October 31, 2023
BREEDERS’ CUP — By Matthew Lomon
In just a few days, premier talents from around the globe will converge on Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California for Breeders’ Cup weekend.
Kicking off Nov. 3 with five juvenile series events for 2-year-olds, horse racing’s version of the FIFA World Cup is a two-day event showcasing some of the best and brightest names the sport has to offer.
To get you in the zone for Friday’s festivities, we’ve put together pro athlete comparison competitors from each of the five Juvenile dashes.
Race: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Horse: Prince of Monaco
Athlete: Ja’Marr Chase, NFL Wide Receiver
Prince of Monaco and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase did not come cheap but boy are they worth every penny.
SF Racing, Starlight, and Madaket paid nearly $1 million for a then 1-year-old Prince of Monaco in Sept. 2022. How have the early returns looked? An undefeated 3-0-0 career line that includes Grade 1 (Del Mar Futurity) and Grade 3 (Best Pal) victories. Not too shabby.
Ja’Marr Chase, the fifth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, inked a $30.8 million rookie contract. All he’s done since then is earn Offensive Rookie of the Year, Second-team All-Pro, and two Pro Bowl honours. Oh, and he owns four NFL records and three Bengals franchise records.
The return on investment for these two studs sure looks mighty promising.
Race: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Horse: Crimson Advocate
Athlete: Trinity Rodman, USWNT Forward
No matter how many horses are in the race or players are in the game, Crimson Advocate and US Women’s Soccer star Trinity Rodman will always stand out from the crowd.
A 26-horse field for the Queen Mary Stakes (G2T)? Not a problem for the 2-year-old filly, who captured the five-furlong sprint at UK-based Ascot on June 21.
Twenty-two players on the pitch? A breeze for the 21-year-old phenom, who went from being the National Women’s Soccer League’s youngest drafted (18) to highest paid player in just two years.
Put these two against anyone, anyplace, anytime, and watch them shine.
Race: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Horse: Tamara
Athlete: Aliyah Boston, WNBA Forward
What’s that old cliché about first impressions? Well, whatever it is, Tamara and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston clearly have it figured out.
Tamara, the expected favorite for the BC Juvenile Fillies, earned that status with two decisive wins to start her career. The filly is already a Grade 1 winner after cruising to a 6 ¾-length score in the Racing Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 9.
Boston, like Tamara, is more than living up to the hype after being selected first overall in the 2023 WNBA draft. The versatile forward achieved All-Rookie Team, Rookie of the Year, and All-Star honours in year one with the Indiana Fever.
For Tamara and Boston, the possibilities are endless… there’s the cliché you’ve been waiting for.
Race: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Horse: Dreamfyre
Athlete: Leylah Fernandez, Tennis Player
Age doesn’t necessarily equate to experience, or lack thereof, in sports. Look at Dreamfyre and Canadian tennis ace Leylah Fernandez, who despite their young age have already seen and done so much.
Kentucky’s own Dreamfyre enters the Juvenile Fillies Turf as the only competitor to have won on the Santa Anita grass at the one-mile distance. She accomplished that feat on October 8, capturing her second graded win and third overall from three starts in the process.
Now 21, Montreal’s Fernandez made her WTA Tour debut at the age of 16. Reaching as high as No. 13 in the world rankings, the lefty has appeared in a US open final, French Open quarterfinal, and Olympic Games second round.
Young bucks with this level of experience are a different breed.
Race: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Horse: Carson’s Run
Athlete: De’Von Achane, NFL Running Back
Carson’s Run and Miami Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane know a thing or two about speed.
The 2-year-old colt with a Grade 1 triumph (Summer Stakes) under his belt has only run three times but has seen his speed figures rise each time out. Trained by turf specialist Christophe Clement, Carson’s Run fits the Juvenile Turf bill perfectly, even if it’s his first go on the Santa Anita grass.
Back on the east coast, Achane and his 4.32 speed set the NFL world on fire as part of Miami’s track team offense. The 22-year-old burner is averaging a preposterous 12.1 yards per carry to go along with seven combined touchdowns.
Give these young speedsters just a sliver of room and it’s see you later.