Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Introduction to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is one of the newer races on the Breeders’ Cup menu but has rapidly earned its place in the spotlight. First run at Monmouth Park, New Jersey, in 2007, the Dirt Mile was conceived as a middle-distance test offering a unique blend of speed and stamina that attracts a diverse field of competitors, from sprinters stretching their capabilities to routers shortening up for a faster pace.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile History
Before the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile came into being, there was something of a void for a marquee one-mile dirt race in the United States. Most top-level dirt races are either sprints at distances under a mile or classic distances at nine furlongs and up. The Dirt Mile filled this gap admirably and has proven to be a high class addition to the the Breeders’ Cup two-day fixture. In 2024 at Del Mar, the Dirt Mile will again open Saturday’s card.
2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Challenge Series Races
| DATE | TRACK | RACE | GRADE | DISTANCE | AGE | SEX | DIVISION | AREA | WINNER |
| 06/07/2025 | Sar | The Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap | I | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | Raging Torrent | |
| 6/29/2025 | MAR | Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera | III | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | Uruguay | Touch of Destiny (URU) | |
| 8/23/2025 | Dmr | Pat O’Brien Stakes | II | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | California | Dr. Venkman | |
| 8/23/2025 | Sar | The Forego | I | 7 Furlongs | 4 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | Book’em Danno | |
| 09/07/2025 | SEO | OBS Korea Cup | III | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | South Korea | Diktaean (JPN) |
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Trends
- 17/18 notched at least one 100+ Beyer in their last two races (’24 winner Full Serrano 99 LTO on only his 2nd US start)
- 15/18 ran in a Grade 1 or 2 last time out
- Seasonal run breakdown for winners: 2-1/3-2/4-6/5-1/6-2/7-1/8-2/9-2/10-1
- # of seasonal runs since 2012: 5-8-4-3-3-9-4-7-2-4-4-4-4
- Layoff: 13/18 27-42 days (’18 winner 70 days, ’19 winner 20 days, ’22 winner 70 days, ’24 winner 63 days)
- 9/18 ‘turned back’ in distance (4/9 exceptions were Goldencents & Cody’s Wish)
- Top 3 favourites: Fav 6/18; 2nd fav 3/18; 3rd fav 1/18 [8/18 outside top 3 in betting]
- Age 3-5/4-9/5-3/6-1 = 14/18 aged 3 or 4yo (1 exception was repeat winner, Cody’s Wish)
- 16/18 had won a Graded Stakes in career
- 13/18 had won at a mile
- Baffert 0/12 in Dirt Mile. 2 wins each for Mott, Hollendorfer and Pletcher
To view the following sections:
– How the Runners Fit the Trends
– Pace Map
– Trends Contenders
– Form Overview
– Form Contenders
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Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Results
Key: PP – post position; RS – run style (lengths behind leader: 4 <½L, 3 ½L- 1½L, 2 1¾L – 3½L, 1 > 3½L); Odds – return for a 1 unit stake; SR – Equibase speed figure
| Track | Date | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | PP | RS | Odds | SR | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Del Mar | 2/11/2024 | Full Serrano | John Sadler | Joel Rosario | 3 | 3 | 13.40 | 117 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 4/11/2023 | Cody’s Wish | William I. Mott | Junior Alvarado | 2 | 1 | 0.80 | 116 | Result |
| Keeneland | 5/11/2022 | Cody’s Wish | William I. Mott | Junior Alvarado | 6 | 1 | 2.16 | 116 | Result |
| Del Mar | 6/11/2021 | Life Is Good | Todd A. Pletcher | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 5 | 4 | 0.70 | 119 | Result |
| Keeneland | 7/11/2020 | Knicks Go | Brad H. Cox | Joel Rosario | 5 | 4 | 1.80 | 114 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 2/11/2019 | Spun to Run | Juan Carlos Guerrero | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 3 | 4 | 9.10 | 116 | Result |
| Churchill | 3/11/2018 | City of Light | Michael W. McCarthy | Javier Castellano | 1 | 4 | 2.60 | 126 | Result |
| Del Mar | 3/11/2017 | Battle of Midway | Jerry Hollendorfer | Flavien Prat | 9 | 2 | 14.20 | 133 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 4/11/2016 | Tamarkuz | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Mike E. Smith | 8 | 1 | 11.90 | 115 | Result |
| Keeneland | 10/30/2015 | Liam’s Map | Todd A. Pletcher | Javier Castellano | 3 | 2 | 0.50 | 125 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 10/31/2014 | Goldencents | Leandro Mora | Rafael Bejarano | 1 | 4 | 0.70 | 125 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 1/11/2013 | Goldencents | Doug F. O’Neill | Rafael Bejarano | 11 | 4 | 3.80 | 113 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 3/11/2012 | Tapizar | Steven M. Asmussen | Corey S. Nakatani | 8 | 3 | 15.30 | 109 | Result |
| Churchill | 5/11/2011 | Caleb’s Posse | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Rajiv Maragh | 8 | 1 | 6.80 | 122 | Result |
| Churchill | 6/11/2010 | Dakota Phone | Jerry Hollendorfer | Joel Rosario | 1 | 1 | 37.70 | 105 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 7/11/2009 | Furthest Land | Michael J. Maker | Julien R. Leparoux | 2 | 2 | 21.30 | 117 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 10/25/2008 | Albertus Maximus | Vladimir Cerin | Garrett K. Gomez | 7 | 1 | 6.30 | 116 | Result |
| Monmouth | 10/26/2007 | Corinthian | James A. Jerkens | Kent J. Desormeaux | 7 | 1 | 3.70 | 124 | Result |
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Memorable Finishes
Corinthian (2007)
In the inaugural edition, run on a sloppy track after persistent heavy rain, Corinthian delivered a huge performance stretching out to score by 6 1/2 lengths and setting a high bar for subsequent Dirt Mile renewals.
Goldencents (2013, 2014)
Goldencents became the first and so far only horse to win back-to-back editions of the Dirt Mile. Both times the race was hosted at Santa Anita, and both times he led his field from gate to wire, showing remarkable speed and resilience.
Liam’s Map (2015)
One of the most impressive performances in the Dirt Mile’s history came from Liam’s Map, who shook off a troubled trip to win with an astonishing burst of speed in the final furlong.
Knicks Go (2020)
At Keeneland in 2020, Knicks Go (pictured top) was another gate to wire winner. His victory was a precursor to an even more memorable triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic itself a year later.
