For anyone trackside in the days leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, there is always a special feeling of anticipation to see the Ballydoyle brigade, the well-regimented contingent of horses from Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, lined up in their matching tack. He always ships a large group out for the races: he has started 169 horses at the Breeders’ Cup to date, and has pre-entered another 13 for the 2023 event on November 3 and 4 at Santa Anita Park. O’Brien has one of the strongest records of Breeders’ Cup success in history. He comes into the 2023 World Championships with 16 wins at the festival, tied with Chad Brown for third-most behind only D. Wayne Lukas (20) and Bob Baffert (18).

As one would expect from a champion trainer based in Europe, most of those victories have come on the grass. However, two of his 16 wins have come on the main track. He trained 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg as well as 2009 Marathon winner Man of Iron. O’Brien has come close in others; for example, he has finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice, with both Giant’s Causeway (2000) and Henrythenavigator (2008). This year, his entrants are turf-focused, with only Johannes Brahms entered in the Juvenile, but also cross-entered with first preference in the Juvenile Turf.

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Breeders’ Cup Turf

Over the last two decades, Aidan O’Brien has been a leading light in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It is no wonder: he is one of the best long-distance turf trainers in the world. From 32 starters, O’Brien has won this 1 ½-mile grass race six times: with High Chaparral (2002 and 2003), St Nicholas Abbey (2011), Magician (2013), Found (2015), and Highland Reel (2016).

Auguste Rodin

The likely favorite in this race, Auguste Rodin, is one of the top sophomores in Europe this year. He held off eventual British Champion (G1) stakes winner King of Steel to win the Derby (G1) at Epsom, and then won the Irish Derby (G1). He came up empty at Ascot in July, but bounced right back into top form to take the Irish Champion (G1) in September and has been deliberately pointed to this spot.

Bolshoi Ballet

Visits to the United States have treated him well, as he won both the Belmont Derby (G1) in 2021 and the Sword Dancer (G1) this year. His pace-versatility is an asset, but he has found the truly top Europeans a little too tough on a regular basis, something that was reflected in the Breeders’ Cup Turf two years ago when he finished sixth behind Yibir.

Broome

This hard-trying globetrotter won the Hardwicke (G2) over this distance at Royal Ascot last year, but has spent most of 2023 in staying races. His only win this year came in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2), the two-miler on World Cup night. There is very little in his form at this point in his career that suggests he will measure up at this relatively short distance against top horses.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Like the Mile, the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf has been a race where O’Brien is frequently present, though by no means dominant. Five of his 18 starters in the race over the years have hit the board. However, only one has won. That win, however, came recently: in 2022, his English Oaks (G1) winner Tuesday overhauled leading American runner In Italian to win by a length at Keeneland.

Warm Heart

This late-blooming sophomore has won five of her last six, including a pair of top-level races in her last two: the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) at York and the Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp. She has proven both her class and her ability to dig in when challenged late, and should be one of the favorites for the Filly & Mare Turf.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Most of O’Brien’s top horses over the years are route horses or even true stayers, not sprinters. In line with that, O’Brien has only made four starts in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint before: Starspangledbanner, Lost Treasure, and Washington DC, who started twice. None finished better than seventh.

Aesop’s Fables

Though he has yet to win since a Group 2 victory in August of 2022, he has hit the board in four of his six starts at age three. That includes a third-place finish in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) on Oct. 1, just a length behind the proven world-class sprinter Highfield Princess.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

This race has been one of O’Brien’s bread-and-butter events at the Breeders’ Cup. From his 21 starters, five of them have won: Wrote (2011), George Vancouver (2012), Hit It a Bomb (2015), Mendelssohn (2017), and Victoria Road (2022). Five more of his runners have finished second as well, meaning almost half of his starters have found the exacta in this race.

Mountain Bear

With seven starts, he brings a lot of experience to the Breeders’ Cup. He has yet to win at Group level, with his best try being a third-place finish in the Vintage (G2) at Goodwood in August, but last out, he did rally to win the listed Star Appeal at Dundalk over the all-weather surface.

River Tiber

He started his career with three straight victories, including a score in the Coventry (G2) at Royal Ascot. He has yet to win in two starts since, finishing third to Vandeek in both the Prix Morny (G1) and Middle Park (G1). He does his best work on the front end, so the course at Santa Anita may suit, though he will have to tussle with American speed.

Unquestionable

The likely favorite in the Juvenile Turf, he has yet to win since a maiden win at the Curragh in May but was well enough regarded that he debuted as favorite in a Listed race and has held his own in group company. He ran second by a length in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on October 1, and should be able to move forward on the stretch out to two turns.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Heading into the 2023 Breeders’ Cup, Aidan O’Brien has run 16 horses in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Though he came into the 2022 edition winless in 15 tries, the public bet Meditate down to 2-1, and she obliged, running clear to win by 2 ½ lengths. Other than Meditate, four of his other runners have finished in the money, including Mother Earth, who went on to win the One Thousand Guineas (G1) in her next start after finishing second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Content

This daughter of Galileo shined on the stretch out to a mile on October 7 for the Staffordstown Stud Stakes (G3) at the Curragh, rallying smartly from the rear. She has class to prove, but if the pace gets sharp in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Content could be getting good at the right time and coming late.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

To date, O’Brien has only started four horses in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, the newest addition to the Breeders’ Cup program. One has finished in the money: So Perfect, who finished a late-running third behind Bulletin over the boggy footing at Churchill Downs in 2018.

Cherry Blossom

Her only win in five starts came in a six-furlong maiden race over good ground at the Curragh, suggesting the ground may suit in California, especially since she also held her own in a pair of group-level races over good-to-firm going. Given how she didn’t quite stay seven furlongs two back at the Curragh, the turn back to five furlongs is worth trying and may bring improvement.

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