 for D. Wayne Lukas, the leading trainer of Juvenile winners. Point Given, who came off a close second-place finish in the 2000 Juvenile, won the 2001 Preakness, Belmont, and Travers Stakes. Retired with an injury after Travers, Point Given was voted Horse of the Year and champion 3 year old male in 2001.

The Juvenile event of the Breeders' Cup races held in 1991 at Churchill Downs was arguably the most memorable running of the series.

Losing an equally close decision was the best sire of the late 1990s, Storm Cat, who simply failed to last the one-mile distance of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 1985 at Aqueduct. Capote, winner of the 1986 Juvenile, would never win again but would become a successful sire, getting 1996 Juvenile winner Boston Harbor.

The Juvenile event of the Breeders' Cup races held in 1991 at Churchill Downs was arguably the most memorable running of the series. French-trained Arazi broke from the outside post position, blew by the field on the final turn, and romped to a 5-length victory. Voted 2 year old male champion off that one North American start, Arazi was hampered by knee problems early in his 3 year old season. He finished eighth as the favorite in the 1992 Kentucky Derby.

Similarly, Favorite Trick was voted Horse of the Year in 1997 following an overwhelming victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. His contemporaries, however, would catch up with him at age three, leaving him to finish eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

At the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Wilko snagged the championship at 28.30 odds with jockey Lanfranco Dettori. 2005 Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes champ Afleet Alex won second at 3.00 odds with jockey Jeremy Rose, and Sun King placed third at 6.90 odds with jockey Edgar Prado.

In 2003, 27-1 longshot Action This Day made another memorable finish at the Juvenile event of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships when he shocked the crowd with a last to first run. Jockey David Flores kept him back in last early, then on the turn, split rivals passing seven horses in upper stretch. Inside the final furlong, Action This Day collared his stablemate 9-1 shot Minister Eric and won going away by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:43 3/5.