Night one of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup.
FRIDAY’S BREEDERS’ CUP TIPS
- 18:55 Libertango
- 19:35 Emphatic
- 20:15 Sun Goddess
- 20:55 Hughes
- 21:35 Haffner
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18:55 5½f (5f110y) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (Turf) (2yo)
The George Boughey team have had a fantastic season, and LIBERTANGO, one of the stable’s two runners this weekend, will look to build on it. This filly has been consistent in her five starts so far. A winner at Leicester on her debut, she would see off Sun Goddess in the Albany at Royal Ascot, which would be the last time Sun Goddess has seen defeat, as she has won her last five on the bounce. Libertango got the better of Star Of State in the Lowther at York, and that form would be boosted when the runner-up landed the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Curragh on next start. Her last was in the Cheveley Park when she was second to Sun Goddess, and without that filly in the field, you would expect Libertango to go very close here in the hands of top US rider Flavian Prat.
Selection: Libertango
19:35 1m½f (1m110y) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1) (Dirt) (2yo)
EMPHATIC is very aptly named, as she has been emphatic in her opening two starts and then was made to work at Keeneland last time out. She is trained by Brendan Walsh and will be the mount of Tyler Gaffalione, and Tyler is no stranger to success in this race, having won it aboard Wonder Wheel back in 2022. This filly likes to go forward, and while the wide draw isn’t in her favour, she may have enough speed to lie handy. When she ran at Keeneland last time, she was drawn in the plum draw of stall one and made all. She was drawn in stall eight of nine runners two starts back and pressed leaders early and galloped out strongly to the winning line. If her gate speed is good, she looks a smart filly and should go close.
Selection: Emphatic
20:15 1m John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1) (Turf) (2yo)
The Ballydoyle battalion is always a sight to behold when they go and work on the track a few days before the meeting gets underway, and they will be hoping that SUN GODDESS can get them off to a flying start. She does have a wide draw in nine to overcome, but she is a top-class filly and should have too much class for rivals here. Her form ties in closely with Libertango, whom we selected in the first of the Championship races. She was electric two starts back at the Curragh in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and then a battling success over Libertango last time at Newmarket. Track, trip and ground should all be in her favour, and if she continues her progress, she will take a world of beating.
Selection: Sun Goddess
20:55 1m½f (1m110y) FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) (Colts & Geldings) (Dirt) (2yo)
We are back on the dirt for the penultimate on Friday evening, and the American runners excel on this surface. Bob Baffert and Flavian Prat will team up with HUGHES, who has been one of the talking horses of the meeting. Juan Hernandez has ridden him in his three starts to date, but Flavian Prat has won this race before with Storm The Court in 2019. Bob Baffert has won this race three times since 2018, and Hughes will be looking to make it winner number four. This horse is unbeaten in three starts, two at Del Mar and last time out at Santa Anita. The combined winning distance from his three wins has been 18 ½ lengths, so it just shows the ability that he has. He has a nice draw in stall five, and if he continues to progress, he will be very hard to beat.
Selection: Hughes
21:35 1m Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) (Colts & Geldings) (Turf) (2yo)
Aidan O’Brien has won the last four renewals of this race with the likes of Victoria Road, Unquestionable, Henri Mattisse and Gstaad and could make it five on the spin with HAFFNER, who will have the services of Christophe Soumillon in the saddle. The trip may pose a question of others who must step up to the mile for the first time, but this horse won over the trip when strong at the finish in the Royal Lodge last time out at Newmarket. He is drawn in stall four, and that has been kind to him compared to his stablemate Great Barrier Reef, who is wide in stall fourteen. His maiden win over seven furlongs saw him strong at the finish, as did his win at York when he landed the Acomb. The market may not be in his favour, but the trip should suit him well and could outrun his odds.
Selection: Haffner
BREEDERS’ CUP NIGHT ONE TIPS
- 18:55 Libertango
- 19:35 Emphatic
- 20:15 Sun Goddess
- 20:55 Hughes
- 21:35 Haffner
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