The Breeders’ Cup is one of the standout events on the horse racing schedule, as it is one of the few nights of the year when the best in the world collide.
Stars from across the globe travel to the United States in the hope of winning major prize money, and there were no shortage of success stories at the previous edition of the event in Santa Anita.
The Breeders’ Cup can help unearth potential superstars that could be set for a period of dominance at the top of the sport. You can bet on some of these horses using this signup bonus: https://www.twinspires.com/200-signup
So, who were some of the runners that we could see landing huge prizes on the horse racing calendar in 2024?
Big Evs
The success that Big Evs achieved in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint was a surprise to nobody that has been following the two-year-old for Michael Appleby throughout the 2023 season. His only defeat on track came in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes when taking on his elders for the first time, but he bounced back with back-to-back wins against horses aged two.
The latest of those saw him finish clear of Valiant Force to land success at the Breeders’ Cup. Big Evs will once again be a star to follow throughout the 2024 season, as connections are plotting raids in the big-money sprints. A successful campaign could see him emerge as the horse to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint next year.
Fierceness
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hasn’t been the best prep for the Kentucky Derby throughout recent history, but there could have been a special winner of the race in 2023 for Todd Pletcher. Fierceness was excellent at Santa Anita, as he reversed the form on Timberlake to finish over six lengths clear of the field in the Juvenile.
The manner of that performance over an extended mile indicates that he will have no problem stepping up in trip in early 2024, and he had some very talented runners behind him at Santa Anita. More stars will likely emerge on route to Churchill Downs, but at this very early stage, the Pletcher two-year-old could be one to keep on side with big prices on the agenda in 2024.
Warm Heart
The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf didn’t really go to plan for Warm Heart in 2023, but we expect the three-year-old to progress once again throughout 2024 for trainer Aidan O’Brien. She was outlasted by Inspiral at Santa Anita, falling by a neck against her older rival, but it would be little surprise to see the runner reverse that form in 2024.
Warm Heart was a top-class three-year-old throughout the 2023 season, landing four victories from six starts in stakes company. She will continue to progress over the longer trips in Europe, and a return to the Breeders’ Cup could beckon at Del Mar in 2024.
Auguste Rodin
Another runner from the O’Brien yard to keep tabs on throughout 2024 was the winner of the Turf. Auguste Rodin produced one of the performances of the weekend at Santa Anita, as he bested one of the highest-quality fields in the history of the race. That success saw him land a fourth Grade 1 honour of the 2023 season, which included success in the G1 Epsom Derby.
He will continue to compete at the highest level in 2024, with all eyes likely to be on the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. However, connections have already opened the door to a sensational return to the Breeders’ Cup in 2024, with the Classic likely to be one of their big targets for this talented runner.
Mawj
There was a Godolphin one-two in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2023, with Mawj ultimately finishing as the runner-up behind the experienced Master of the Seas. Mawj looks to be the runner to keep on side with races in 2024 in mind, as the Saeed bin Suroor runner will target some massive purses throughout the early months of the year in the Middle East.
All eyes will already be on a return to Del Mar at the end of 2024, and there will be little surprise to see this filly become a standout contender in the Mile once again.
White Abarrio
There were few brighter stars at Santa Anita in 2023 than White Abarrio, who landed Classic success for Richard Dutrow Jr. The four-year-old appeared to be nearing his end on track at the start of the year after struggling to eighth in the G1 Pegasus World Cup. However, the transfer to a new yard has reignited this runner, and he looked better than ever when scoring by over six lengths in the G1 Whitney Stakes.
That form was taken to a new level when besting Derma Sotogake by over a length in the Classic. Connections have already mentioned that he will be back to defend his title at Del Mar, and that could see the grey lineup in the Dubai World Cup and Whitney before a journey back to California.
