The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is a race for 3-year-olds and older and will be run around the two turns of the main track.

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

The 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile will be held on Saturday, November 1 at Del Mar. Bet & watch the race with OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) - US Legal Online Wagering.

Dr. Venkman

** 1st prefernce is BC Sprint **

In taking the "Win and You're In" Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar on Aug. 23, Dr. Venkman earned a guaranteed fees-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

To prep for a Nov. 1 engagement in the World Championships at Del Mar, Dr. Venkman went postward in the 6-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) and finished a solid second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Imagination.

Trainer Mark Glatt liked what he saw when he first eyed Dr. Venkman at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and purchased him as agent for $105,000. The son of Hall of Famer and 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) winner Ghostzapper has since banked $701,300 with four wins and five seconds in just 11 starts.

"He was on the smaller size as a yearling," Glatt said in a BloodHorse article posted July 23. "He had enough length to him, and I gambled that he'd grow. Today, he's a very nice-looking horse, not big, but not small, either."

According to the article, Dr. Venkman had a tendency to find trouble with a series of mishaps so the decision was made to geld him.

"Of course, that was before we knew he could run," Glatt said.

Unveiled in the summer of his 3-year-old season, Dr. Venkman showed just how well he could run by winning his first two starts by a combined 10 ¾ lengths at Del Mar. In his third start, he was runner-up in Keeneland's Perryville Stakes (Listed) and has since raced exclusively in graded stakes company highlighted by his 2024 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar and Pat O'Brien triumphs.

Dr. Venkman's ownership group is headed by Mark Cohen of Los Angeles and partners Alipony Racing, Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch and James Hailey.

Dry Powder

** 1st prefernce is BC Distaff **

Dry Powder recently struck a spark with her biggest career win in Pennsylvania and will look to keep rolling through the Keystone State en route to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Dry Powder, by Gun Runner and out of the Broken Vow mare Tell All, was bred in Kentucky by Corser Thoroughbreds, and was a $525,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Al Gold's Gold Square LLC. The filly took time to come to hand, as she was unraced as a 2-year-old. She has not missed the board in her six career starts to date at age 3.

After winning her debut in March at Gulfstream Park, Dry Powder started the spring and summer campaigning in New York for trainer Chad Summers. After finishing second in an allowance-optional claiming race at the Belmont at the Big A meet at Aqueduct, she stepped up to stakes company to finish second in the Wilton Stakes there, beaten just a head by Sweet Seraphine after leading in the stretch.

Dry Powder took an even bigger step up for the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19 at Saratoga. The field was small because of scratches, but it still included 2024 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and Eclipse Award champion Immersive, Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie, and stakes winner Take Charge Milady. After hitting the gate at the start, Dry Powder recovered and finished with interest to be third behind the runaway winner Scottish Lassie and Immersive.

Dry Powder scored her breakthrough win in the Cathryn Sophia Stakes (Listed) on Aug. 19 at Parx, in which she met a field of 13, including familiar foe Sweet Seraphine. The filly stalked the pace, made the lead approaching the quarter pole, and opened up through the stretch to win by 4 ¼ lengths. That effort earned Dry Powder another shot at Grade 1 company, at a track she clearly relishes at Parx.

The Cotillion Stakes (G1) on Sept. 20 provided her a major litmus test against Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer and Grade 1 winners La Cara and Scottish Lassie. She more than held her own in the 1 1/16-mile test, stalking La Cara in the early going before taking over at the head of the stretch. Dry Powder yielded her advantage at the eighth pole to Clicquot but kept battling only to fall a neck short.

Patriot Spirit

Patriot Spirit stamped his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Sept. 27 when he cruised to a 1 ½-length victory in the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct for his first graded score. As part of the "Win and You're In" Challenge Series, the triumph gave the 4-year-old son of Constitution a guaranteed fees-paid starting position and travel expenses to Del Mar. A new location should not be an issue for Patriot Spirit as he owns wins at four tracks in his 15-race career that includes a total of six victories.

The Vosburgh success was no surprise to trainer Michael Campbell, who knew Patriot Spirit was ready for an even bigger effort than when he won the Reigh Count Stakes at Virginia's Colonial Downs in July.

"Rarely do I go home at night and dream about how a horse runs because they are supposed to win, especially as the favorite," Campbell said shortly after the Vosburgh. "But when you've been in the game as long as I've been, what happens is you recognize those watershed moments in a horse's career where 'this guy is finally turning the corner.' He's run all big races, but it was that race that triggered something in him and in me to come (to the Vosburgh) with confidence."

