City of Troy, Forever Young Challenge Fierceness in Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic

In the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, four-time Group 1 winner City of Troy will be making his dirt track debut. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify will be ridden by Ryan Moore from post 3.

“We always talk very highly of him,” said O’Brien, who has a stellar record of 18 previous wins in the World Championships but is chasing his first win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic after 17 prior attempts. “Obviously, he was by Justify, so there was always a big chance that he would (run well) on the dirt. He has a very brave heart… He has a very high cruising speed, tactically, very quick… He was a horse we always dreamed about that maybe could be very competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness enters the Classic off a victory in the Travers Stakes (G1), his third Grade 1 victory, with the first coming in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year at Santa Anita Park – a win that solidified championship honors as the top 2-year-old of 2023. John Velazquez has the mount from post 9 aboard the son of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light.

Third choice on the morning line at 6-1 is Forever Young, a winner of six of seven starts trained by Yoshito Yahagi. Ryusei Sakai has the mount Saturday from post 1.

Completing the field in post-position order are: Highland Falls (post 2, 20-1), Mixto (post 4, 30-1), Senor Buscador (post 5, 30-1), Derma Sotogake (JPN) (post 6, 20-1), Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (post 7, 12-1), Pyrenees (post 8, 30-1), Tapit Trice (post 10, 30-1), Sierra Leone (post 11, 12-1), Arthur’s Ride (post 12, 15-1), Newgate (post 13, 20-1), and Next (post 14, 8-1). Rattle N Roll is listed as an also eligible (30-1).