2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf

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Race Info
History

Rebel’s Romance has bounced from dirt to turf, from Dubai to Germany with stops in England in a three-year odyssey that brought him to triumph Nov. 5 in the $4 million, Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland Race Course.

Now, as a gelding with his future on the track, his options are wide open and worldwide.

After a tardy start, James Doyle piloted the Godolphin homebred son of Dubawi to the front of a tough international field of turf specialists in the stretch run of the Turf as the wind howled over the Keeneland course.

Once in front, he ran on strongly to win by 2 ¼ lengths from Irish raider Stone Age as the European contingent continued to dominate the weekend’s Breeders’ Cup grass events.

U.S.-based mare War Like Goddess finished third, salvaging a smidgen of pride for the North American contingent.

Rebel’s Romance, the 5.96-1 third betting choice, finished the 1 ½ miles on firm turf in course-record time of 2:26.35, but Doyle said it was not all clear sailing for the gelding, who can be a handful both before and during a race.

“We ended up in a nice position” after the slow break. “I was keen to get him off the inside rail and get him out to the middle of the track. It was a little raw on the turns,” said Doyle, who celebrated his first Breeders’ Cup win with his mother, Jacqui, on hand. “There were a couple of hairy moments until I got him some more room.

“He can be (difficult) but he was pretty good today.”

Rebel’s Romance improved his career record to nine wins from 12 starts and $2,934,610 in earnings. His win and Stone Age’s runner-up finish capped a stellar weekend for Godolphin and Ireland’s Coolmore partners. Each combined won three turf races on the two-day Breeders’ Cup card, essentially dominating the proceedings on the Keeneland lawn. Appleby and Godolphin also won three Breeders’ Cup races in 2021.

“It’s always good to be here at the Breeders’ Cup,” Appleby said. “It would be good to be here even if we left without a winner.”

Not likely.–Bob Kieckhefer

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Fastest Time (since 1976): 2:22:83
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 7 lengths

