The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships was another memorable showcase at Santa Anita. The two-day event with 14 Breeders’ Cup races started with Future Stars Friday and finished with a number of betting favorites winning on Saturday’s biggest day of racing.
An upset in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile produced the biggest winners payout when Fierceness (16/1) pulled away from the two race favorites to win. Cody’s Wish kicked off Saturday’s nine Breeders’ Cup races with a smashing stretch duel alongside National Treasure to win by a nose. White Abarrio captured the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic race, and more than 109,000 fans watched 14 world championship races on site at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.
The beautiful horses are the main attraction at the Breeders’ Cup, from the future stars on Friday as juveniles, to the fantastic fillies, magnificent mares and classic colts that produce a lifetime of enjoyment for their connections and fans.
I was able to be at the special Breeders’ Cup World Championship with live racing coverage from Santa Anita Park. FanDuel, the official wagering partner of the Breeders’ Cup with coverage on FanDuel TV and online at TVG, provided fans with more watch and wager opportunities that turned into near record wagering.
Breeders’ Cup Handle
Santa Anita hosted the 40th Breeders’ Cup for a record 11th time, and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships produced another huge handle.
Total all-sources, global common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park was $176,281,989, Breeders’ Cup Limited announced. It was the third-straight year of total all-sources handle of more than $175 million, but short of last year’s record $189 million.
Total common-pool handle on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $114,145,050. All-sources common-pool handle on Breeders’ Cup’s 10-race ‘Future Stars Friday’ card was $62,136,939.
“Racing fans here and from around the world were treated to two days of the very best of our sport, including three repeat champions,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “The 40th running of the Breeders’ Cup was certainly worthy of the vision of its founders, who set out to create one of the most prestigious international events in our sport.”
On-track handle for the two days was $19,419,844. Saturday’s attendance was 66,247 and the two-day on-track attendance was 109,624.
Breeders’ Cup Results 2023
Eight favorites delivered victories from the 14 Championship races and Grade 1 events during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. The winning favorites are noted below with an (*).
The highest-priced winner of the weekend was Fierceness ($35 on $2 win bet) in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Bill Mott saddled three winners from six starters – the most for trainers at the 2023 Breeders’ Cup with Aidan O’Brien and Chad Brown each picking up two victories.
Jockey Irad Oriz, Jr. led all jockey’s with three Breeders’ Cup winners while Junior Alvarado and Ryan Moore each had two victories.
New York and European-based runners accounted for 12 victories in 14 Breeders’ Cup World Championship races at Santa Anita.
Friday, Nov. 3
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Win: Big Evs (IRE, 3/1) – $8.40/$5.60/$3.80
Place: Valiant Force (23/1) – $20.40/$13.20
Show: Star Lust (24/1) – $11.00
$1 Exacta (4-10) – $85, $1 Trifecta (4-10-6) – $1,378
NetJet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Win: Just FYI (7/1) – $16.00/$7.20/$4.80
Place: Jody’s Pride (17/1) – $13.40/$7.40
Show: Candied (5/2) – $3.40
$1 Exacta (12-2) – $101, $1 Trifecta (12-2-1) – $401
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Win: Hard to Justify (9/1) – $20.20/$8/$5
Place: Porta Fortuna – $5.60/$3.60
Show: She Feels Pretty – $3.80
$1 Exacta (12-6) – $54.20, $1 Trifecta (12-6-11) – $205
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Win: Fierceness (16/1) – $35/$12.80/$8.20
Place: Muth (5/2) – $4.80/$3.20
Show: Locked (2/1) – $2.80
$1 Exacta (9-10) – $101, $1 Trifecta (9-10-6) – $343
Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Win: Unquestionable * (FR, 3/1) – $5/$3.80/$3.20
Place: Mountain Bear (22/1) – $17.60/$9.20
Show: My Boy Prince (5/1) – $3.80
$1 Exacta (8-12) – $38.30, $1 Trifecta (8-12-5) – $203
Saturday, Nov. 4
Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Win: Cody’s Wish * (4/5) – $3.60/$2.60/$2.10
Place: National Treasure (9/2) – $4.20/$3.20
Show: Skippylongstocking – $4.00
$1 Exacta (3-9) – $7.20, $1 Trifecta (3-9-6) – $33.70
Maker’s Mile Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Win: Inspiral * (GB, 5/2) – $7.00/$4.40/$3.20
Place: Warm Heart (4/1) – $5.40/$3.40
Show: Moira (13/1) – $6.00
$1 Exacta (6-2) – $14.80, $1 Trifecta (6-2-4) – $129.40
PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sprint
Win: Goodnight Olive * (1/1) – $4.20/$3.00/$2.40
Place: Yuugirl (25/1) – $14.80/$9
Show: Three Witches (30/1) – $10.40
$1 Exacta (1-9) – $35.60, $1 Trifecta (1-9-8) – $473
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile
Win: Master of The Seas (IRE, 3/1) – $8.60/$4.80/$4.20
Place: Mawj (9/2) – $6.40/$4.60
Show: Casa Creed (6/1) – $5.40
$1 Exacta (14-6) – $20, $1 Trifecta (14-6-3) – $166
Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Win: Idiomatic * (9/5) – $5.60/$4/$3
Place: Randomized (7/1) – $7.20/$5.20
Show: Le Da Vida (16/1) – $7.20
$1 Exacta (4-8) – $20.80, $1 Trifecta (4-8-11) – $149
Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Win: Auguste Rodin * (IRE, 5/2) – $7/3.80/$3
Place: Up to the Mark (3/1) – $4/$3.80
Show: Shahryar (25/1) – $10
$1 Exacta (5-8) – $13, $1 Trifecta (5-8-1) – $150
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
Win: White Abarrio * (5/2) – $7.20/$5.20/$3.80
Place: Derma Sotogake (25/1) – $18.80/$13
Show: Proxy (17/1) – $7.80
$1 Exacta (3-5) – $89.70, $1 Trifecta (3-5-13) – $901
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Win: Nobals (12/1) – $26/$13.20/$9.40
Place: Big Invasion (12/1) – $12/$7.80
Show: Aesop’s Fables (10/1) – $7.40
$1 Exacta (7-1) – $115, $1 Trifecta (7-1-8) – $1,116
Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Win: Elite Power * (8/5) – $5.40/$3.60/$2.80
Place: Gunite (3/1) – $4/$3.40
Show: Nakatomi (25/1) – $6.80
$1 Exacta (8-9) – $8, $1 Trifecta (8-9-1) – $94
Cody’s Wish was a fan favorite and star attraction at the Breeders’ Cup. He won the final race Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and was met again in the Winners Circle by Cody Dorman, who was born with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Cody became an inspiration for many people as he watched his namesake horse win 11 times including eight since May, 2022 with a pair of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victories.
On Sunday a day after the Breeders’ Cup, Cody Dorman died after suffering a “medical event” on the family’s way home to Kentucky after attending the world championships at Santa Anita.
“This heartfelt story has touched the hearts of many in and outside of the Thoroughbred industry,” Dan Pride, chief operating officer of Godolphin, said in a statement. “And while Cody’s passing has saddened us, we find comfort in knowing that Cody found many joyous moments during this journey with his best friend, Cody’s Wish. Our hearts are with the Dorman family.”
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will return to Southern California in 2024 when the 41st edition will be held Nov. 1-2 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
I’ll be at Del Mar, Where the Turf Meets the Surf, and it’s Cool as Ever for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup.
You can bet on it.