GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) has come out of the marquee race in good order, according to Chad Brown, and will return to Kentucky Monday morning.
“Everything's all good,” said assistant trainer Baldo Hernandez Sunday morning after showing the horse to the media. “He will ship tomorrow to Kentucky and maybe Florida after that. I don't know for sure, it's up to the boss.”
The connections are expected to announce future plans for the colt soon.
Sean Flanagan of Flanagan Racing confirmed that 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) will return to Florida for the winter with the long-term goal of pointing toward the GI Kentucky Derby. He finished sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
“We'll bring him down to Payson Park and sometime in January get him back going on the Derby trail.”
In the Todd Pletcher camp, 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Fierceness (City of Light) came out of his runner-up effort in the Classic well and the expectation is that he will continue his career in 2025.
“He came out of the race very well,” Pletcher said. “Looks good this morning. He's going to go to Kentucky tomorrow and is going to get a complete physical. Currently, the plan would be for him to go on to Palm Beach Downs from there and prepare for a 4-year-old campaign.”
Pletcher couldn't point to a specific next start for Fierceness but did say the big-money early season contests for older horses at Gulfstream Park–namely the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational–will be considered.
“It's a little premature to say exactly what we're going to point for,” he said. “We'll see how the physical goes. Then the Pegasus is in play, the Saudi Cup is in play, the Dubai World Cup is in play. A lot of options. And he's had a pretty steady campaign. Hasn't been out of training. Ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year and Breeders' Cup this year. It's premature to firm up an exact race schedule, but lot of possibilities.”
After rallying to sixth, 'TDN Rising Star' GISW Tapit Trice (Tapit) has also returned in good shape. Pletcher was impressed with the effort, and said the plan was for the horse to go to Kentucky while the ownership group made a decision on if he would be retired to stud or return for 2025.
A stable representative from third-place finisher Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn})'s camp confirmed their multiple group winning star had emerged well and that they would like to return next year.
Bill Mott contends that GISW Arthur's Ride (Tapit) had landed a tough situation in the Classic when the Japanese contender, 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake (Jpn), (Mind Your Biscuits) blazed through early splits of :22.43, :44.96, and six furlongs in 1:09.44.
“It wasn't the scenario we visualized,” Mott said. “He [jockey Junior Alvarado] was forced to make a decision by the time he got down to the wire the first time. He either had to follow, track [Derma Sotogake] around the turn or gun him and try to go by. And, as you know, they went pretty fast.”
Trainer Doug Cowns was disappointed in the last-place performance, but not in MGSW Next (Not This Time), who will return to his marathon dirt races for 2025.
“He'll be back next year,” Cowans said. “We'll see him in the Issac Murphy at Churchill Downs during Derby week.”
The Distaff
MGISW Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) was on the red-eye flight out of California and back to Magdalena Farm in Lexington Sunday morning, where the 'TDN Rising Star' will get an extended layoff after capping her championship season with a 2 1/2-length win in the Distaff. Trainer Kenny McPeek reports she's come out in great shape. She will be given a 'huge' stall on the farm, likely have her hind shoes off for a bit, and have access to the many amenities the farm provides for her vacation.
McPeek included that there is no timetable for when she might return to training and no schedule mapped out for 2025.
While Thorpedo Anna will almost certainly be the Eclipse Award winner for the 3-year-old filly category, there is a strong nod to Horse of the Year consideration as well.
“I am just really proud of her,” McPeek said. “There were certainly high expectations, and she came through. It has been a fantastic year, and we are just looking forward to getting home.”
Third-place finisher GISW Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) is reportedly in fine condition after the race, and there are plans for a 2025 campaign for her as well after a freshening.
When asked how his Distaff-fourth came out of the race, Alice Verite (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn})'s trainer Kazuya Nakatake reponded, “She is good. We are tired in a good way!”
The Turf
The globetrotting Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the first horse to win the Turf in non-consecutive years Saturday, and has been given a sterling account for himself since then.
“He pulled up well this morning, ate up and the whole team ships out [Sunday] afternoon,” confirmed trainer Charlie Appleby's head traveling assistant, Chris Connett.