Date	Past Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner
11/03/2023	Auguste Rodin (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, and Smith.	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, and Smith.
11/04/2022	Rebel's Romance (IRE) Trainer / Charles Appleby Jockey / James Doyle Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Charles Appleby	James Doyle	Godolphin, LLC
11/05/2021	Yibir (GB) Trainer / Charles Appleby Jockey / William T. Buick Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Charles Appleby	William T. Buick	Godolphin, LLC
11/06/2020	Tarnawa (IRE) Trainer / Dermot K. Weld Jockey / Colin Keane Owner / H. H. Aga Khan	Dermot K. Weld	Colin Keane	H. H. Aga Khan
11/01/2019	Bricks and Mortar Trainer / Chad C. Brown Jockey / Irad Ortiz, Jr. Owner / Klaravich Stables, Inc. and Lawrence, William H.	Chad C. Brown	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	Klaravich Stables, Inc. and Lawrence, William H.
11/02/2018	Enable (GB) Trainer / John H. M. Gosden Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / Juddmonte	John H. M. Gosden	Lanfranco Dettori	Juddmonte
11/03/2017	Talismanic (GB) Trainer / Andre Fabre Jockey / Mickael Barzalona Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Andre Fabre	Mickael Barzalona	Godolphin, LLC
11/04/2016	Highland Reel (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Seamie Heffernan Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Seamie Heffernan	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
10/30/2015	Found (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
10/31/2014	Main Sequence Trainer / H. Graham Motion Jockey / John R. Velazquez Owner / Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.	H. Graham Motion	John R. Velazquez	Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.
11/01/2013	Magician (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
11/02/2012	Little Mike Trainer / Dale L. Romans Jockey / Ramon A. Dominguez Owner / Priscilla Vaccarezza	Dale L. Romans	Ramon A. Dominguez	Priscilla Vaccarezza
11/04/2011	St Nicholas Abbey Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Joseph O'Brien Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Joseph O'Brien	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
11/05/2010	Dangerous Midge Trainer / Brian Meehan Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / Iraj Parvizi	Brian Meehan	Lanfranco Dettori	Iraj Parvizi
11/06/2009	Conduit (IRE) Trainer / Sir Michael R. Stoute Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Ballymacoll Farm	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Ryan L. Moore	Ballymacoll Farm
10/24/2008	Conduit (IRE) Trainer / Sir Michael R. Stoute Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Ballymacoll Farm	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Ryan L. Moore	Ballymacoll Farm
10/26/2007	English Channel Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / John R. Velazquez Owner / James T. Scatuorchio	Todd A. Pletcher	John R. Velazquez	James T. Scatuorchio
11/03/2006	Red Rocks (IRE) Trainer / Brian Meehan Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / J. Paul Reddam	Brian Meehan	Lanfranco Dettori	J. Paul Reddam
10/28/2005	Shirocco (GER) Trainer / Andre Fabre Jockey / Christophe Soumillon Owner / Baron Georg von Ullmann	Andre Fabre	Christophe Soumillon	Baron Georg von Ullmann
10/29/2004	Better Talk Now Trainer / H. Graham Motion Jockey / Ramon A. Dominguez Owner / Bushwood Stables LLC	H. Graham Motion	Ramon A. Dominguez	Bushwood Stables LLC
10/24/2003	Johar Trainer / Richard E. Mandella Jockey / Alex O. Solis Owner / The Thoroughbred Corporation	Richard E. Mandella	Alex O. Solis	The Thoroughbred Corporation
10/24/2003	High Chaparral (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Michael J. Kinane Owner / Tabor, Michael B. and Magnier Mrs. John	Aidan P. O'Brien	Michael J. Kinane	Tabor, Michael B. and Magnier Mrs. John
10/25/2002	High Chaparral (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Michael J. Kinane Owner / Tabor, Michael B. and Magnier Mrs. John	Aidan P. O'Brien	Michael J. Kinane	Tabor, Michael B. and Magnier Mrs. John
10/26/2001	Fantastic Light Trainer / Saeed bin Suroor Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Saeed bin Suroor	Lanfranco Dettori	Godolphin, LLC
11/03/2000	Kalanisi (IRE) Trainer / Sir Michael R. Stoute Jockey / Johnny Murtagh Owner / H. H. Aga Khan	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Johnny Murtagh	H. H. Aga Khan
11/05/1999	Daylami (IRE) Trainer / Saeed bin Suroor Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Saeed bin Suroor	Lanfranco Dettori	Godolphin, LLC
11/06/1998	Buck's Boy Trainer / P. Noel Hickey Jockey / Shane J. Sellers Owner / Quarter B. Farm	P. Noel Hickey	Shane J. Sellers	Quarter B. Farm
11/07/1997	Chief Bearhart Trainer / Mark R. Frostad Jockey / Jose A. Santos Owner / Sam-Son Farm	Mark R. Frostad	Jose A. Santos	Sam-Son Farm
10/25/1996	Pilsudski (IRE) Trainer / Sir Michael R. Stoute Jockey / Walter R. Swinburn Owner / Weinstock, Lord Arnold and Executors of Late Simon Weinstock	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Walter R. Swinburn	Weinstock, Lord Arnold and Executors of Late Simon Weinstock
10/27/1995	Northern Spur (IRE) Trainer / Ronald L. McAnally Jockey / Chris J. McCarron Owner / Charles J. Cella	Ronald L. McAnally	Chris J. McCarron	Charles J. Cella
11/04/1994	Tikkanen Trainer / Jonathan E. Pease Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Augustin Stable	Jonathan E. Pease	Mike E. Smith	Augustin Stable
11/05/1993	Kotashaan (FR) Trainer / Richard E. Mandella Jockey / Kent J. Desormeaux Owner / La Presle Farm	Richard E. Mandella	Kent J. Desormeaux	La Presle Farm
10/30/1992	Fraise Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Patrick A. Valenzuela Owner / Madeleine A. Paulson	William I. Mott	Patrick A. Valenzuela	Madeleine A. Paulson
11/01/1991	Miss Alleged Trainer / Pascal F. Bary Jockey / Eric Legrix Owner / Fares Farm, Inc.	Pascal F. Bary	Eric Legrix	Fares Farm, Inc.
10/26/1990	In the Wings (GB) Trainer / Andre Fabre Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum	Andre Fabre	Gary L. Stevens	Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum
11/03/1989	Prized Trainer / Neil D. Drysdale Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Clover Racing Stable and Meadowbrook Farms	Neil D. Drysdale	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Clover Racing Stable and Meadowbrook Farms
11/04/1988	Great Communicator Trainer / Thad D. Ackel Jockey / Ray Sibille Owner / Class Act Stable	Thad D. Ackel	Ray Sibille	Class Act Stable
11/20/1987	Theatrical (IRE) Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Firestone and Paulson	William I. Mott	Pat Day	Firestone and Paulson
10/31/1986	Manila Trainer / LeRoy S. Jolley Jockey / Jose A. Santos Owner / B. M. Shannon	LeRoy S. Jolley	Jose A. Santos	B. M. Shannon
11/01/1985	Pebbles (GB) Trainer / Clive E. Brittain Jockey / Pat Eddery Owner / Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum	Clive E. Brittain	Pat Eddery	Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum
11/09/1984	Lashkari (GB) Trainer / Alain de Royer Dupre Jockey / Yves Saint-Martin Owner / H. H. Aga Khan	Alain de Royer Dupre	Yves Saint-Martin	H. H. Aga Khan