Europe Dominates the Turf as Irad Ortiz Jr. Reigns Once Again at the Breeders’ Cup

Between Feats, Records, and Farewells, the 2025 Series Delivered an Unforgettable Weekend at Del Mar, with Stars Who Made History and Trends That Signal the Future of Global Racing

José Francisco D’Angelo Strikes Twice at the Breeders’ Cup / BREEDERS' CUP

DEL MAR, California (From a Turf Diario Special Correspondent) — The 42nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships once again lived up to its billing as the greatest show in global racing, delivering a torrent of records, milestones, and unforgettable performances. The Del Mar spectacle produced Irad Ortiz Jr.’s sixth Bill Shoemaker Award, the breakout of Venezuelan trainer José Francisco D’Angelo with a stunning G1 double, a historic father-son triumph for Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien, and yet another emphatic display of European dominance on turf.

The phenomenal Ortiz Jr. earned the Shoemaker Award, presented to the top jockey of the event, with three victories: he opened the festival aboard Cy Fair (Not This Time) in the GI Juvenile Turf Sprint, then returned on Saturday to take both the GI Turf Sprint with Shisospicy (Mitole) and the GI Sprint with Bentornato (Valiant Minister). Only Flavien Prat, winner of the 2024 award, also managed multiple scores this year—guiding Splendora (Audible) to victory in the GI Filly & Mare Sprint and Nysos (Nyquist) in the GI Dirt Mile.

The honor commemorates Bill Shoemaker, the legendary Hall of Fame rider who won the Kentucky Derby four times and amassed 8,833 career victories, including the 1987 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic with Ferdinand (Nijinsky).

For José D’Angelo, the weekend was nothing short of a dream come true. The Venezuelan conditioner earned his first two Breeders’ Cup wins—and, alongside Bob Baffert, was the only trainer to saddle a double in 2025. Both victories came in consecutive races, with the same team: Shisospicy, racing for Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing, scored in front-running style in the Turf Sprint (G1), while Bentornato, owned by Leon King Stable Corp. and Julia and Michael Iavarone, redeemed his runner-up finish from last year with an authoritative performance in the Sprint (G1).

The event also produced a moment of pure family history: Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien became the first father and son ever to win Breeders’ Cup races in the same edition. Donnacha, just 26, celebrated his first major international success when Balantina (Ten Sovereigns) captured the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, while Aidan scored his 21st Breeders’ Cup win—tying Bob Baffert’s eventual mark the next day—when Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) took the GI Juvenile Turf.

Statistics from the weekend told the story of both predictability and surprise. Only five of the 14 races were won by favorites, including Nysos (3-5) in the Dirt Mile and Ted Noffey (Into Mischief, 4-5) in the Juvenile (G1). The biggest shock came in the GI Longines Turf, where Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) stormed home at odds of $57.40, giving Willie Mullins and Dylan McMonagle their first-ever Breeders’ Cup victories.

European runners dominated the grass events, winning five of the six turf contests: Balantina, Gstaad, Notable Speech (Dubawi), Ethical Diamond, and Gezora (Almanzor) all flew the flag for the Old Continent. The only exception was Shisospicy, the lone American turf winner of the weekend.

Between the sustained brilliance of Ortiz Jr., the rise of José D’Angelo, and the enduring excellence of Aidan O’Brien, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup was a festival of contrasts, milestones, and emotion—one that not only celebrated the present brilliance of world racing but also offered a glimpse of its increasingly global future.