Owner George Mellon purchased Patriot Spirit for $235,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March 2-year-olds in training sale. Five months later he romped to a 6-length triumph at Colonial Downs in his career debut. After two unsuccessful efforts in stakes company, Patriot Spirit won the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs to close his juvenile season. The other stakes win on his resume is the 2024 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago.

Touch of Destiny (URU)

Touch of Destiny will become the first Breeders' Cup starter born in Uruguay when he goes to the post in the Dirt Mile (G1). Owned and bred by Haras Phillipson, Touch of Destiny remained undefeated with his emphatic front-running triumph in Asociación Uruguaya de Proprietários de Caballos de Carrera (G3) at Hipodromo Maroñas in his homeland on June 29. He earned an automatic starting position plus entry fees and travel allowance through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" program. The race was the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event to be held in Uruguay.

A son of 2008 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) hero and Eclipse Award winner Midshipman, Touch of Destiny most likely will be the youngest entrant in the Dirt Mile. He officially turned 3 on Aug. 6, which is in the early part of the Southern Hemisphere foaling and breeding season. Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds are born in the first half of the year with all having an official registration birth date of Jan. 1.

Touch of Destiny arrived in Miami in mid-July and after clearing quarantined went to Del Mar on July 31. He is in training at Santa Anita with trainer Michael McCarthy and will not race prior to the Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Trained by Raimundo Soares and ridden by Luis Caceres, Touch of Destiny won the aforementioned 1-mile Challenge Series race in 1:34.39 for his sixth win in as many starts, and first at the Group 1 level. First at the start in the 6-horse field under rainy skies, the 3-2 favorite set the pace with fractions of :22.94 and :45.59. With a 2-length advantage turning for home Touch of Destiny increased his advantage to 5 lengths as he cruised to the finish.

Nysos

Nysos, who missed the major 3-year-old races last year after a promising start to his sophomore season, has been making up for lost time this year as a 4-year-old.

Returning from a 15-month layoff on Kentucky Derby Day, he came within a neck of victorious Mindframe when second in the 7-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), then returned west to trainer Bob Baffert's barn in Southern California. Returning in another 7-furlong race, the May 31 Triple Bend Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, he romped by 5 1/2 lengths. Then stretched out to a route July 26 at Del Mar, he cruised in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap, rating behind the speed and powered away once clear of traffic for a 2 3/4-length triumph over stablemate Mirahmadi.

"He was comfortable all the way around," jockey Flavien Prat said.

Nysos, a bay 4-year-old by Nyquist out of the Bernardini mare Zetta Z, was clocked in a 1:42.61 for the distance on a fast track.

Baffert said he was relieved to win with the heavy San Diego favorite.

"I was so nervous earlier because I've had a lot of good horses get beat in the San Diego," Baffert said. "Bode (his son) told me 'Please don't run Nysos in the San Diego; our record's not that great'."

Nysos races for owners Charles and Susan Chu of Baoma Corp. They paid $550,000 for the colt at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

The Chus had Breeders' Cup success in 2016 when the Baffert-trained Drefong captured the Twin Spires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park. He was named champion male sprinter of that year.

Baffert, a Hall of Famer, has won 19 Breeders' Cup races, most recently taking the 2024 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) with Citizen Bull.

White Abarrio

Two years ago, White Abarrio lost the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), finishing third, before rebounding in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in the fall.

Defeated again in the Metropolitan Handicap this year, his connections are hoping White Abarrio can repeat history on Nov. 1 with another shot in the 1 1/4-mile Classic at Del Mar. He ran fourth in this year's Met Mile at Saratoga, as he did a start later in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 2 there when beaten 4 lengths by Sierra Leone, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said White Abarrio "ran a really good race, better than last time, for sure. Today, he showed me he can still compete against these kinds of horses."

Following the Whitney, White Abarrio returned in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. Ridden by Edgard Zayas, White Abarrio was caught in a four-horse squeeze shortly after the start in which jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was unseated from Mindframe. Zayas briefly lost his iron, recovered, and had White Abarrio racing third down the backstretch. In the stretch, White Abarrio tired and finished 8 lengths behind the victories Antiquarian while being elevated to fourth.

Though White Abarrio captured short and mid-distance races, his best performances have come at 1 1/16 miles or longer. This year, he won the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) on Jan. 29, and a start later, captured the March 29 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3).

In past seasons, White Abarrio notched Grade 1 wins in the 2023 Whitney Stakes and the 2022 Florida Derby. The Whitney and Breeders' Cup Classic wins came for trainer Rick Dutrow, and the Florida Derby and Pegasus World Cup for current trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr.

A 6-year-old gray and/or roan son of Race Day, White Abarrio races for owners C Two Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable. Spendthrift Farm bred him in Kentucky. He began racing for C Two Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable after a private purchase that followed a debut win in September 2021.

