Many more years than not, the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) is a European affair. Horses flying in from the old continent have won nine of the last 10 editions of the 1 1/2-mile Turf, including the last five in a row. Godolphin's Rebel's Romance, based in England, but a true globe-trotting athlete, can join Goldikova and Beholder as the only three-time Breeders' Cup winners as he tries for a third Turf after winning in 2022 and again last year. He has a good chance to achieve the triple Saturday as, aside from one very notable exception, this year's field is not that strong.
1. Rebel's Romance (5-2 morning-line odds): Somehow still underappreciated, this 7-year-old gelding who's won in six countries is as good as ever coming into his third BC Turf start, winning five of seven races in 2025 including an easy tune-up in the 1 1/2-mile, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) back in September. He excels on firm turf, which makes Del Mar right up his alley. All signs point to victory.
JOCKEY: William Buick; TRAINER: Charles Appleby
2. Goliath (8-1): Solid European runner who actually defeated Rebel's Romance back in July 2024 in the 1 1/2-mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot. He's been inconsistent since then but comes in off of a German group 1 win in his last race, also at 1 1/2 miles, and rates a slight upset chance here if he cycles back to his best form, especially since he should be forwardly placed.
JOCKEY: Mikael Barzalona; TRAINER: Francis-Henri Graffard
3. Amiloc (10-1): Started his career with five consecutive wins on turf and all-weather tracks, including a group 2 stakes held at 1 1/2 miles in England, and then finished a solid second in the 1 3/4-mile, Irish St. Leger (G1) in September. Three-year-old still has room to improve and is a live longshot.
JOCKEY: Rossa Ryan; TRAINER: Ralph Beckett
4. Redistricting (15-1): Has reached his best form over the summer and fall, winning a pair of stakes at Monmouth Park including the 1 3/8-mile United Nations Stakes (G2T), and then finishing second to Rebel's Romance in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. He was 3 1/4 lengths back, however, and would need to improve by leaps and bounds to post the upset.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown
5. Rebel Red (30-1): Has yet to win a graded stakes in his career although he did run a good second to BC Turf foe El Cordobes in the 1 1/2-mile Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) back in August. Finished last of five in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic the start after that and appears overmatched in this race.
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux
6. Wimbledon Hawkeye (20-1): Posted a game head victory in his U.S. debut at the end of August, outfinishing Burnham Square in the 1 5/16-mile, Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) over Kentucky Downs' European-style turf course. Ran fairly well in England in his 11 starts before that but maxed out at the group 2 level. Worthy of trifecta and superfecta consideration with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: James Owen
7. Silawi (30-1): Frontrunning type held on for dear life in his North American debut, taking the 1 1/2-mile, Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine by a nose over Tawny Port. Comes back one month later in a much, much tougher spot. Should be a pace factor but hard to see him in the mix late.
JOCKEY: James Doyle; TRAINER: H.A. Al Jehani
8. Minnie Hauk (8-5): Has a slight edge in the morning-line odds over Rebel's Romance and it's easy to understand why. This 3-year-old filly has made four consecutive starts at a mile-and-a-half heading into the Breeders' Cup, winning three group 1 stakes and then finishing second by a head in Europe's premier long-distance race, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1T) Oct. 5 in France, where she defeated 15 opponents. The only question: will she enjoy racing over firm turf?
JOCKEY: Christophe Soumillon; TRAINER: Aidan O'Brien
9. Gold Phoenix (20-1): Will be making his fourth consecutive start in the Breeders' Cup Turf after finishing 10th in his first try at Keeneland but then fourth in both 2023 (Santa Anita Park) and 2024 (here at Del Mar). He's based in Southern California and at age 7 continues to rack up stakes wins against local competition. Finishing fourth again is not out of the question but would require his very best effort.
JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Phil D'Amato
10. El Cordobes (15-1): Was impressive in his U.S. debut, winning the Sword Dancer Stakes over Rebel's Red and his Godolphin stablemate Nations Pride, and then got into gear too late in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, just missing second by a neck to Redistricting and no threat to winning stablemate Rebels' Romance. A bounce-back effort could help him earn a minor award here.
JOCKEY: Billy Loughnane; TRAINER: Charles Appleby
11. Rashabar (20-1): Three-year-old is winless through six starts in 2025, finishing second twice last summer in stakes held at 1 1/4 miles in England and France. Was a non-threatening fourth in his most recent race Oct. 4, a group 2 held at 1 3/16 miles in France and will be hard-pressed to make an impact here.
JOCKEY: Joe Leavy; TRAINER: Brian Meehan
12. Tawny Port (30-1): This old-school grinder rebounded from a dip in form by posting three consecutive runner-up finishes in long-distance races during the second half of 2025, two of them at Kentucky Downs and then a near-miss at the grade 1 level when he fell a nose short to pacesetter Silawi in the 1 1/2-mile Canadian International Stakes. He tries hard but would seem to be in way over his head against the top Euros here.
JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Miguel Clement
13. Hill Road (30-1): First made an impression one year ago when he arrived from England and made up late ground to nab third in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1T) on dirt at Del Mar. He's stayed here through his 3-year-old season and has hit the board in five of six races, winning a grade 3 at 1 1/8 miles on dirt and then finishing a non-threatening third four times, including his last two starts on turf at 1 5/16 and 1 3/8 miles. Appears outclassed at this level.
JOCKEY: David Egan; TRAINER: Chad Brown
14. Ethical Diamond (30-1): Enters off of two consecutive wins—one at 1 1/2 miles and one at 1 3/8 miles—but they were at the handicap level in England, several rungs down the class ladder compared with the other Euro shippers in this spot. Has alternated racing in handicaps on the flat and in hurdle races through his career. He's proven that he's capable of running all day but the class disparity is vast.
JOCKEY: Dylan Browne McMonagle; TRAINER: William Mullins
THE PICK: Rebel's Romance
LIVE LONGSHOT: Amiloc
SUPERFECTA: 1-8-3-2
