Folsom Blues heads the market as Breeders' Cup opens at Keeneland
Folsom Blues, trained by Joseph O'Brien, is the favourite for the Juvenile Turf, one of the main races on the opening day of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. The Juvenile Turf is for two-year-old horses running on grass, and it is due off at 21.35 UK time. A favourite is the horse the betting market expects to win most often.
The Guardian reports that Friday's programme carries $7 million (£5.2m) in prize money. Saturday's nine-race card, worth $27 million (£20.3m), includes the Turf and the Classic. The Guardian's liveblog covers the day as it unfolds.
Aidan O'Brien, Joseph's father, has scratched two horses from the Juvenile Turf. To scratch a horse is to withdraw it before the race. He still runs Haffner, who is second favourite. O'Brien also runs Sun Goddess in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf at 20.15. She made her debut at Naas in Ireland on May 9 and finished second.
The first race of the day is the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at 18.55. It is a Grade One, the top level of graded races in the United States, run over about 1,100 metres. Libertango, trained by George Boughey, opened as 2-1 favourite in on-course betting, meaning the prices offered at the track. She was beaten by Sun Princess in the Cheveley Park Stakes last time out. Sun Princess is now favourite for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf.
Libertango's jockey has changed. Billy Loughnane, who usually rides for Boughey, cannot make the weight, which is the amount a jockey must carry or ride at. Flavien Prat takes over the ride. Ruiva was a late addition to the Sprint field.
Europe has a strong record here. At the last Breeders' Cup held at Keeneland, in 2022, European-trained horses won all three of Friday's turf events.
Bob Baffert trains Hughes, a strong favourite for the Juvenile, the two-year-old race that is the main event of its type on the card. He also has Miss Monica, who is unbeaten, and is fancied in the Juvenile Fillies. Those are the betting market's views, not guarantees.
Not everyone is running. USS Valor is not among the six runners for the Juvenile. Her owner, Barry Irwin, wants to focus on next year's Kentucky Derby, the first leg of America's Triple Crown.
Brickyard Belle arrives unbeaten in two starts. Last time out she caught Harper's Corner to win the Grade Three Matron Stakes. Force Noir runs in the colours of Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing. He was second in the Group One Middle Park Stakes last time, after a disappointing run in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Friday's racing begins at 18.55 UK time, with the Juvenile Turf at 21.35 closing the card in Europe's evening. Results will settle the early betting talk quickly, and Saturday's bigger races will follow.
