The Breeders’ Cup countdown is on. Time for bettors and racing followers alike to pay a bit of extra consideration to among the prime contenders getting ready for the two-day, 14-race, $34 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar in lower than two weeks.
From Saratoga to Keeneland to Santa Anita Park, among the main Breeders’ Cup prospects posted exercises over the weekend as trainers fine-tune their horses earlier than the game’s greatest weekend.
Right here’s a take a look at among the weekend exercise motion:
Breeders’ Cup Traditional
Sovereignty, the possible favourite for the $7 million Breeders Cup Traditional (G1), labored 5 furlongs in 1:01.39 on Sunday (Oct. 19) over Saratoga’s Oklahoma coaching monitor on Sunday.
“He’s not a kind of horses that works and breaks the stopwatch,” Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott mentioned. “He has good stable works, good helpful works, that’s type of him. He does what he has to do and what you might have him do.”
Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and the Travers Stakes (G1), will likely be taking up older horses for the primary time within the 1¼-mile Traditional. The plan requires the Into Mischief colt to ship out this week and have a remaining exercise at Del Mar this weekend.
SOVEREIGNTY works 5 furlongs in 1:01.39, in accordance with NYRA clockers, over Oklahoma coaching monitor. He began barely in entrance of workmate PLAYA DEL MAR [1:02 1/5] and completed a number of lengths forward as he prepares for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Traditional. pic.twitter.com/3wPhBekKCW
— Christian (@c__abdo) October 19, 2025
“The primary factor is you carry the fitting horse and get them there in good condition,” Mott mentioned. “The horses are all going to be able to run. They will be match. All people goes to have their horses match.”
Sierra Leone, final 12 months’s Traditional winner, labored 4 furlongs in 49.08 seconds on Saturday (Oct. 18) over Saratoga’s Oklahoma coaching monitor.
“He labored tremendous,” coach Chad Brown mentioned his star 4-year-old. “He has been very in line with the way in which he’s been working. He’s been galloping out a powerful three-quarters each week and I like the way in which he’s transferring.”
The son of prime sire Gun Runner labored to the within of the maiden Period. “He’s been doing that each week truly: huge, robust gallop-outs beginning on the half mile,” Brown mentioned. “That’s what I like for him, and he’s doing it nearly as good as a horse might do it.”
The 🦍 Journalism bought critical this morning for @mwmracing working a powerful 5-poles @santaanitapark in 59 & change. The Santa Anita Derby, @PreaknessStakes & Haskell @MonmouthPark hero is 15 days from competing in a @BreedersCup Traditional for the ages. #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/5FFSIWlheJ
— Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions (@EclipseTBP) October 17, 2025
Sierra Leone has by no means missed the board in 13 profession begins and has earned greater than $7 million with a 13-5-5-3 report. He was second to Antiquarian within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) on Aug. 31 in his final begin.
At Santa Anita on Saturday, Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Baeza labored 6 furlongs in 1:14.20 with jockey Hector Berrios aboard. Skilled by John Shirreffs, Previous to his breakthrough win, Baeza ran third within the Derby and Belmont, and was second within the Santa Anita Derby and the Jim Dandy.
A day earlier at Santa Anita, Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism labored 5 furlongs in 59.20, the second quickest of 41 works on the distance. He labored in firm with Yellow Card.
“It was good for him” common train rider Tony Gutierrez mentioned. “We have been going to get a bit of critical immediately. I caught my workmate close to the quarter pole, however then when (Journalism) noticed that horse in entrance of us, he puffed himself up, went to the rail and chased him. It was good.”
Journalism completed second Fierceness within the Pacific Traditional (G1) on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. He has by no means completed out of the highest 3 and owns a report of 10-6-3-1 and practically $4 million in earnings.
Pletcher Sends Out His 4 Contenders on Friday (Oct. 17)
Fierceness, Mindframe, Antiquarian and Locked are all being pointed to the Traditional and posted exercises at Saratoga’s Oklahoma coaching monitor Friday (Oct 17).
“I’m pleased with all of them,’’ Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher, including that the Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile (G1) is an alternate for Mindframe and Locked. “All of them galloped nicely and we’re counting the times.”
Mindframe and Locked breezed collectively, going 5 furlongs in 1:01.49 over Oklahoma’s coaching monitor. Mindframe was bumped and dropped his rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. at first of the Jockey Membership Gold Cup on Aug. 31; Locked lately received the Woodward Stakes (G2).
“I believed Mindframe went tremendous,” Pletcher mentioned. “He had a very robust gallop out. Locked, since he is run extra lately, we weren’t in search of fairly as a lot on the gallop out from him, however I believed they each went nicely.”
