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29m ago

Breeders’ Cup Opens at Del Mar as Fierceness Leads Classic After Sovereignty Scratch

The two-day championship features a global lineup and a purse pool of about $34 million, delivering an estimated $150 million boost to the San Diego region.

Del Mar Racetrack celebrates the arrival of the Breeders' Cup
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Forever Young works out April 30, 2024, four days before the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Overview

  • Trainer Bill Mott confirmed Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty was withdrawn from the $7 million Classic after a recurrent fever.
  • The Classic field is set at nine with morning-line favorite Fierceness at 5-2, co-seconds Sierra Leone and Forever Young at 7-2, followed by Journalism (5-1), Mindframe (6-1), Baeza and Antiquarian (10-1), Nevada Beach (20-1) and Contrary Thinking (50-1).
  • Defending champion Sierra Leone bids for a rare repeat, with Chad Brown saying the horse is positioned to do so; only Tiznow has won the Classic twice.
  • Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance seeks an unprecedented third victory in the 1 1/2-mile, $5 million Turf, with Charlie Appleby training and William Buick riding.
  • Organizers highlight record international depth with runners from five continents, horses bred in 13 countries and 55 foreign entries, and note last year’s $203.7 million wagering record.