The 2020 Breeders’ Cup this Friday and Saturday at Keeneland will feature more than 100 horses bred in Kentucky competing in the 14 races that are key in determining this year’s divisional champions.
Friday’s five races, exclusively for 2-year-olds, will have 38 horses from the Bluegrass, including all 14 in the day’s final event, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The favorite is the undefeated Jackie’s Warrior, bred by J & J Stables. The son of Maclean’s Music has won all four of his starts and earned $402,564.
The Juvenile Fillies’ (G1) seven-horse field has six Kentucky-breds, topped by the brilliant Princess Noor, the undefeated daughter of leading freshman sire Not This Time. A $1.35 million 2-year-old Princess Noor won the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier for Zedan Racing Stables. She was bred by International Equities Holding Inc.
Saturday’s card has nine Breeders’ Cup races, topped of course by the $6 million Classic (G1), which has nine of the ten entrants that are Kentucky-raised. At least four of the horses: Global Campaign, Higher Power, Improbable and Tom’s d’Etat, are scheduled to go to stud in Kentucky for 2021.
The Distaff (G1) also has nine of ten runners from Kentucky, highlighted by the incredible Monomoy Girl, who has put together another great year. The 5-year-old daughter of Tapizar was bred by FPF LLC and Highfield Ranch.
All but one of the Filly and Mare Sprint’s (G1) nine entries also hail from Kentucky. The seven-furlong race features the terrific matchup of 3-year-old Gamine and last year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Seregenti Empress.
The Breeders’ Cup can be seen Friday on NBCSN from 2-5:30 pm ET and Saturday from noon-2:30 on NBCSN and from 2:30-5:30 on NBC.