Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday: Ted Noffey Steals the Show

The 42nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships opened Friday at Del Mar with five Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds. Handicappers and bettors found value across the board as favorites delivered early before chaos struck on turf. Insights from the Odds & Scores page reflected sharp positioning on pace, surface, and class.

Ted Noffey Confirms His Class in the Juvenile

At 4/5 odds, Ted Noffey confirmed his place atop the juvenile ranks, pressing 8/5 choice Brant before taking command in the stretch to win the $2 million Juvenile. The Spendthrift Farms colt, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velasquez, hit the wire in 1:42.25 — his fourth straight win and third Grade 1.

Mr. A.P., a 20-1 longshot, rallied for second, with Brant holding third. Ted Noffey’s campaign now points toward the 2025 Kentucky Derby as the early favorite.

Capper Insight: Ross Walker called Noffey “as reliable as they come when he gets an honest pace.” That read aligned perfectly with the early betting movement that pushed the colt down from even money on the Picks Leaderboard.

Super Corredora Holds Off Explora in Juvenile Fillies

Super Corredora went wire-to-wire to capture the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, holding firm over favorite Explora by three-quarters of a length. Hector Berrios earned his first Breeders’ Cup win for trainer John Sadler, guiding the Kentucky-bred filly to victory in 1:43.71.

Explora, at 3/2, settled for second, while Percy’s Barn and Meaning fought out a close photo for third. Super Corredora’s win marked her second straight after a dominant maiden score at Santa Anita.

Capper Insight: Diego Garcia highlighted Super Corredora’s gate speed as “the single pace advantage on paper.” That edge made her a smart overlay in early markets, consistent with the strategy in the Bettors Handbook.

Balantina (IRE) Stuns the Field in Juvenile Fillies Turf

In a race flipped upside down by the morning scratch of favorite Precise, Balantina (IRE) capitalized at 20-1, driving clear late under Oisin Murphy to win by 1¼ lengths. Trainer Donnacha O’Brien earned his first Breeders’ Cup victory, continuing the family tradition of European turf dominance.

Ground Support (14-1) and Pacific Mission (24-1) completed a trifecta that paid massive returns. Balantina’s win rewarded contrarian bettors who chased price and pedigree over form.

Capper Insight: Andrew McInnis noted pre-race that “wide-open turf races with European depth create hidden value under chaos,” a pattern that continues to pay off for his turf clients on Handicappers.

Cy Fair Flashes Speed in Juvenile Turf Sprint

Cy Fair opened the card with a five-furlong turf blitz, stopping the clock at 56.02 seconds. Sent off at 5-1, the George Weaver trainee earned his first Breeders’ Cup win with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons. Brussels (GB) and Aspect Island (GB) followed in the money.

The colt has now won on three different tracks across North America — a key versatility sign for bettors ahead of next season.

Gstaad Finally Breaks Through in Juvenile Turf

After three straight runner-up finishes, Gstaad overcame a wide draw to score at 6/5 odds for Aidan O’Brien and Christophe Soumillon. The Irish-bred colt sat midpack before making his move at the eighth pole, holding off 50-1 Stark Contrast by three-quarters of a length.

It was a signature O’Brien finish — tactical patience and class in the final furlong.

Handicappers Roundup

Friday’s Breeders’ Cup results delivered a balanced mix of chalk and chaos. Diego Garcia and Ross Walker share the top profit mark for the week at +$185, each leaning on pace projections and juvenile prep form. Andrew McInnis, third with +$100, extended his streak of profitable turf calls across international meets.

Expert analysis and verified picks inside the Free Service Plays section.