Fierceness, winner of the Pacific Traditional, breezed to the within of Antiquarian and so they lined 5 furlongs in 1:00.56
“Simply one other ‘typical’ of what we have seen from (Fierceness). Each breeze, he simply does issues very effortlessly,” Pletcher mentioned. “He seemed good coming to the wire, stayed on, galloped out properly. We needed to match him up with a bit of stronger mate immediately, to get stable work.
“I believed (Antiquarian) responded nicely. He stayed on the right track and galloped out properly, work from each of them.”
He added: “We felt like with all 4 horses, immediately was the sternest work we have been going to search for. They will ship subsequent week. We can’t look to do fairly as a lot subsequent week.’’ All 4 are anticipated to have a remaining exercise this weekend earlier than being shipped to Del Mar.
Different Breeders’ Cup contender exercises:
Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile
Full Serrano, final 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile (G1) winner at 13-1 odds for coach John Sadler, labored for a second time since working second within the Goodwood Stakes (G1). He labored 5 furlongs in 59.40, second quickest of 48 works on the distance … Chancer McPatrick labored 4 furlongs in 49.34 over the Oklahoma coaching monitor Saturday; he received a pair of Grade 1s final 12 months, the Champagne Stakes and the Hopeful Stakes, however is 1-for-5 in 2025. “My hope is that this horse is circling again into his fall type of final 12 months when he received the Champagne, which was an excellent race,” coach Chad Brown mentioned.
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Scottish Lassie, educated by Jorge Abreu, labored 5 furlongs in 59.00 over the Belmont Park coaching monitor Saturday for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). The three-year-old filly completed fourth in final 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She received the Teaching Membership American Oaks (G1) by 15 ½ lengths and completed fourth within the Cotillion (G1) on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing … Scylla, educated by Mott, breezed 4 furlongs in 48.20 on Saturday at Churchill Downs … Dorth Vader, second by a nostril to Thorpedo Anna within the Private Ensign Stakes (G1) final out on Aug. 23, labored 4 furlongs in 48.53 on Friday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma coaching monitor. The 5-year-old mare received the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) to earn her computerized berth within the Distaff.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Percy’s Bar, who completed first within the Darley Alcibiades (G1) however was disqualified to second for interference with Tommy Jo being elevated to the official winner, labored 4 furlongs in 48.20 underneath jockey Luan Machado. Coach Ben Colebrook mentioned: “I beloved it for her first and solely work for the Breeders’ Cup. She acted like she needed to do one thing this morning. Luan by no means requested her. She cruised as much as her workmate and bought to do what we got down to do.” … Tommy Jo, educated by Pletcher, is also heading in the right direction for the race, working 4 furlongs in 48.09.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash
Praying, winner of the Thoroughbred Membership of America (G2) two weeks in the past at Keeneland, labored 3 furlongs in 38.40 on Saturday at Keeneland (one other work is scheduled for subsequent weekend). “She went good and simple to the pole and labored nicely,” coach Robbie Medina mentioned … Vahva, second to Praying the TCA, labored 4 furlongs in 48.00 on Saturday at Keeneland. Skilled by Cherie DeVaux, Vahva can have yet another work earlier than being shipped to Del Mar on Oct. 27. Vahva ran eighth within the final 12 months’s Filly & Mare Dash … Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) winner Seismic Magnificence and Splendora (Tranquility Lake winner at Del Mar) every labored 5 furlongs for Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert on Saturday. Seismic Magnificence was timed in 59.60 seconds; Splendora in a pointy 58.20.
Breeders’ Cup Dash
Bentornato, runner-up in final 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1), breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00 Saturday at Keeneland underneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. The time was quickest of 24 on the distance. “He can have his remaining work right here subsequent week,” coach Jose D’Angelo mentioned … Creativeness, educated by Baffert, labored 6 furlongs in 1:11.60. The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt received the Santa Anita Dash Championship (G2) on Sept. 28.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Baffert-trained Brant, 2-for-2, labored 6 furlongs in 1:11.80 at Santa Anita on Saturday for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The two-year-old son of Gun Runner was bought for $3 million by proprietor Zedan Racing … Intrepedo, winner of the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) for coach Jeff Mullins on Oct. 4, labored 4 furlongs in 52.80 with Hector Berrios aboard on Saturday at Santa Anita. Ted Noffey, the anticipated Juvenile favourite, breezed 4 furlongs in 49.45 on Thursday (Oct. 16) at Saratoga for Pletcher.
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