Study Guide: 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

Oct 28, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Ted Noffey wins the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Many of the most prominent horses on the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard are facing off in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.

The 1 1/16-mile race often determines the champion two-year-old male of the year. Due to its prestige as a championship-defining race, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is the most valuable Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier for two-year-olds, awarding 30-15-9-6-3 points to the top five finishers.

Let’s meet the eight horses entered in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile:

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Intrepido

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures
Breeder: Sierra Fria Farm
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Jockey: Hector I. Berrios

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $232,800

Sire: Maximus Mischief
Dam: Overly Indulgent
Color: Bay

Intrepido didn’t have room to run around the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah (G1). But once he got clear, he surged in the final strides to win narrowly. Intrepido is progressing quickly in the right direction and can surely battle for a top-three finish if he gets a clear trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Blackout Time

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Lance Gasaway, Brookdale Racing, and Magdalena Racing
Breeder: Newstead Corp
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing second in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $210,691

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Beauty Parlor
Color: Dark bay/brown

Blackout Time put up a fine try against Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite Ted Noffey in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity (G1), chasing him down the homestretch to finish second by 2 3/4 lengths. Like Intrepido, Blackout Time is improving with every start and has a strong chance to finish in the top three.

Mr. A. P.

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Holly and David Wilson
Breeder: Pollock Farms
Trainer: Vladimir Cerin
Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $63,000

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Trenchtown Cat
Color: Bay

The third time was the charm for Mr. A. P. After finishing second in his first two starts, the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah fought hard to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Del Mar by a nose. That win yielded a strong 99 Brisnet Speed rating, suggesting Mr. A. P. is fast enough to outrun expectations in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Comport

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Joseph W. Sutton
Breeder: Edwin Anthony
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $293,050

Sire: Collected
Dam: Bartlett Narrows
Color: Chestnut

Comport made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs, finishing second by a head after leading clearly in midstretch. He’ll need a step forward to challenge tougher foes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Civil Liberty

Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Mark Davis and Great Friends Stables
Breeder: St. Simon Place
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $70,000

Sire: Independence Hall
Dam: Love and Respect
Color: Dark bay/brown

Civil Liberty showed some ability when finishing third to Brant in the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1), but he tired when trying 1 1/16 miles in the American Pharoah, finishing fourth by 6 1/2 lengths against Intrepido. He’ll need improvement to turn the tables.

Litmus Test

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stables, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Machmer Hall
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $130,188

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Study Hard
Color: Bay

Litmus Test couldn’t quite keep pace with Ted Noffey and Blackout Time in the Breeders’ Futurity, tiring after setting the pace to finish third by five lengths. He also finished behind Brant and Civil Liberty when fourth in the Del Mar Futurity. Litmus Test will have to find another gear to reverse those outcomes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Brant

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: PTK
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $228,000

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Tynan
Color: Gray/roan

Brant is undefeated in two starts at Del Mar, winning his debut by 5 1/4 lengths over Civil Liberty before leading all the way to take the Del Mar Futurity. But Brant has yet to run farther than seven furlongs, and stretching out over 1 1/16 miles against a strong Breeders’ Cup Juvenile field could be a tricky task.

Ted Noffey

Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Breeder: Aaron and Marie Jones
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (102) when winning the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $617,963

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Streak of Luck
Color: Gray/roan

The horse to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is Ted Noffey, an undefeated colt with fast-finishing wins in the Hopeful (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on his record. Ted Noffey’s combination of tactical speed and finishing power should make him tough to beat for jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher, who have teamed up to win the Juvenile twice before with Fierceness (2023) and Uncle Mo (2010).

Ted Noffey passes the two turn test in the G1 Breeders' Futurity! 🏆

A fantastic weekend at @keeneland for @spendthriftfarm, Todd Pletcher and @ljlmvel!

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— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 4, 2025