breeders’ Cup 2025: Upsets and Favorites Highlight saturday’s Races
Santa Anita Park played host to a thrilling Saturday at the Breeders’ Cup 2025,marked by both expected victories and stunning long-shot upsets across a diverse slate of races. From Ethical Diamond’s improbable Turf win to NYSOS fulfilling its promise in the Juvenile,the day delivered a captivating spectacle for racing fans and significant payouts for winning bettors.
The Breeders’ Cup, a two-day championship event, represents the culmination of the thoroughbred racing season, determining divisional champions and offering considerable prize money. This year’s event showcased the sport’s top horses vying for over $6 million in purses, impacting breeding values and future racing careers. The results from Saturday will heavily influence end-of-year awards and shape the landscape of the sport heading into the new year.
Splendora kicked off the day’s featured races with a win in the Filly & Mare Sprint, returning $7.80 for a win bet, $4.40 to place, and $2.60 to show. Vahva and Hope Road followed, completing the trifecta. Shisospicy secured victory in a subsequent race, paying out $12.60 to win, $6.80 to place, and $5.40 to show, with AG Bullet and Khaadem finishing second and third respectively.
Bentornato claimed first place in another race, with odds of $5.40 to win,$4.20 to place, and $3.00 to show, followed by Inventiveness and dr. venkman. Scylla dominated the Distaff,returning $17.20 to win,$5.60 to place, and $4.00 to show, besting Nitrogen and Regaled.
A major upset occurred in the Turf, where long shot Ethical Diamond defied expectations, paying a remarkable $57.40 to win, $21.20 to place, and $16.60 to show,followed by Rebel’s Romance and El Cordobes. Forever Young emerged victorious in the Classic, with winning odds of $9.00, $4.80 to place, and $3.22 to show, while Sierra Leone and Fierceness rounded out the top three.
Notable Speech secured first place in another race, returning $7.20 to win, $5.00 to place, and $3.20 to show, followed by Formidable Man and The Lion in Winter. The heavily favored NYSOS lived up to the hype, winning the Juvenile with odds of $3.40 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.10 to show,with Citizen Bull and Chancer McPatrick finishing second and third.
