Reporting that his three runners entered in Breeders' Cup races are in good form ahead of the Oct. 30-31 races at Breeders' Cup, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is looking forward to another edition of the World Championships one year after landing his first top prize in the event.
In the 2025 Breeders' Cup Graffard sent out 3-year-old French classic winner Gezora to a victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar. That win continued a strong stretch for Graffard who in early October sent out Daryz to victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp Racecourse.
Graffard has sent out eight Breeders' Cup runners since 2016 and has entered three for this season. Like last year he has captured the Arc ahead of the World Championships as Daryz delivered a repeat win earlier this month. The trainer enjoys his trips to the Breeders' Cup.
"It's a big race meeting on the calendar, and since I started training I wanted runners in here," Graffard said. "It was a relief that I won last year with Gezora. It's wonderful to be here at Keeneland, and it is very important for my owners and to show that we my stable is competitive in this big of a meeting. So it is very important."
This year's runners for the trainer include:
- In the weekend's first Breeders' Cup race, the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), Primetime Emmy will try for a third win in four starts. The Australian-bred daughter of Extreme Choice enters off a victory in the Prix Eclipse (G3) Sept. 19 at Chantilly Racecourse.
- Amusingly will start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). The Juddmonte homebred daughter of No Nay Never enters off of a clear victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) Oct. 4 at ParisLongchamp. She is the 7-2 second choice in Friday's race and will start from post 10.
- In Saturday's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), Map of Stars draws into the race as the first also-eligible following the Oct. 28 scratch of Test Score. In his most recent race, the 5-year-old Sea The Stars gelding finished a close second to Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Prix Gontaut-Biron (G2) in August at Deauville Racecourse.
"I'm happy he got into the race having been on the also-eligibles list," Graffard said. "He seems happy but again has a wide draw. He will be ridden patiently to try and finish his race well."
