On October 31, 2025, at Del Mar Race Course in California, jockey John Velasquez led Ted Nophy to a $2 million victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by one length, positioning the horse as a strong contender for next year’s Kentucky Derby. Velasquez completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1 minute, 42.25 seconds, marking the second-fastest juvenile time in history and earning his 22nd Breeders’ Cup win, placing him second all-time among jockeys.
Trainer Todd Pletcher celebrated his fifth juvenile win, a milestone shared with his late mentor D. Wayne Lucas, honoring him by wearing a tie given by Lucas’s widow, Laurie. Pletcher expressed fond nostalgia, recalling Lucas’s passion for the event and his dreams of training young Derby contenders. The horse’s name, Ted Nophy, is a misspelling of Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, which owns the winning 2-year-old stallion now earning $1,658,763.
Mr. AP, a 21-1 outsider, finished second, while Brandt took third, adding to trainer Bob Baffert’s impressive six juvenile wins. Baffert’s other trainee, Litoas Test, came in fourth. Baffert noted Brandt’s strong performance against top competition and expects improvement. Intrepid and Compote rounded out the race’s smallest field in its 42-year history, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. The top five finishers earned points and secured spots in the next Kentucky Derby’s 20-horse lineup.
Other notable Friday races included Ballantina’s narrow win in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies, marking trainer Donnacha O’Brien’s first Cup victory, and Irish-bred Gstaad’s triumph in the $1 million Juvenile Turf, securing trainer Aidan O’Brien’s 21st career Cup win and becoming the winningest trainer in history. Super Corredora claimed the $2 million Juvenile Fillies title, while Cyfair became only the second filly to win the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Fan Take: This year’s Breeders’ Cup showcased emerging talent and historic milestones that thrill horse racing fans, reinforcing the sport’s rich tradition and the excitement leading up to the Kentucky Derby. With strong performances from both jockeys and trainers, the stakes are higher than ever, promising an electrifying season ahead.
