2024 Breeders’ Cup Brights: Kyle Frey, Mike Smith, Awesome Result

Posted by Admin November 1, 2024 Horse Racing

Kyle Frey is having perhaps the best run of his career and will have three chances to bring home a winner in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Californian has the call aboard Mixto in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Gold Phoenix in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), and most recently Japan bred Alice Verite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Kyle Frey’s Journey: Triumphs, Recovery, and Mental Health

Frey has ridden in nearly 7,900 races with a single Grade 1 win – aboard Mixto in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 24 – on his resume. Frey, who has been open about his longtime battles with alcohol and mental health challenges, is embracing a breakthrough year.

Of his 10 career graded stakes wins, six have come in 2024. Aboard Gold Phoenix, he won the Charlie Whittingham (G2) in May and the Del Mar Handicap (G2) in August.

Last summer, he took seven weeks off to deal with recurring issues and sought help from the Winners Foundation and chaplains at Santa Anita.

All three of his mounts are longshots: Gold Phoenix is 15-1; Alice Verite and Mixto are both 30-1. Frey likely considers himself a longshot with a winning chance, too.

On Wednesday, Frey was named to replace Kazushi Kimura aboard Alice Venite by trainer Kazuya Nakatake.

He’s grateful.

“It is great to be on a Japanese horse. I am very happy about this opportunity,’’ Frey said.

Breeders’ Cup leading rider Mike Smith has one mount

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who turned 59 in August, leads all riders with 28 Breeders’ Cup victories and in earnings at $38.4 million. His first win came in the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Mile aboard Lure. His most recent was aboard Corniche in the 2021 Juvenile.

On Saturday, Smith has the call aboard 10-1 Scylla in the Filly & Mare Sprint for trainer Bill Mott.

Awesome Result brings 7-0 record into Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Awesome Result, a 4-year-old filly from Japan and daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, brings a 7-0 record into the Breeders’ Cup to challenge 4-5 favorite Thorpedo Anna.

Since Awesome Result has competed in Japan, American horseplayers will be hard-pressed to decide whether this filly with top Japan rider Yutaka Take aboard is a legit contender.

The Distaff is 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Awesome Result won her first three races at that distance on dirt, and most recently won the Breeders’ Gold Cup Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on Aug. 27.

“Yutaka said she has been improving race-by-race and anticlockwise would suit her better. She has never run with 100 percent effort,’’ said trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, who grew up in the same neighborhood and went to elementary school with Take. “This will be a real test for her as there are strong opponents. I believe Yutaka is God-like and there is nothing better than having him on board. I want to win this race.”