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Soccer gamers dream of profitable the Tremendous Bowl. Main leaguers all hope to play within the World Sequence. And in horse racing, few prizes are extra extremely coveted by jockeys than a victory within the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. The race will likely be run this yr because the cornerstone race of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
The sphere for the race is about and the jockeys for every horse within the race have been named. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the riders, their historical past on the Breeders’ Cup, and the horses who may assist them safe the Breeders’ Cup Traditional trophy.
Age: 46
Initially from: Venezuela
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2004 (Ghostzapper)
Complete profession wins in Breeders’ Cup races: 12
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Arcangelo
There are renaissances in sports activities after which there may be what Javier Castellano has pulled off this yr. An lively Corridor of Fame rider who earned 4 Eclipse Awards because the excellent jockey within the North America between 2013 and 2016, Castellano had been seen by some as a veteran in decline coming into 2023. How did he reply? He went out and gained the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets, and the Travers Stakes — three of the largest races within the sport. It was the late-blooming Arcangelo who did the working beneath him within the Belmont and Travers. Horse and rider will likely be paired up once more within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional as Castellano makes an attempt to cap off a spectacular 2023 marketing campaign together with his second profession win within the Traditional.
Age: 52
Initially from: Italy
Breeders’ Cup victories: 14
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2008 (Raven’s Cross)
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Zandon
Think about Tom Brady with a signature celebratory leap — that’s Frankie Dettori. Broadly thought-about one of many best worldwide riders of all time, Dettori is probably finest recognized to followers for his patented winner’s circle “flying dismount,” which has seen him soar off the backs of many a champion racehorse. Like Brady, Dettori additionally introduced he was retiring after which modified his thoughts. Nevertheless, as a substitute of using abroad, Dettori will proceed his profession completely in america because the calendar turns to 2024. Earlier than then, Dettori could have a shot to construct on his Breeders’ Cup resume and add a second Traditional to his listing of accomplishments when he rides Zandon on Nov. 4. A number one 2022 Kentucky Derby contender final yr, Zandon hadn’t gained in eight consecutive races till breaking by way of with a rating in his most up-to-date begin, the Woodward Stakes in October.
Age: 32
Initially from: Mexico
Breeders’ Cup victories: 0
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: n/a
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Senor Buscador
In case you’re going to dive into the Breeders’ Cup as a jockey, you might as properly leap proper within the deep finish. Giovanni Franco is unquestionably the least skilled Breeders’ Cup rider on this yr’s Traditional area. He’s solely had three earlier rides within the World Championships, ending second aboard Lieutenant Dan within the 2021 Turf Dash, however on Nov. 4 he’ll have his probability at profitable the massive one when he rides longshot Senor Buscador within the Traditional. Franco, whose profession began in Mexico Metropolis almost 15 years in the past, has earned this chance by way of a gradual climb throughout racing circuits from the Midwest to the Northwest and again to California, the place he’s captured quite a few graded stakes wins. The newest of these large wins was over the summer time at Del Mar when Franco guided Senor Buscador to a win within the San Diego Handicap.
Age: 29
Initially from: Florida
Breeders’ Cup victories: 2
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Sixth in 2022 (Sizzling Rod Charlie)
His 2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Clapton
Though he’s the youngest jockey on this yr’s Breeders’ Cup Traditional, Tyler Gaffalione is way from inexperienced in relation to using within the sport’s largest races. At 29 years previous, he already has greater than 2,200 profession victories, he’s gained the Preakness Stakes (2019), and he has two wins on the World Championships. Each of these victories got here final yr when he guided Marvel Wheel to the winner’s circle within the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, whereas additionally pulling off a shocker within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash at odds of almost 43-to-1 aboard Caravel. Gaffalione will get a shot at glory within the Traditional this yr aboard one other longshot named Clapton. The 4-year-old colt isn’t as achieved as a lot of his competitors within the Traditional, however Clapton does come into the race off a career-best efficiency when profitable the Lukas Traditional Stakes at Churchill Downs in September.
