Run at 1 mile on the grass course, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, restricted to male 2-year-olds, is often a forecast for the top turf horses of the future.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Results: Gstaad Takes Juvenile Turf, Gives O'Brien Win Record

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Gstaad (GB) ($4.40) rallied from off the pace to post a three-quarter-length victory over longshot Stark Contrast to win the 18th running of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar Friday afternoon for 2-year-olds to wrap up Future Stars Friday at the 42nd World Championships.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gstaad completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:34.93. The victory makes O'Brien the winningest trainer in World Championships history with 21, eight of which have come in the Juvenile Turf. It is the second Breeders' Cup victory for Soumillon.

Exiting post 14 a step slow behind the field, Gstaad was angled to the inside and into midpack as Outfielder set fractions of :22.20 and :46.52 while being tracked by Hey Nay Nay (IRE). On the far turn, Gstaad began picking off horse with a wide, sweeping move that propelled him to the front by midstretch.

Stark Contrast was a clear second, 2 ¼ lengths in front of North Coast (IRE) with Street Beast another 1 ¼ lengths back in fourth.

The victory was worth $520,000 and increased Gstaad's earnings to $993,157 with a record 6-3-3-0. Gstaad is a son of Starspangledbanner (AUS) out of the Exceed And Excel (AUS) mare Mosa Mine (GB).

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Argos

A strong stretch run lifted Argos to victory in the Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine and into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

The bay colt by Nyquist closed strongly from fifth in the final furlong to prevail by a head and capture the Sept. 13 turf stakes for 2-year-olds, which was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series and offered a fees-paid spot in the Oct. 31 Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Sixth after a half-mile under jockey Flavien Prat, Argos was seven wide in the stretch as he held off a late bid by Godolphin's 8-5 favorite Wild Desert (IRE) while covering the mile distance in 1:36.90.

It was the second win in three career starts for the colt owned by David Romanik and trained by Riley Mott, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Prior to the Summer Stakes, Argos was third in the listed Aug. 16 Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine, finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind Two Out Hero, who was third in the Summer Stakes.

Argos started his career July 13 at Ellis Park, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test on turf by a half-length at 9-1 odds.

The Nyquist colt was bred by Green Lantern Stables in Kentucky out of the Acclamation (GB) mare Athenian (IRE) and is her first stakes winner. He was bought in 2024 by Rafael Stable for $10,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale and then pinhooked for $165,000 when Romanik bought him at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Through his first three races, he has earned $287,018.

Bottas

Bottas heads to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) with a perfect record and a guaranteed spot in the field after winning the Oct. 3 Pilgrim Stakes (G2) on turf at Aqueduct, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race.

A dark bay or brown son of Vekoma, Bottas rallied from fifth in a field of 10 to prevail by a head over Heeere's Johnny in a furious duel to the wire to secure the "Win and You're In" spot in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

He was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Bottas was named for Finnish Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas.

The stakes victory came on the heels of an Aug. 23 debut win at Saratoga. Bottas rallied from last in the field of six and took charge in the final furlong to win decisively by 2 1/4 lengths.

Owned by Dahman, the stable name of Qatari businessman Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri, Bottas is trained by Miguel Clement, who will be making his first appearance at the Breeders' Cup as a head trainer. He was an assistant for his father, Breeders' Cup-winning trainer Christophe Clement, and took over the stable after his father died this year on May 25, 2025.

Bottas was bred by BCS Thoroughbreds in Kentucky out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Iadorakid.

He was purchased by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management for $300,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Heeere's Johnny

Heeere's Johnny may be a maiden after four career starts, but he raced well enough in graded stakes company to be a contender for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

The 2-year-old son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Oscar Performance has a second in Grade 2 and Grade 3 stakes.

Most recently, he ran in the Oct. 3 Pilgrim Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct, a "Win and You're In" stakes for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Bumped at the start, he was seventh at the start of the 1 1/16-mile grass stakes. He closed quickly in the stretch and dueled with eventual winner Bottas in the final sixteenth of a mile but fell short by a head and settled for second.

Prior to that, he was second in the Aug. 28 With Anticipation Stakes (G3) at Saratoga. He settled in third for much of the trip but could not collar front-running Final Score. The bay colt finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Final Score, who went on to win the Bourbon Stakes (G2), a "Win and You're In" stakes at Keeneland.

In his July 13 debut at Saratoga, Heeere's Johnny bobbled at the break and finished fifth going 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.

