2022 Breeders' Cup

Last updated
2022 Breeders' Cup
Championship Event Series race
Breeders Cup 2022 logo.png
2022 Breeders' Cup logo
Location Keeneland, Lexington, Kentucky
Race typeThoroughbred
Website www.breederscup.com
Race information
DistanceSee individual races
SurfaceTurf, Dirt
PurseVaries by Race; from $1 million to $6 million

The 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 39th edition of the premier event of the North American Thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 4 and 5 at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky. In the United States, the races were telecast on Friday and early Saturday by USA Network and FanDuel TV, with NBC covering the last three races on Saturday. [1] In the United Kingdom, ITV broadcast all the races live, with day 1 on ITV3 and day 2 on ITV4.

Contents

The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The event typically determines champions in many of the Eclipse Award divisions.

Qualifying

A maximum of 14 horses (12 in the Dirt Mile and Juvenile Turf Sprint) were allowed to start in each race. [2] Horses could automatically qualify by winning one of the designated races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, which provide "Win and You're In" berths in a specified division of the Breeders' Cup. Other pre-entries were ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts. [3]

On October 26, 205 horses were pre-entered in the various races, 46 of which qualified via the Challenge series. The entries include 73 Grade/Group 1 winners and 45 horses from overseas. Most of the races had full fields. However, two of the most highly anticipated events (the Classic and Distaff) had smaller fields that included most of the top-ranked horses in the United States, including Flightline, Life Is Good and Epicenter in the Classic, and Nest and Malathaat in the Distaff. [4] [5] [6]

Event preparation

Keeneland hosted the Breeders' Cup for the third time. They first hosted the event in 2015 when American Pharoah finished his career by winning the Classic after having won the American Triple Crown. The 2020 event at Keeneland though was held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Fans who had purchased tickets for that event were given first preference for seating at the 2022 event. [7] Keeneland installed temporary seating, including five "chalets" and loge boxes, to increase their normal capacity of about 20,000 to 45,000 people. [8]

Races

The official sequence of the Breeders' Cup races was announced on October 26. The betting menu included an All-Turf Pick 3 on Friday, an All-Turf Pick 4 on Saturday and three special "daily doubles" where a bettor needed to pick the winner of one race on Friday and the corresponding race on Saturday for older horses: Juvenile Fillies/Distaff, Juvenile/Classic and Juvenile Turf/Turf. [9]

Friday, November 4

Two horses, Forte and the filly Wonder Wheel, likely wrapped up Eclipse Awards by winning the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies respectively. Forte, who had previously won the Hopeful Stakes and Breeders' Futurity, beat the heavily favored Cave Rock with a come-from-behind stretch drive. [10] Similarly, Wonder Wheel was well back in the early run but closed well to win by three lengths – the largest winning margin in the day's Breeders' Cup races. [11]

All three turf races were won by Irish-bred horses. Trainer Aidan O'Brien won two races for Coolmore – the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Meditate and the Juvenile Turf with Victoria Road – and trainer Charlie Appleby won the Juvenile Turf Sprint with Mischief Magic for Godolphin. [12]

A record $49.27 million was bet on the five Breeders' Cup races, a 16.4% increase over the record set in 2021 for Friday betting. [13] Only one favorite won on the day but there were no major upsets. Nonetheless, the Pick 5 returned $2,428.02 for a 50 cent bet. [14]

Race namePost time
(EST)		SponsorDistanceRestrictionsPurseWinner (Bred)Odds [lower-alpha 1] Margin
Juvenile Turf Sprint 3:00 PM5+1⁄2 furlongs2-year-olds$1 millionMischief Magic (IRE)6.921 length
Juvenile Fillies 3:40 PM NetJets 1+1⁄16 miles2-year-old fillies$2 million Wonder Wheel (KY)6.503 lengths
Juvenile Fillies Turf 4:20 PM1 mile2-year-old fillies$1 millionMeditate (IRE)2.04*2+1⁄2 lengths
Juvenile 5:00 PM FanDuel 1+1⁄16 miles2-year-old colts and geldings$2 million Forte (KY)5.021+1⁄2 lengths
Juvenile Turf 5:40 PM1 mile2-year-old colts and geldings$1 millionVictoria Road (IRE)5.57Nose