Age: 37
Initially from: France
Breeders’ Cup victories: 7
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2017 (Gun Runner)
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Saudi Crown
A winner of greater than 2,000 profession races, Florent Geroux has additionally snagged a few of racing’s largest prizes whereas teamed up with a number of of the game’s true stars of the previous decade: Gun Runner and Monomoy Lady. The 2 of them account for 3 of the seven Breeders’ Cup wins Geroux has to his credit score, highlighted by a win within the Traditional with Gun Runner in 2017. However for the previous two years, Geroux has did not land a victory on the World Championships. He’ll look to show that round at this yr’s occasion and maybe make a splash within the featured race when he rides Saudi Crown. Coming off a breakthrough win within the Pennsylvania Derby, Saudi Crown was neck-and-neck to the end line with Forte within the Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by DK Horse as properly. He’s not with no shot on this final year-end take a look at, wherein he’ll face older graded stakes horses for the primary time.
Age: 38
Initially from: Japan
Breeders’ Cup victories: 1
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: n/a
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Ushba Tesoro
The World Championships is the place historical past is made and Yuga Kawada is simply two years faraway from leaving his mark on the occasion. Within the 2021 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Kawada rode Loves Solely You to victory as she grew to become the primary Japan-based horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race. It was an exclamation mark on a yr wherein Kawada rose to prominence because the main rider in his native nation. He has solely constructed upon that momentum in since then because the main rider in Japan in 2022 in addition to the main rider by win fee and purse earnings. Earlier this yr, he rode his Breeders’ Cup Traditional hopeful Ushba Tesoro to victory within the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline to change into the primary Japanese horse to win that race. Can Kawada and Ushba Tesoro change into the primary Japan-based combo to win the final word prize on the Breeders’ Cup? It isn’t unattainable for the late-blooming Ushba Tesoro and his red-hot rider.
Age: 44
Initially from: France
Breeders’ Cup victories: 1
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: N/A
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Derma Sotogake
Massive races solely. If you wish to see Christophe Lemaire trip within the U.S., it’s important to await the marquee racedays, and the Breeders’ Cup actually qualifies. Born in France, Lemaire has traveled the world as one of many high worldwide riders for many years. He started his profession in Europe however has constructed out his resume lately through domination in Japan, the place he’s been a drive since 2015 and led the Japan Racing Affiliation standings by wins for 5 straight years from 2017 to 2021. Lemaire gained the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf aboard Flotilla and can attempt to add a Traditional to his resume with Derma Sotogake this yr. Bred in Japan, Derma Sotogake is a little bit of a world traveler himself. He captured the UAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis The Royal in Dubai earlier this yr earlier than ending sixth within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve.
Age: 31
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Breeders’ Cup victories: 17
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2019 (Vino Rosso)
His 2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: White Abarrio
He’s 20 years youthful than his childhood idol – Corridor of Famer John Velazquez – but Irad Ortiz Jr. is on tempo to quickly soar previous Velazquez by way of Breeders’ Cup victories. At simply 31 years previous, Ortiz already has 17 wins on the Breeders’ Cup, which is simply two fewer than Velazquez. The truth is, if he retains up his present tempo, Ortiz has an excellent probability to catch or surpass Mike Smith for the all-time Breeders’ Cup wins lead by the top of the last decade. In 2019, Ortiz gained the Breeders’ Cup Traditional aboard Vino Rosso. He’ll have a shot at including one other Traditional to his resume when he rides Whitney Stakes winner White Abarrio on Nov 4.
