At $2 million, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is the co-richest 2-year-old race in North America. The 1 1/16-mile race, restricted to male 2-year-olds, often carries Eclipse championship implications and can be a preview of the stars of the Triple Crown trail for the following year.
At $2 million, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is the co-richest 2-year-old race in North America. The 1 1/16-mile race, restricted to male 2-year-olds, often carries Eclipse championship implications and can be a preview of the stars of the Triple Crown trail for the following year.
The race was part of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup program in 1984 and has been held at 10 different tracks since. It was originally held at the 1-mile distance and was held at 1 1/8 miles once. Of the 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winners, 24 of them have gone on to be named champion 2-year-old. The 1994 winner Timber Country became the first to also win a U.S. Triple Crown race when he won the 1995 Preakness Stakes. Street Sense became the only winner to also capture the Kentucky Derby after winning the 2006 Juvenile and the 2007 Derby.
Two jockeys, Jerry Bailey and Laffit Pincay, Jr. share the record of three wins in the race. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has an astounding five victories. Other notable horses to have won the Juvenile include Favorite Trick, Unbridled's Song, Arazi, Fly So Free and Capote.
Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:35:20
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 10 lengths