An asterisk after the odds means the winner was the post-time favorite

Source: Equibase charts for Friday, November 4 [14]

Legend:
  Dirt  Turf

Saturday, November 5

In winning the Classic by a record 8+1⁄4 lengths, Flightline all but guaranteed he would earn American Horse of the Year honors, as well as the older male horse title. [16] Malathaat also wrapped up the Eclipse Award for older fillies and mares by winning the Distaff in a three-way photo finish with Blue Stripe and Clairiere, [17] while Goodnight Olive is likely to be named the female sprint Champion after her win in the Filly & Mare Sprint. However, the male sprint Champion title is undecided after heavy favorite Jackie's Warrior was beaten by Elite Power in the Sprint. Cody's Wish may also be considered for the title after his win in the Dirt Mile. [18]

In the Turf races, European-bred horses were once again dominant, though Pennsylvania-bred Caravel did manage to win the Turf Sprint in the day's biggest upset. Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore won the Filly & Mare Turf with Tuesday, while Charlie Appleby and Godolphin won the Mile and Turf with Modern Games and Rebel's Romance respectively. O'Brien and Appleby tied as the leading trainers over the two-day card with three wins each. [19] Ryan Moore won the Shoemaker Award, having ridden Coolmore's three winners over the weekend, plus three seconds (Stone Age in the Turf, Emaraaty Ana in the Turf Sprint and Dramatised in the Juvenile Turf Sprint). [20]

The all-sources handle was a record $189 million over the two days, up 3.4% over the previous record set in 2021. [21]

Race namePost time
(EST)		SponsorDistanceRestrictionsPurseWinner (Bred)Odds [lower-alpha 1] Margin
Filly & Mare Sprint 11:50 AM7 furlongs3 yrs+ fillies & mares$1 million Goodnight Olive (KY)1.85*2+1⁄2 lengths
Turf Sprint 12:29 PM5+1⁄2 furlongs3 yrs+$1 millionCaravel (PA)42.891⁄2 length
Dirt Mile 1:10 PM Big Ass Fans 1 mile3 yrs+$2 million Cody's Wish (KY)2.16*Head
Filly & Mare Turf 1:50 PM Maker's Mark 1+3⁄16 miles3 yrs+ fillies & mares$2 millionTuesday (IRE)4.191 length
Sprint 2:30 PMQatar Racing6 furlongs3 yrs+$2 million Elite Power (KY)5.551+1⁄4 lengths
Mile 3:10 PM FanDuel 1 mile3 yrs+$2 million Modern Games (IRE)1.38*3⁄4 length
Distaff 3:55 PM Longines 1+1⁄8 miles3 yrs+ fillies & mares$2 million Malathaat (KY)2.88Nose
Turf 4:40 PM Longines 1+1⁄2 miles3 yrs+$4 million Rebel's Romance (IRE)5.962+1⁄4 lengths
Classic 5:40 PM Longines 1+1⁄4 miles3 yrs+$6 million Flightline (KY)0.44*8+1⁄4 lengths

An asterisk after the odds means the winner was the post-time favorite

Source: Equibase charts for Saturday, November 5 [22]

Legend:
  Dirt  Turf

  1. 1 2 Kentucky introduced "penny breakage" in July 2022, meaning the pari-mutuel returns are rounded to the nearest penny for each dollar bet. Previously, returns were rounded down to the nearest dime. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breeders' Cup</span> Grade I Thoroughbred horse racing

The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. All sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.

The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic between 2008 and 2012, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. It is the top ranked race for fillies and mares in North America, and often decides the title for champion three-year-old and / or champion older filly or mare.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in which the winner earns an automatic spot in a specified Breeders' Cup race. The challenge races change somewhat each year. The Challenge series began in 2007 with 24 "Win and You're In" races from 2 countries. By 2014, the series had grown to 71 races across 13 countries. During that period, 24 winners of Breeders' Cup races had qualified via the challenge series.