"This horse has taken us on an unbelievable ride," Clint Cornett of C Two Racing Stable said this year.

Tumbarumba

Trainer Brian Lynch liked what he saw when he eyed Tumbarumba at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale in Lexington. Part of the attraction was his sire Oscar Performance, the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner trained by Lynch. He purchased the colt for $30,000 and although he has since been sold twice privately, he never has left Lynch's barn. He will represent Lynch for the second straight year in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) after finishing fourth last year. The gelding prepped for the Dirt Mile with a victory in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 27.

"He's really woke up as a 5-year-old," Lynch said shortly after the Ack Ack.

Named for a picturesque region of Australia, Tumbarumba made his debut late in his 2-year-old season at Churchill Downs. He was third that afternoon and won his next start at the same track.

Lynch then sold him to Amerman Racing. In his first start wearing their silks, Tumbarumba capitalized on his Louisiana-bred status by finishing second in a state-bred stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. For his new owner, he remained productive with victories that included the 2024 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

In his first start for current owner Wathnan Racing, Tumbarumba was second in the listed Hanshin Stakes at Churchill on June 30, 2024. He then was runner-up in the 2024 Ack Ack prior to carrying the Wathnan colors in the Dirt Mile.

Mystik Dan

Mystik Dan has an aura unique to Kentucky Derby (G1) winners. Wherever he goes, whatever he does, the blaze-faced bay colt always will be known as the hero of America's most famous horse race.

His moment of lasting fame came in a thrilling rail-skimming stretch move that resulted in a nose triumph beneath the iconic Churchill Downs Twin Spires on May 3, 2024. The triumph was even more meaningful because of Mystik Dan's connections. Trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. are popular fixtures at Churchill Downs and are known for winning races as a team throughout the nation.

A son of two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents, Mystik Dan races for his breeders - Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby & 4G Racing - and add-on partner Valley View Farm. Members of the Gasaway and Hamby families raced Mystik Dan's dam, Ma'am, who was trained early in her career by McPeek. His name honors Daniel Hamby Jr., who was involved in a company connected to a tape brand known as Mystik.

After capturing the Run for the Roses, Mystik Dan finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and then checked in eighth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) to be the only member of his crop to complete in the Triple Crown series. After a rest and light training at McPeek's Magdalena Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, Mystik Dan returned to the work tab at Keeneland last October to tune up for one more start during his sophomore season in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in which he finished a disappointing last of six.

In his 4-year-old debut in Gulfstream Park's Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), he checked in ninth. He rebounded to be a nose behind Saudi Crown, a Grade 1 winner, in the Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park on May 3. He then captured the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 31. A month later he was fourth on the same track in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).

His connections decided to give him a chance at turf racing and although he was beaten just 3 ½ lengths in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs on Aug. 9, they deemed him more suited to the Dirt Mile.

In his return to the dirt on Sept. 27 in the 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs, Mystik Dan surged through cramped quarters inside the eighth pole to pull away to a three-quarter length victory.

Citizen Bull

Citizen Bull etched his name in Breeders' Cup history when he scored a front-running 1 1/2-length victory last year in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Del Mar. The triumph earned him the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male and a role as an early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite.

To open his sophomore season, the Into Mischief colt set the pace and cruised to a 3 ¾-length triumph in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) in February at Santa Anita. Two months later, he was a well-beaten fourth behind subsequent Kentucky Derby second- and third-place finishers Journalism and Baeza in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Next stop was the Kentucky Derby where Citizen Bull took his customary place as the early leader. His narrow advantage endured through 6 furlongs before the field steadily gained ground. At 13.98-to-1, Citizen Bull faded to 15th in the field of 19. Dialed back to 7 furlongs in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on June 7, Citizen Bull raced mid-pack and finished fourth.

Citizen Bull returned to the site of his biggest win and got back in the winner's circle with a front-running 5 1/2-length victory in the 1-mile Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 31.

Citizen Bull was sold for $675,000 on the fourth day of the 12-day Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2023. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed the sales receipt on behalf of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, a partnership dubbed "The Avengers" that sends their prospects to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The group has since added more partners to the ownership.

Chancer McPatrick

A Del Mar Breeders' Cup returnee, Chancer McPatrick finished sixth as the second choice in last year's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1).

Hailed as a potential superstar at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sale Co.'s April 2-year-olds in training sale months before his career debut, he was purchased for $725,000 by Sean Flanagan.

"He not only was a very imposing physical specimen (and) exuded a lot of athleticism, but his workout was phenomenal," said John Kimmel, an adviser to Flanagan.

