Hey Nay Nay to Try Favored Gstaad in BC Juvenile Turf

In many stakes races for 2-year-olds, a speedy, unbeaten graded stakes winner with local experience is likely to be favored, particularly one racing for high-profile connections.

But the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Oct. 31 at Del Mar is not your typical stakes race. Since the 1-mile grass race's addition to the Breeders' Cup slate in 2007, European-trained shippers have won 12 of the 18 runnings, including the past four renewals

In part for that reason, Hronis Racing and Iapetus Racing's Hey Nay Nay —who is perfect in three starts for California trainer John Sadler and coming off a victory in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3T)—is expected to be only a supporting choice with bettors. The Ireland-based Gstaad , trained by seven-time Juvenile Turf winner Aidan O'Brien, is as short as even-money in antepost (future) wagering on the race with British bookmakers.

"We know the Euros have dominated that race a lot, but I still have a nice horse and obviously, he's one of them," Sadler said of Hey Nay Nay.

An Irish-bred son of No Nay Never  and a half brother to group 2 winner Global Storm , Hey Nay Nay was a striking victor in each of his three outings, all on turf. A $300,000 purchase from the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he outran maidens at Santa Anita Park June 1, traveled to New Jersey and romped in the Tyro Stakes in another turf sprint at Monmouth Park Aug. 2, then showed a new dimension in stretching out to a route in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Juvenile Turf. Pressing a fast pace of a rival who would weaken to finish last, Hey Nay Nay took over in the stretch and outlasted eventual American Pharoah Stakes (G1) show finisher Plutarch  by 1 1/2 lengths. 

Feeling Hey Nay Nay was "right where he needs to be," Sadler opted to bypass running him at Santa Anita Park in the Oct. 5 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T).

He and Gstaad took the worst of the post position draw, landing in posts 13 and 14, respectively.

Gstaad, a son of Starspangledbanner  owned by Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor, won his first two starts, including the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. He has since had three consecutive runner-up finishes in group 1s.

Beyond Hey Nay Nay, the other leading Americans include Summer Stakes (G1T) winner Argos , trained by Riley Mott; Street Beast , winner of the Juvenile Mile Stakes at Kentucky Downs for trainer Ben Colebrook; and Bottas , victorious in each of his two starts, including the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) for trainer Miguel Clement.

The Juvenile Turf is the 10th and final race Friday at 5:25 p.m. PT. NBC Sports will stream it on Peacock, while FanDuel TV will televise it via the Breeders' Cup Players' Show. Other platforms and apps will also show the Breeders' Cup Players' Show stream.