For many more years or not, the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf is a European matter. Horses flying in from the Old Continent have won nine of the last ten editions of the 1 ½ mile Turf, including the last five in a row. Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance, based in England but a true world traveler, can join Goldikova and Beholder as the only three-time Breeders’ Cup winners as he attempts for a third Peat following his victory in 2022 and again last year. He has a good chance of achieving the triple on Saturday as, with one very notable exception, the field this year is not as strong.
1. Rebel’s Romance (5-2 morning line odds): Somehow still underrated, this 7-year-old gelding who has won in six countries is as good as ever in his third BC Turf start, winning five of seven races in 2025, including an easy tune-up in the 1 ½ mile, Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes in September. It excels on firm terrain, making Del Mar right up its alley. All signs point to victory.
JOCKEY: William Buick; TRAINER: Charles Appleby
2. Goliath (8-1): Solid European runner who actually beat Rebel’s Romance in the 1 ½ mile Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July 2024. He has been inconsistent since then, but he comes in on the back of a German Group 1 win in his last race, also at 1.5km, and rates this as a slim chance if he cycles back to his best form, especially as he should be moved forward.
JOCKEY: Mikael Barzalona; TRAINER: Francis-Henri Graffard
3. Amiloc (10-1): Started his career with five consecutive victories on artificial turf and all-weather tracks, including a Group 2 stakes at 1 ½ miles in England, and then finished a solid second in the 1 ¾ mile, Group 1 Irish St. Leger in September. The three-year-old still has room for improvement and is a live longshot.
JOCKEY: Rossa Ryan; TRAINER: Ralph Beckett
4. Redistribution (15-1): Reached his best form over the summer and fall, winning a pair of stakes at Monmouth Park, including the Grade 2, 1 3/8-mile United Nations Stakes, and then finishing second to Rebel’s Romance in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. However, he was 3 ¼ lengths back and would have to improve by leaps and bounds to handle the upset.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown
5. Rebel Red (30-1): Has not yet won a high stakes title in his career, although he did finish a close second behind BC Turf foe El Cordobes in the 1 ½-mile Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes in August. Then finished last of five in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and looks to be outmatched in this race.
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux
6. Wimbledon Hawkeye (20-1): Posted a Gamehead victory in his American debut in late August, beating Burnham Square in the 1 5/16 mile, Grade 3 DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes on Kentucky Downs’ European turf track. Rode quite well in England in his eleven starts before that, but made the most of Group 2. Worth a trifecta and superfecta consideration with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: James Owen
7. Silawai (30-1): The front-running type held his own in his North American debut, taking the 1.5-kilometre, Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine by a nose over Tawny Port. Comes back a month later in a much, much harder place. Should be a speed factor, but it’s hard to see him in the mix late.
JOCKEY: James Doyle; TRAINER: HA Al Jehani
8. Minnie Hauk (8-5): Has a slight edge in the morning line over Rebel’s Romance and it’s easy to see why. The three-year-old filly has made four consecutive starts at a mile and a half on her way to the Breeders’ Cup, winning three stakes in Group 1 and then finishing second by one head in Europe’s premier endurance race, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Group 1 on October 5 in France, where she defeated 15 opponents. The only question: Will she enjoy racing on firm grass?
JOCKEY: Christophe Soumillon; TRAINER: Aidan O’Brien
9. Golden Phoenix (20-1): Makes his fourth consecutive start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf after finishing in 10th placee in his first attempt at Keeneland, but then fourth in both 2023 (Santa Anita Park) and 2024 (here at Del Mar). Based in Southern California, he continues to rack up wins against local competition at the age of seven. Finishing fourth again is not impossible, but it does require his utmost effort.
JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato
10. The Cordobes (15-1): Was impressive in his American debut, winning the Sword Dancer Stakes from Rebel’s Red and his Godolphin stablemate Nations Pride, then kicked into gear late in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, narrowly finishing second with a neck loss to Redistricting and no threat of winning against stablemate Rebels’ Romance. A recovery effort could help him earn a small award here.
JOCKEY: Billy Loughnane; TRAINER: Charles Appelby
11. Rashabar (20-1): The three-year-old is winless after six starts in 2025 and finished second twice in 1 ¼ mile stakes in England and France last summer. Was a non-threatening fourth in his most recent race on October 4, a Group 2 held at 1 3/16 miles in France and will be difficult to make an impact here.
JOCKEY: Joe Leavey; TRAINER: Brian Meehan
12. Tawny Port (30-1): This old-school power bounced back from a dip in form to take three consecutive second-place finishes in endurance races in the second half of 2025, including two at Kentucky Downs and then a near-miss at Grade 1 level when he fell a nose short of pacer Silawi in the 1½-mile Canadian International Stakes. He’s trying his best, but it looks like he’s in way over his head against the top end of the Euros here.
JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Miguel Clemens
13. Heuvelweg (30-1): First impressed a year ago when he arrived from England and overtook late to take third in the 2024 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA on dirt at Del Mar. He has remained here through his three-year-old season and has been on the board in five of six races, winning a Grade 3 at 1 1/8 miles on dirt and then finishing a non-threatening third four times, including his last two starts on turf at 1 5/16 and 1 3/8 miles. Seems outclassed at this level.
JOCKEY: David Egan; TRAINER: Chad Brown
14. Ethical Diamond (30-1): They came in on the back of two consecutive wins – one at 1 ½ miles and one at 1 3/8 miles – but they were at handicap level in England, a number of rungs down compared to the other Euro shippers at this venue. Has alternately raced in flat handicaps and obstacle races during his career. He has proven that he can run all day, but the class differences are enormous.
JOCKEY: Dylan Browne McMonagle; TRAINER: William Mullins
THE CHOICE: Romance of the Rebels
LIVE LONG SHOT: Amiloc
SUPERFECT: 1-8-3-2
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