Chancer McPatrick delivered on the hype. In his career debut, he rallied from off the pace to win at Saratoga in the summer of 2024. He then overcame adversity on Sept. 2, 2024 to win the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga after Flavien Prat briefly lost his stirrup when Chancer McPatrick bumped the starting gate. He capped his winning streak with a score in the 1-mile Champagne Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct a month later.

An early Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful, he opened his 3-year-old season with a runner-up effort in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in March followed by a last-place finish in Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in April. He was back in action in June with an unplaced performance in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Remaining at Saratoga, he found his winning ways on July 24 in the listed Curlin Stakes and then was off the board in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) in August.

A son of 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) runner-up McKinzie, Chancer McPatrick will be making his final start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). He will begin his stud career at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington in 2026.

Will Take It

Will Take It comes to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in search of his first graded stakes victory. The 4-year-old Tapit colt earned his initial stakes victory in the listed Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs in June. He then finished sixth as the second choice in Churchill's Ack Ack Stakes (G3) on Sept. 27.

A sought-after prospect at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Will Take It attracted a winning bid of $700,000 from current owners Willis Horton and his breeder Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Part of his appeal was his maternal granddam-the legendary broodmare Take Charge Lady, a double millionaire and Grade 1 winner whose direct descendants include Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach, Will Take Charge and Take Charge Brandi.

Will Take It began his career at Oaklawn Park as a 2-year-old on New Year's Eve in 2023 and scored his first win there on April 27, 2024. In between he was narrowly beaten as a 42-1 longshot that inspired his connections to enter him in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in which he finished ninth. After a series of losses, Will Take It was transferred to Dallas Stewart, who is known for productive results with longshots in high-profile events. In his first start for Stewart, Will Take It gained his second career win on Jan. 4 at Fair Grounds. In six subsequent starts for Stewart, Will Take It was first or second until the Ack Ack loss.

A protégé of Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Stewart's record includes second-place Kentucky Derby (G1) finishes by Commanding Curve (at 37.80 in 2014) and Golden Soul (34.50-to-1 in 2013). Stewart's two Breeders' Cup triumphs came in the Distaff (G1) in 2017 with Forever Unbridled and 2001 with Unbridled Elaine.

Full Serrano

Full Serrano, winner of last year's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar, is on track to defend his title after returning to the races Sept. 1 at Del Mar. He stayed in trainer John Sadler's stable while out of competition with minor setbacks and recorded his first official timed workout of 2025 in July at Santa Anita.

"He just had some little issues that came up," owner Kosta Hronis told Thoroughbred Daily News in a July 31 post. "Just for his own good we thought, 'it's probably the perfect time of the year to give him a nice break since our focus is Breeders' Cup. Let him get back and good and healthy.' "

The 6-year-old Full Serrano has raced just 19 times primarily in his native Argentina where he was Group stakes placed. When he was offered for sale, Hronis purchased him for what he called a "modest" price. Full Serrano began reimbursing his cost when he won a Del Mar allowance race last summer in his first North American start. He then pocketed second-place money in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1). He closed his 2024 campaign when he gained command at the top of the stretch and sailed to a 1 ½-length triumph in the Dirt Mile.

In his comeback race against four overmatched rivals in a mile allowance/optional claiming test, Full Serrano went to the front shortly after the start and coasted to a 7 1/4-length victory.

Returning to stakes company at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 in the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood (G1), Full Serrano set the pace in the field of six while being pressured by Nevada Beach. Full Serrano yielded the lead at the eighth pole to Nevada Beach and wound second beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

Full Serrano is seeking to become the eighth Argentina-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race. He is a son of Kentucky-bred Full Mast, a Group 1 winner in France before completing his career in North America.

Goal Oriented

** coming soon **

About the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is a 1-mile (1.6 km) Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up. As its name implies, it is part of the Breeders' Cup thoroughbred championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing, and is run on a dirt course (either natural dirt or a synthetic surface such as Polytrack). This contrasts with the similar Breeders' Cup Mile, run on grass. All Breeders' Cups to date have been conducted in the United States, with the exception of the 1996 event in Canada.

The Dirt Mile race was run for the first time in 2007 during the first day of the expanded Breeders' Cup at that year's host track, Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. It became a Grade I event in 2009.

Occasionally, various track configurations require minor changes in the distance of the race. The 2007 race at Monmouth Park was held at a distance of 1 mile 70 yards (1673 m) instead of the normal distance of 1-mile (1.6 km). The 2015 Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland, which does not have the ability to run one mile dirt races, and so the Dirt Mile is scheduled to be run out of the backstretch chute at a distance of 7 furlongs, 384 feet (1525 m).

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2025 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE