Lanni picks abound in the 2023 edition of the Breeders’ Cup

In the 40th edition of the premier event of the North American Thoroughbred horse racing year, the best-of-the-best thoroughbreds face off in 14 G1 races this year at Santa Anita Park in California.  Top agent Donato Lanni bought several of the contenders in this year’s world championships.

In a race where the next generation of superstars compete for a $2 million purse on Friday, Donato’s acquisitions Prince of Monaco and Muth take on 9 other rivals in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Billed as the richest two-year-old race in North America, this 1 1/16-mile race is the highlight of the first day of the World Championships and often previews the stars of the following year’s Triple Crown trail.

Donato’s connection also extends to Just F Y I , contending in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies for 2-year-olds. Now undefeated in three starts, KY-bred Just F Y I  has now earned $1,317,750 in purses for breeder-owner George Krikorian.

In Saturday’s main events, Donato’s finds are represented in eight races.

Donato bought National Treasure for $500,000 and the colt has already made $1.4M+. He’ll compete on the main track for a purse of $1 million in a 9-horse field in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. This race for male and female three-year-olds and older is an intriguing middle ground for horses that prefer to run longer than a sprint and for those more suited to a shorter distance than the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Trained by Canadian Kevin Attard, millionaire Moira (bought for $150,000) takes on 11 of the world’s best female grass horses in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. This race is run over 1 1/4 miles on the turf course for a $2 million purse. More than half of the winners of the Filly & Mare Turf have come from overseas.

Eda (a $550,000 purchase who has netted $679,600 in 11 starts 8-1-1) competes among the fastest three years old and older females for a $1 million purse in the 7-furlong Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. North America’s richest race for female sprinters often decides the champion in this division each year.

Bought by Donato for $280,000 and closing in on millionaire status, Du Jour goes for $2 million against 13 of the world’s other top grass milers in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile on the turf course. Open to male and female horses three-years old and older, the Mile is a demanding race on turf that favours horses quick out of the gate and able to secure a strong position for the stretch drive to the wire.

Purchased by Donato for $375,000 and now just $20,000 away from millionaire status, Adare Manor will run 1 1/8 miles against the world’s best 3YO+ female dirt horses for a $2 million purse in a championship showdown in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

A $30,000 find by Donato and winner of $2.4+ million to date, War Like Goddess tries to claim a $4 million purse at the end of a 1.5 mile turf battle against 12 rivals in the longest race of the World Championships: the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. A demanding test of both speed and strength, the Turf annually attracts the top male and female grass talent (3YO+) from Europe and North America. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf a record six times.

Going for a $6 million purse, 3-1 MLO favourite and millionaire Arabian Knight takes on 13 rivals in the defining race of this international event: the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Run over 1 1/4 miles on the dirt track, this race always draws the top international Thoroughbreds, including winners of the Triple Crown races and it’s open to male and female horses three-years old and older.

Bought for $200,000 by Donato, MLO favourite Speed Boat Beach is one of 9 competitors vying for a $2 million purse in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint: a 6-furlong dash to the wire by the world’s fastest thoroughbreds. These male and female 3YO+ horses can sometimes reach incredible speeds of nearly 40 MPH in the stretch.

UPDATE: RESULTS