The 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 25th edition of the premier event of the North American Thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on October 24 and 25 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2008 Breeders' Cup results were influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Brown (horse trainer)</span> American horse trainer

Chad C. Brown is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer known for his expertise with turf horses and with fillies and mares. He has trained ten Eclipse Award winners including Stacelita, Big Blue Kitten, Lady Eli, Flintshire, and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. After receiving the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer of 2016, he won his first Triple Crown race with Cloud Computing in the 2017 Preakness Stakes. He also won the Eclipse Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 31st edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on October 31 and November 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2014 Breeders' Cup results were highly influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2015 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 32nd edition of the thoroughbred horse racing season-ending premier event held on October 30 and 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. The race series, held for the first time at Keeneland, required a significant amount of preparation to transform the small, historic track into a venue capable of handling large crowds, comprising 13 championship races held over a two-day period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florent Geroux</span> French jockey

Florent Geroux is a jockey who has earned over 1,700 wins in American thoroughbred horse racing, including the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic on Gun Runner, two Breeders' Cup Distaff wins with Monomoy Girl, and the 2021 Kentucky Derby on Mandaloun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 33rd edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. A total of 185 pre-entries were announced on October 26 in what was considered a highly competitive year in most divisions. The races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 4 and 5 at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California and were telecast by NBC. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 34th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 13 races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 3 and 4 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California and were telecast by NBC and NBC Sports. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

The 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2017 Breeders' Cup. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key prep races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

The 2018 Breeders' Cup Challenge series provided winners of the designated races an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2018 Breeders' Cup, held on November 2 and 3. The Breeders' Cup also pays the entry fee and provides a travel allowance for the connections of the challenge race winners. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 35th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 2 and 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The event typically determines champions in many of the Eclipse Award divisions, although it was missing the eventual Horse of the Year, Triple Crown champion Justify, who was retired in July.

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 86 horse races that provided the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2019 Breeders' Cup, held on November 1 and 2. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world. The Breeders' Cup organization paid the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals.

The 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 36th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 1 and 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 37th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 6 and 7 at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday.

The 2020 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consists of horse races from around the world that provide the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2020 Breeders' Cup, to be held on November 6 and 7. Races are chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and include key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions. The Breeders' Cup organization pays the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals.

Malathaat is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2021 after winning the Ashland Stakes, Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes. In 2022, she was named American Champion Older Dirt Female Horse after winning the Personal Ensign, Spinster Stakes and Breeders' Cup Distaff. She also won the Tempted and Demoiselle Stakes at age two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships is the 38th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which are Grade I, took place on November 5 and 6 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California and were telecast by NBC and NBC Sports. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The event typically determines champions in many of the Eclipse Award divisions.

The 2022 Breeders' Cup Challenge series was a series of horse races that provided the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" berth in the 2022 Breeders' Cup, held on November 4 and 5. Races were chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and included key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions from around the world. The Breeders' Cup organization paid the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals. They also provided travel allowances for out of state competitors

References

  1. ↑ "Breeders' Cup World Championships". Breeders' Cup . 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Classic: Flightline fever gripping the racing world". www.drf.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "How It Works". www.breederscup.com. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Breeders' Cup pre-entries whet appetites for showdowns". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "2022 Breeders' Cup pre-entries". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll - October 31, 2022". NTRA. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Tickets for the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland on sale Monday, May 9 | Keeneland". www.keeneland.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Keeneland construction more than doubles capacity for Breeders' Cup". LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX). 26 September 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Breeders' Cup announces 2022 race order, wagering menu". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Forte's late move too much for Cave Rock". www.drf.com. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Wonder Wheel uses come-from-behind tactics to win". www.drf.com. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Victoria Road gets up in 1-2 European finish". www.drf.com. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Friday handle sets record, surpassing 2021 by over 16 percent". www.drf.com. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Charts for Breeders' Cup Friday". Equibase. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Penny breakage in Kentucky to begin July 15". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  16. ↑ Grening, David. "Breeders' Cup Classic: Flightline turns in another astonishing performance". www.drf.com. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  17. ↑ Wilkin, Tim. "Malathaat wins Distaff in three-way photo finish". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  18. ↑ King, Byron. "Mott with two players for Male Sprinter title". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  19. ↑ Hersh, Marcus. "Breeders' Cup: European contingent, with six turf trophies, heads home". www.drf.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Moore Wins Bill Shoemaker Award". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "Breeders' Cup reports record handle on 2022 races". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "Charts for Breeders' Cup Saturday". Equibase. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.