The complexion of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint changed this week when trainer Aidan O’Brien revealed that he is more likely to keep the accomplished filly True Love sprinting rather than stretching her out to a mile in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on the same day.
“We’re probably leaning toward the Sprint,” O’Brien told Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen in a rundown of his Breeders’ Cup roster, while emphasizing that race decisions have yet to be finalized.
Breeders’ Cup pre-entries are due Oct. 20, with final entries taken and post positions drawn on Oct. 27. With True Love appearing on the list of Juvenile Turf Sprint candidates, DRF handicapper David Aragona has made her the 7-2 early favorite for the five-furlong race at Del Mar.
True Love has three wins and three seconds in six career starts. She won the Group 2 Queen Mary at the renowned Royal Ascot meeting, with leading U.S.-based Juvenile Turf Sprint candidate Lennilu in third, then won the Group 2 Railway Stakes in Ireland by five lengths. After finishing second against males in the Group 1 Phoenix in Ireland, True Love captured the prestigious Group 1 Cheveley Park on Sept. 27 at Newmarket.
O’Brien, who also has Royal Ascot’s Group 2 Norfolk winner Charles Darwin among his multiple others under consideration for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, is tied with the late, great D. Wayne Lukas for the most all-time Breeders’ Cup victories with 20. In his pursuit of a record 21st, O’Brien will have a family showdown as the Juvenile Turf Sprint opens Friday’s slate of Breeders’ Cup races. His son Donnacha O’Brien is expected to saddle Havana Anna, who was second by three-quarters of a length to True Love in the Cheveley Park. Another son, Joseph O’Brien, has Yaupon de Replay, winner of his only start, under consideration.
All three facing off would be an unprecedented event in this decorated family. Aidan O’Brien has faced one of his sons in 10 Breeders’ Cup races. Eight of those have come against Joseph, 32, who turned to training in 2016 after a decorated riding career, including a win in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf aboard St Nicholas Abbey after getting a leg up from his father.
Although Aidan O’Brien has saddled two winners in the eight races in which he has faced Joseph, he was equally as thrilled when Joseph sent out Iridessa to upset the 2019 Filly and Mare Turf. After finishing fifth in that race with Just Wonderful, Aidan told the assembled press he was “absolutely over the moon.”
Donnacha O’Brien, 27, was also a successful rider before turning to training in November 2019. He made his Breeders’ Cup debut in 2023 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. There, Aidan was eighth with Cherry Blossom, while Donnacha was 11th with Asean. Later that day, in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Donnacha sent out Porta Fortuna to finish second, while his father saddled fourth-place Content.
Porta Fortuna was eighth in last year’s Mile. The younger O’Brien will now bring in his third individual Breeders’ Cup runner.
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