Horse Racing Odds: 2024 Breeder’s Cup Recap

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2024 Breeders’ Cup Recap: Thorpedo Anna, Bob Baffert’s Record, and More

The 2024 Breeders’ Cup was packed with standout moments, significant wins, and compelling stories, offering horse racing fans insights into what’s ahead in the sport. With a horse racing schedule full of excitement, many contenders left their mark in the horse racing odds, while “Horse of the Year” honors appear all but decided.

Horse of the Year: Thorpedo Anna Dominates

For many voters, Thorpedo Anna is a clear choice for Horse of the Year after her commanding win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Capping a near-flawless season, she went 6-for-7, claiming five Grade 1 victories. Her only blemish was a narrow head loss to Fierceness in the Travers Stakes.

Although Fierceness also impressed by placing second to Sierra Leone in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, his 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby was a setback that some voters find hard to overlook. Fierceness collected two Grade 1 wins in the Travers and Curlin Florida Derby but couldn’t match Thorpedo Anna’s consistency and level of achievement.

The Return of Thorpedo Anna in 2025

Adding to the excitement, Thorpedo Anna’s connections have announced her return for her four-year-old campaign in 2025. Trainer Ken McPeek stated, “We intend to run her next year.” McPeek hinted at possibly entering her in races against male horses, believing her performance and popularity could help promote the sport.

History Made by Cherie DeVaux

In a historic Breeders’ Cup milestone, trainer Cherie DeVaux became the eighth woman to win a Breeders’ Cup race, securing victory with More Than Looks in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile. DeVaux, the first female trainer to achieve this since 2015, joins an elite group that began with Jenine Sahadi in 1996.

Ken McPeek’s Drought Ends

Thorpedo Anna’s Distaff win ended Ken McPeek’s long-running Breeders’ Cup drought, which spanned 37 entries and included multiple second and third-place finishes. McPeek, who often competes with a smaller budget, remarked, “This is a humbling business. Many players outspend us, but we run well.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Struggles in the Classic

Despite his success as one of the top trainers in the world, Aidan O’Brien continues to search for a Breeders’ Cup Classic victory, now with a 0-for-18 record. This year, City of Troy, a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, never found his stride, finishing eighth of 14. O’Brien acknowledged the colt’s slow start and was responsible for not fully preparing him.

Bob Baffert’s Record Juvenile Victory

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert secured a record sixth Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win with Citizen Bull leading the field wire-to-wire, while stablemate Gaming finished second. 71 Baffert said the drive to compete at the highest level keeps him motivated, stating, “All my people want to play at the top level.”

Global Appeal of the Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup continued to attract global interest, announcing a common-pool handle of $179,218,631, the third-highest since the event began in 1984. This year’s handle at Del Mar was up 1.7% from last year’s total at Santa Anita, demonstrating that the Breeders’ Cup remains one of horse racing’s most anticipated events.

The Patience of MyRacehorse with Straight No Chaser

The Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint was a triumph for Straight No Chaser and his owners, MyRacehorse, whose patience with the lightly raced five-year-old paid off. Trainer Dan Blacker noted, “Sometimes, you’ve just got to be patient.” With only ten starts in his career, the son of Speightster is making the most of his rare appearances on the track.

East Avenue’s Stumble in the Juvenile

In the Juvenile, East Avenue stumbled from the rail, a mishap that dashed his chances and allowed Citizen Bull to dictate a comfortable pace at the front. Despite jockey Tyler Gaffalione staying on, East Avenue never recovered, finishing ninth. Trainer Brendan Walsh later confirmed that East Avenue exited the race uninjured.

Promising Future for May Day Ready

One of New York trainer Joe Lee’s few horses, May Day Ready, showed exceptional potential in the John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf. Even though she lost to Lake Victoria, she entered with a perfect 3-for-3 record, having won at Saratoga, Kentucky Downs, and Keeneland. Lee praised her temperament, saying, “I’ve never seen a horse like her,” and expressed optimism for her 2025 season.