Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Introduction

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is one of the cornerstone events in American Thoroughbred horse racing, and is contested by two-year-old colts and geldings. Introduced in 1984 as part of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the race has been a showcase for juvenile talent and served as a precursor to success in the following year’s Triple Crown races. It has Grade 1 status.

In its first running the race was won by Chief’s Crown, trained by Roger Laurin. Chief’s Crown went on to be a favourite in the 1985 Kentucky Derby, setting a precedent for the Juvenile as a significant indicator of future stars.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is run at 1 1/16 miles on a dirt track, though was run at a flat mile in three of it first four years of inception. The race attracts the best two-year-old males from around the country and, occasionally, international competitors. European horses have won the Juvenile four times, most notably with the breathtaking victory of Arazi in 1991.

2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Challenge Series Races

• Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Trends
• 38/41 ran 123 or within 4L of the winner last time out (’23 winner did NOT)
• Prior runs of US winners since 2000: 2-8 (incl 7 since 2010)/ 3-9 / 4-5 [3 Euro winners all 5+ runs]
• Look for solid workouts, especially off a longer (35+ day) layoff
• Uncoupled entries won in 2010, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (Baffert 1-2-4!)
• 21 of the last 32 winners posted a new Beyer top LTO (’23 winner did NOT)
• 19 of last 29 winners improved their Beyer racing at 7f+ for the first time (’23, ’24 winners did NOT)
• Y/N – Previous runs, not what is declared for BC
• (s) Synthetic track
• Baffert won 5 times, Pletcher 3, O’Neill 2
• 35/40 last ran within 5 weeks
• Since 2014: American Pharoah/Frontrunner/Norfolk 6 (4 1st, 2 3rd), Breeders’ Futurity 3 (3 1st), Champagne 2 (1 2nd, 1 7th (on sloppy track))

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 Juvenile 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