The purple banners are fluttering, the flowers are freshly planted, and anticipation hangs heavy in the ocean air — Del Mar is ready to welcome the world. The 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar are finally here, marking the fourth time this iconic Southern California track has hosted horse racing’s grandest stage.
A Celebration Months in the Making
For weeks, the seaside racetrack has been transformed into a pageant of color and energy. Workers have polished walls, planted fresh gardens overnight, and rolled out a lush purple carpet at the clubhouse entrance. The sight is as dazzling as the Pacific sunsets beyond the grandstand — a fitting stage for champions.
“It’s the summer meet on steroids,” said Mike Ernst, Executive Vice President of Finance for Del Mar, referring to the $100 million economic wave expected to sweep through San Diego County this weekend. Hotels are full, restaurants are booked, and racing fans from 13 countries have descended on California’s most picturesque oval.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar feels more electric than ever. With Larry Collmus calling his 14th Breeders’ Cup and thousands of fans crowding into the Fairgrounds, the spirit of international racing excellence shines brighter than the sun above the turf.
Local Horses Poised to Shine
Friday’s card belongs to the stars of tomorrow. Thirteen horses with Del Mar form are set to run across today’s Future Stars Friday program.
Among the homegrown contenders:
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Bottle of Rouge, the Del Mar Debutante heroine, returns to prove she’s no one-hit wonder in the Juvenile Fillies.
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Stablemate Explora, the Oak Leaf winner, adds more firepower for trainer Bob Baffert, who has a formidable hand in the juvenile ranks.
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Hey Nay Nay, undefeated and trained by John Sadler, heads into the Juvenile Turf after a thrilling win in the G3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.
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In the Juvenile, Brant, a $3 million Gun Runner colt, carries both class and expectation for Amr Zedan.
It’s not just a showcase of precocious talent — it’s a validation of Del Mar’s reputation as a proving ground for champions.
Saturday’s Spotlight: The Goldikova Stakes
Saturday’s undercard shines with the G3 Goldikova Stakes, a one-mile turf test honoring the legendary mare who won three Breeders’ Cup Miles. This year’s renewal has drawn a stellar 13-horse lineup led by the Irish-bred Special Wan, fresh off a dazzling win at Kentucky Downs.
“She hasn’t done anything wrong whatsoever,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “She’s been doing great coming into this. Hopefully everything goes good and she gets a good trip.”
Adding intrigue is Deep Satin, trained by Cherie DeVaux, who arrives from Keeneland after narrowly missing in Grade 1 company. “She’s a filly with a lot of talent,” DeVaux said. “She’s starting to prove that on the racetrack.”
Local hope Medoro represents Del Mar pride, having never missed the board in five local starts. The Peter Eurton-trained mare will have home advantage when she lines up on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Beyond the Races: Breeders’ Cup Boosts Del Mar
For the Del Mar community, hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is more than a racing spectacle — it’s an economic and cultural windfall. With the summer tourists long gone, this global gathering brings life back to coastal San Diego.
“End of October, early November is usually a slower time for the North County beach area,” Ernst noted. “But when the Breeders’ Cup comes to town, they take over the entire Grand Del Mar, the Hilton, and L’Auberge.”
Racing Secretary David Jerkens highlighted another ripple effect — new international connections. “People are contacting me on a daily basis that normally wouldn’t. We’re dealing with more individuals than a typical summer meet,” he said.
As the purple silks blaze across the turf and cheers echo from the grandstand, Del Mar once again proves why it’s called “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.”
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