THE 2018 BREEDERS’ CUP

Following back-to-back Breeders’ Cup scores by Roy H and Stormy Liberal and a history-making win in the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf by 4-year-old European super filly Enable (GB), Accelerate’s victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic capped a perfect two days of racing at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky at the 35th Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The 2018 event marked a record-tying ninth time that the World Championships were held at Churchill Downs.

Total handle for the two-day event was $163,011,577, the fifth highest since Breeders’ Cup adopted a two-day format in 2007. Total attendance for the two days of the Championships was 112,672, the third highest in Breeders’ Cup history. There were 42,249 in attendance on Friday and 70,423 on Saturday.

Hronis Racing’s 5-year-old Accelerate, ridden by Joel Rosario, dominated the Classic leading from the top of the stretch and posting a one-length victory over the 4-year-old Gunnevera. Trained by John Sadler, Accelerate completed a tremendous season of six wins in seven starts. The only horse to defeat Accelerate in 2018 was City of Light in the Oaklawn Handicap back in April. Earlier on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday card, City of Light flattered Accelerate by winning the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Mile by 2 ¾ lengths.

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s 4-year-old filly Enable prevailed in a terrific stretch battle against Ireland’s 3-year-old filly Magical to win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Enable became the first horse to win both the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same year.

An incredible training feat also was turned in by Peter Miller, who became the first trainer to have the same two runners repeat as Breeders’ Cup champions. The California-based Miller first sent Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s 6-year-old gelding Stormy Liberal to successfully defend his title in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Three races later, Miller saddled the 6-year-old gelding Roy H to his second straight TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint victory, taking the six-furlong race by 3 ¼ lengths.

The 2018 Breeders’ Cup was also historic for its revamped two-day format. For the first time, all of the Juvenile races were run on the opening day of the Championships, and the program was themed under the banner of “Future Stars Friday.” The Breeders’ Cup races began with the brand new $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, a 5 ½-furlong race which was won by the Todd-Pletcher trained Bulletin. D.J. Stable’s and Cash in King Stable’s Jaywalk won the $2 million Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in a front-running 5 ½- length tour de force.

Hall of Fame trainer won Bob Baffert captured the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for the third time with Gary and Mary West’s Game Winner to cap off day the first day of the World Championships.

“Once again the Breeders’ Cup proved a fitting showcase for world championship performances and the best in international racing,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “We want to thank our gracious hosts from Churchill Downs, the greater Louisville community and our home state of Kentucky for two extraordinary days, all of the owners and breeders who participate in our racing programs and racing fans around the world for tuning in and wagering.”