Godolphin representatives reported that the seven-time Group/Grade I winner will point toward the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Apr. 5 in 2025, which he won this year as well, and a potential start in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in the interim is thus far undecided.
Reports from the Japanese contingent state that trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka was pleased with runner-up Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB})'s effort and that he's come out well. A stable representative confirmed a similar prognosis for third-place finisher Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), just that he was 'unlucky at the final bends'.
Straight No Chaser with John Velazquez | Horsephotos
The Sprint
MyRacehorse's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster) returned to Santa Anita Sunday with no immediate plans set for him.
“I'm not sure what's next for him but I am enjoying this one,” said trainer Dan Blacker, who won his first Breeders' Cup race.
The winner's share of the purse boosted jockey John Velazquez's total to $39,330,275 to surpass Mike Smith as the leading all-time earner at the Breeders' Cup.
The Dirt Mile
GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile victor Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) has come out of his effort Saturday in fine form after pulling the 13-1 upset as the nightcap to a big Saturday of championship racing.
“Beautiful. He ate up and looks great,” said owner Kosta Hronis.
“Dappled and shiny,” Stephanie Hronis added. “Doesn't look exhausted.”
John Sadler provided a good prognosis for his star and announced the most immediate plan was to ship the horse back up to Santa Anita Sunday morning. As for 2025 plans, Hronis says those are up to Sadler.
“We'll get him up to Santa Anita,” said Sadler. “He leaves this morning. We'll check him out up there over the next week or so then we'll start to map out some plans.”
A possible next stop could be the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January, something on the stakes schedule at Santa Anita or a venture to the Middle East.
The Filly & Mare Sprint
GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Soul of An Angel (Atreides) is headed back to Florida Tuesday, and could have a trip to the Saudi Cup in her future should all go well.
“She will probably run once [in Florida],” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who won his first Breeders' Cup event in the race. “I think all being well, she'll probably try and go to the Saudi Cup. There's no two ways about it–she's a one-turn horse. At two turns, her stamina is tested, whereas one turn she has plenty of stamina.”
The Mile
Victory Racing Partners' GI Breeders' Cup Mile victor More Than Looks (More Than Ready) returns to Kentucky Monday, where the team will evaluate further plans. The Mile was trainer Cherie DeVaux's first at the World Championships, making her the ninth female trainer to do so, and it was More Than Looks's first Grade I-victory.
“He came back really well,” assistant trainer Enrique Miranda said. “He doesn't even look very tired. Everyone is really excited and everything is in good order.”
Runner-up GISW Johannes (Nyquist) is expected to race into 2025, according to trainer Tim Yakteen, though how they'll proceed is still undecided.
“He came out of his race in excellent shape,” Yakteen said. “Our thoughts on our next race, and how we move forward off this race, is that we still haven't completely digested everything, and we'll take a week or so and figure it out.”
“He ran absolutely super. We're very, very proud of our horse.”
Moira with Flavien Prat after her win | Horsephotos
The Filly & Mare Turf
Canadian Horse of the Year, and newly crowned Breeders' Cup champion, multiple Grade I-placed Moira (Ghostzapper) was on a plane Sunday heading for Lexington, where she is slated to pass through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton 'Night of the Stars' Monday. Stablemate GISW Full Count Felicia (War Front), who finished seventh, will also be sold.
“They both came out really well and ate up the feed tub last night,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “They both look well. Chances are they're moving on to their next career, or maybe they'll head to a different stable.”
Moira notched the elusive Grade I-victory which haunted her career–she'd been second or third five times at the elite level–and Attard claimed his first win at the World Championships to boot.
“It was so nice to see, especially it probably being her last race, for her to culminate it all at the World Championship race like that. It just doesn't get any better.”
Undercard Performers
No worse for wear, too, was MSW Show Card (Into Mischief), who flipped in the paddock prior to the GIII Bayakoa Stakes Saturday on the undercard, and had to be scratched.
“She was on her toes and she went up and lost her footing and she laid down on the shavings.,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “Once she sat down, that was it.”
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