Age: 30
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Breeders’ Cup victories: 5
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Completed fourth 4 occasions, most lately in 2020 (Tacitus)
His 2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Dreamlike
As half of the dynamic Ortiz Brothers, Jose is on the quick observe to the Corridor of Fame, identical to his older brother Irad. Over his quick 10-year profession, Jose has gained greater than 2,800 races and obtained the Eclipse Award as excellent jockey in 2017. That was the identical yr he gained the Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets aboard Tapwrit. Ortiz added a Preakness Stakes to his résumé final yr with Early Voting. He heads into this yr’s World Championships with 5 wins beneath his belt on the Breeders’ Cup. Apparently, Ortiz has had 4 earlier rides within the Traditional and he’s completed fourth in each a kind of races. The percentages will doubtless be towards him capturing his first win on this yr’s Traditional, as he’s slated to trip longshot Dreamlike. In his most up-to-date race, Dreamlike completed second to Saudi Crown (who’ll additionally run within the Traditional) within the Pennsylvania Derby.
Age: 31
Initially from: France
Breeders’ Cup victories: 4
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2022 (Flightline)
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Arabian Knight
After what almost became a three-year winless drought on the Breeders’ Cup, Flavien Prat gained the largest prize on the World Championships in 2022. He was the jockey aboard Flightline when the celebrity horse pulled off one of the memorable routs in Breeders’ Cup Traditional historical past. Whereas Flightline was a heavy favourite in that race, Prat has had a aptitude for the dramatics in some large races over time, together with a win with 45.90-1 longshot Storm the Court docket within the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2019. On this yr’s Traditional, Prat will trip one of many logical favorites in Arabian Knight, who has solely misplaced as soon as in 4 profession begins and enters off a win within the FanDuel Racing Pacific Traditional Stakes.
Age: 38
Initially from: Dominican Republic
Breeders’ Cup victories: 15
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2018 (Speed up) and 2021 (Knicks Go)
2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Proxy
For eight years in a row, Joel Rosario had gained at the least one race on the Breeders’ Cup till he was blanked on the 2022 World Championships. Don’t anticipate Rosario to remain shut out for lengthy — he’s been one among this era’s most constant jockeys. Initially from the Dominican Republic, Rosario is a two-time Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner, as properly a Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner. He was honored as the highest jockey in North America in 2021 when he took dwelling his first Eclipse Award. Rosario will likely be paired with a hard-trying, 5-year-old named Proxy on this yr’s Traditional. The horse has earned extra then $2.2-million in his profession and lately completed second behind Shiny Future within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes.
Age: 31
Initially from: Panama
Breeders’ Cup victories: 1
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Second in 2013 (Will Take Cost)
His 2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Missed the Lower
At simply 31 years of age, Luis Saez already has almost 3,400 profession wins, a Belmont Stakes victory and a dozen in-the-money finishes on the Breeders’ Cup. However surprisingly, the longer term Corridor of Famer has solely had one profession win on the World Championships and he’s but to interrupt by way of within the Traditional. A local of Panama Metropolis, Saez began out in South Florida after shifting to the U.S. in 2009 and gained 4 straight using titles at now-closed Calder Race Course. He has had success on each circuit he’s ridden on ever since, together with New York and Kentucky. Saez will decide up the mount on Missed the Lower on this yr’s Breeders’ Cup Traditional. The horse started his profession in the UK earlier than coming over to race within the U.S. earlier this yr. In 4 begins in America he’s run his two finest races at Santa Anita Park, website of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup.
Age: 51
Initially from: Puerto Rico
Breeders’ Cup victories: 19
Greatest end within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional: Received in 2020 (Genuine)
His 2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional horse: Shiny Future
John Velazquez exhibits no indicators of slowing down. Now, 51, Velazquez is once more within the high 10 nationally in 2023 earnings amongst jockeys, aided by the purse he took down profitable his first Preakness Stakes earlier this yr. That win gave him a complete of seven victories in his profession throughout the Triple Crown races. Velazquez can be second all-time in victories on the Breeders’ Cup with 19 wins. Final yr, his Breeders’ Cup weekend was made when he gained a basic three-way photograph end aboard Malathaat within the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. He’ll attempt to add a second profession win within the Traditional this yr when he rides Shiny Future on Nov. 4. The horse confirmed dramatic enchancment in his final two begins, highlighted by his win within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes at Saratoga in September.
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