He was then second by 1 3/4 lengths to Final Score in an Aug. 10 maiden race at Saratoga.

Owned by Magic Carpet Racing and Catherine Coyle, he is trained by Ray Handal.

He was bred in Kentucky by Dr. John A. Chandler out of the Blame mare Dabinett and was bought for $100,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The expression "Heere's Johnny" was made popular in the 1960s through the 90s by sidekick Ed McMahon as he used it to introduce "The Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson. It also was famously said by Jack Nicholson in the 1980 movie "The Shining."

Hey Nay Nay (IRE)

Hey Nay Nay (IRE) was the well-supported 9-5 choice for his career debut in a 5-furlong maiden special weight over the Santa Anita turf course June 1 and he lived up to those expectations, going wire to wire under Hector Berrios.

Shipped east for his next start, the John Sadler trainee was sent off the hot 3-10 favorite while stepping into stakes company for the first time in Monmouth Park's Tyro Stakes on Aug. 2. Receiving the services of jockey Paco Lopez that day, the dark bay wrote a similar script as before, going to the front early and leading at every call en route to a 7-length victory in the 5-furlong test. The race represented the first time since the 2007 Breeders' Cup that Sadler ran a horse at the Oceanport, New Jersey, oval.

Returning to Southern California, Hey Nay Nay stepped up to graded company in addition to tackling two turns for the first time in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) going a mile on Sept. 7. Racing second in the early stages of the race, Hey Nay Nay collared the pacesetter approaching the top of the stretch where he drew clear en route to a 1 1/2-length victory as the even-money favorite in a field of 13.

A $300,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Hey Nay Nay is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Travel, a half-sister to dual graded stakes winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Eight Belles. Bred in Ireland by Lynch Bages, Camas Park and Summerhill Bloodstock, the 2-year-old is a half-brother Group 2 winner Global Storm (IRE).

The Irish bred son of No Nay Never is campaigned by Hronis Racing LLC and Iapetus Racing LLC.

North Coast (IRE)

North Coast (IRE) earned his way into the picture for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by taking the July 24 Tyro Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown in County Dublin, Ireland.

A son of Group 1 winner Starman (GB), North Coast led throughout in posting a 6-length victory over odds-on favorite Flushing Meadows in the 7 ½-furlong stakes. He was timed in 1:32.06 over the good to yielding surface.

In the process, he avenged a runner-up finish behind Flushing Meadows in his June 4 career debut at the Curragh.

It was his fourth career start.

In his fifth start, this coming on Sept. 14 at the Curragh in the 7-furlong Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) over yielding ground, North Coast pressed the pace but faded late to finish fifth in a field of six, 10 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Zavateri (IRE).

Bred by Ringfort Stud out of the Australia (GB) mare La Australiana, North Coast made his second start June 20 at Down Royal and recorded his maiden win, a convincing 5 ½-length front-running score in a 7-furlong test.

He then moved up to stakes company and responded with a second in the July 6 Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas, finishing second by 3 1/4 lengths.

North Coast was bought for 180,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Trained by Joseph O'Brien, North Coast is owned by American John C. Oxley, who won the 2001 Kentucky Derby (G1) with Monarchos. He also owned 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Classic Empire, who was named the champion 2-year-old male of that year, and Beautiful Pleasure, winner of the 1999 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Airoforce was second for Oxley in the 2015 Juvenile Turf.

Oxley's wife, Debby, is the breeder of Sierra Leone, a $2.3 million yearling buy who won the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Outfielder

AMO Racing's Outfielder justified his purchase price of $850,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale in his career debut at Churchill Downs in May. Sent straight to the front by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, the odds-on favorite maintained his advantage throughout the 5-furlong turf test, crossing the wire 6 ¼-length ahead of his nearest pursuer, Skipping Stars.

Sent to Deauville, France, for the (approx.) 6-furlong Prix Morny (G1), the Wesley Ward trainee was the 3-1 third choice behind favored Gstaad (GB), winner of the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot in June. However, it was second betting choice, the filly Venetian Sun (IRE), who landed the lion's share of the purse, besting Gstaad by a neck and Wise Approach (IRE) a half-length back in third. Outfielder finished just less than 3 lengths back in fourth.

Outfielder made his dirt debut in his third start, a 6-furlong allowance test at Keeneland on Oct. 4. Rated off the pace, Outfielder hit the front at the top of the stretch and posted a 2-length victory.

The bay colt is by U.S. sprint champion Speightstown out of stakes-winning Notte d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Red Rifle (by Giant's Causeway).

Outfielder's breeder, SF Bloodstock, purchased Notte d'Oro carrying a full-brother to Outfielder for $90,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2020.

Stark Contrast

Stark Contrast already has a win at Del Mar heading into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) as he registered a Sept. 6 maiden victory at the Oct. 31-Nov.1 site of the World Championship.

Off that maiden win, the Kentucky-bred son of Caravaggio moved into stakes company and captured the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

In a field of five, Stark Contrast was fourth in the early stages of the Zuma Beach, then moved into second at the eighth pole and powered to a length victory in the Oct. 5 mile turf stakes at Santa Anita.

He started his career in an Aug. 3 dirt race at Del Mar in which he finished a distant fourth.

Trainer Michael McCarthy moved the bay colt to turf for his next start and was rewarded with the Sept. 6 maiden win. Sixth after the opening half-mile, he rallied strongly in the final furlong to collar and pass Medici, who had a 3-length lead in mid-stretch.

Stark Contrast drew clear to prevail by a length.

He is owned by Amerman Racing and was bred by Mrs. Jerry Amerman out of the Quality Road mare Catch the Eye.

Amerman Racing won the 2016 BC Juvenile Turf with Oscar Performance, now a stallion at Mill Ridge, and the 2004 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) with Adoration.

Street Beast

Street Beast took a big step toward a start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by rolling to a decisive victory in the $1 million Juvenile Mile Stakes (Listed) for 2-year-olds at Kentucky Downs.

Making his third career start, the Street Sense colt showed speed throughout in his stakes debut. He was second early on and then surged to the front in the stretch and drew off to score by 7 lengths as the even-money favorite.

Owned by Midway Racing of Davant Latham, Street Beast covered the mile in a quick 1:33.72.

Trained by Ben Colebrook, Street Beast has won 2 of his first 3 starts.

He made his career debut Aug. 1 at Ellis Park in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test. He broke quickly and was second early to Twilight Delight but could not reel in the leader and settled for runner-up honors, 1 3/4 lengths behind.

Off that promising debut, he moved up to a 6 ½-furlong, $250,000 allowance race at Kentucky Downs for 2-year-olds who were sold or RNA'd at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Again flashing speed from the start, he dueled with odds-on favorite Intricate Spirit throughout and edged away in the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length.

Bred by Sunnybrook Stables in Kentucky, he is out of the Duke of Marmalade (IRE) mare Flower Party (IRE). After his reserve price of $90,000 was not reached at the Keeneland September sale, he was bought for $85,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

He has earned $760,644 through those first three starts.

Turf Star

** coming soon **

Gstaad (GB)

** coming soon **

Ardisia (IRE)

** coming soon **

Also ELigibles

Caro Buono (FR)

Caro Buono (FR) may be searching for his initial stakes win but has experience on his side.

The 2-year-old son of Zelzal (FR) owns just onewin after six career starts after starting his career in France. But since shifting to the United States, he has registered two fourths in graded stakes.

Now owned by Michael House, he debuted in the United States for trainer Leonard Powell in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3) on Sept. 7.

Breaking from post 11, he was 11th after 6 furlongs. After bumping with a rival at the top of the stretch, he rallied mildly to take fourth, 3 lengths behind Hey Nay Nay (IRE).

He then moved on to Santa Anita for the Oct. 5 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3). Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, he was third much of the way and never fired. He wound up 5 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Stark Contrast.

In four starts overseas for trainer Florian Guyader, Caro Buono's lone win was a May 17 score at Lyon-Parilly.

Out of the Big Bad Bob (IRE) mare Cherie Good (IRE), he was by bred Scuderia Micolo SNC and sold for $19,467 at the Arqana Deauville October Yearlings Sale.

2025 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

About the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup thoroughbred championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing. All Breeders' Cups to date have been conducted in the United States, with the exception of the 1996 event in Canada.

The Juvenile Turf was run for the first time in 2007 during the first day of the expanded Breeders' Cup at host track, Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The race received Grade II status in 2009.[1] The American Graded Stakes Committee further upgraded the race to Grade I status for 2011

Run at 1 mile on the grass course, the Juvenile Turf, restricted to male 2-year-olds, is often a forecast for the top turf horses of the future.

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