1 of 3 | Napoleon Solo wins Saturday’s Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. Phot by Cognianese Photography, courtesy of NYRA

Oct. 6 (UPI) — The last big weekend of Breeders’ Cup prep races produced a mix of upsets and promising performances from France to California, setting the stage for the World Championships meeting Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

At Longchamp in Paris, the Coolmore “lads” and trainer Aidan O’Brien landed two of the five Group 1 races, all Breeders’ Cup qualifiers, but came up just short of the big prize in the Arc d’Triomphe.

Turf

Daryz, a Sea the Stars 3-year-old from the late Aga Khan’s stables, ran through pelting rain to win Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, defeating Coolmore filly Minnie Hauk by a head. Sosie was third in the 2,400-meters Arc, run on turf listed as “very soft.”

Daryz earned a “Win and You’re In” spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, while posting his fifth win from seven starts.

Plans for Daryz remain to be seen, but trainer Aidan O’Brien, graciously accepting Minnie Hauk’s defeat, said a chance remains she will resurface in Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup.

Also in the division: Silawi jumped out to a big lead in Saturday’s $750,000 (Canadian) Grade I Canadian International at Woodbine and just did make it hold up, winning by a nose over late-closing Tawny Port.

And Asbury Park closed strongly from the back of a six-horse field in Saturday’s $500,000 Grade II Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct, took the lead nearing the sixteenth pole and won by 2 lengths over Noble Confessor.

Filly & Mare Turf

Mission of Joy brought a bunch of it to her backers with a late-running victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita and Barnavara won Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera Longines at Longchamp, both earning “Win and You’re In” tickets for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Also, Breath Away beat local heroine Caitlinhergrtness by 1/2 length with a last-to-first effort in Saturday’s $200,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet365 Dance Smartly at Woodbine. And British-bred Village Voice outfinished South African-bred Beach Bomb to win Sunday’s $175,000 Waya Stakes at Aqueduct by a neck.

Turf Mile

Rhetorical had the answer in the stretch run of Saturday’s $1.25 million Grade I Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, rallying three-wide to the lead and scoring by 3/4 length over Program Trading.

In France, Maranoa Charlie got the lead in Saturday’s Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and glided home first by 1 1/4 length over the favorite, Zaragana. Both won “Win and You’re In” Annie Oakleys to the Breeders’ Cup.

Simply In Front was only in front in the final yards of Saturday’s $600,000 Grade I First Lady at Keeneland but that was all that counted as the Summer Front filly won by a neck in a five-horse blanket finish.

Turf Sprint

Asfoora got to the front well inside the 100-meter marker in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp and held sway, winning by 1/2 length over Jawwal. The Abbaye was a “Win and You’re In” for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Khaadem, a 9-year-old “character” by the reckoning of trainer Charlie Hills and jockey Frankie Dettori, rallied from last of eight to win Saturday’s $400,000 Grade II Woodford Stakes at Keeneland by a neck over Script.

Two more veterans of the turf sprint wars finished 1-2 in Saturday’s $250,000 (Canadian) Grade II Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine as 5-year-old No Nay Hudson gained his first graded stakes win by edging 6-year-old Nobals, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup winner, by a neck at the end of the 5 furlongs.

Distaff

Gin Gin led from the start in Sunday’s $650,000 Grade I Spinster at Keeneland and held on to win by a head over 3-year-old Nitrogen with Scylla third. Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna tracked the pace but faded in the stretch to finish fourth.

Gin Gin, a Calumet Farm homebred 4-year-old by Hightail, got her first Grade I score and fourth overall.

Sprint

Third time was the charm for Nakatomi as the 6-year-old gelding came from last of six to win Friday’s $400,000 Grade II Stall Keenon Ogden Phoenix at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Wesley Ward trainee, second in each of the last two runnings of the race, defeated Durante by a neck.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Praying wore down the favorite, Vahva, in the stretch run of Saturday’s $100,000 Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland and won by 1/2 length over that rival.

The victory was worth a “Win and You’re In” bid to the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint for the 3-year-old Vekoma filly, who backed up a win in her previous race, the Grade III Prioress at Saratoga.

Tamara caught pacesetter Silent Law turning into the stretch in Saturday’s $100,000 Chillingworth at Santa Anita and got clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths over that rival. The Bolt d’Oro filly won last year’s Grade I Del Mar Debutante, but then finished a fading seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Richard Mandella has brought he back as a sprinter this season.

Juvenile

The “Big Three” tracks all had Grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races for this division.

Ted Noffey improved to 3-for-3 with a dominating score in Saturday’s $650,000 Grade I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. The Into Mischief colt was the easiest of winners in two previous starts at Saratoga.

At Aqueduct, Napolean Solo blew away eight rivals in Saturday’s $500,000 Grade I Champagne. The Liam’s Map colt, from the Chad Summers barn, led all the way and scooted clear to score by 6 1/2 lengths.

Intrepido faced four rivals trained by Southern California 72-year-old guru Bob Baffert in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I American Pharoah at Santa Anita — and beat them all. The Maximus Mischief ridgling, from the Jeff Mullins barn, caught pacesetting favorite Desert Gate in the late going and beat that one by 3/4 lengths.

Juvenile Turf

Four “Win and You’re In” races: Puerto Rico won Sunday’s Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardare at Longchamp, Final Score took Sunday’s $400,000 Grade II Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, Bottas won Friday’s $200,000 Grade II Pilgrim at Aqueduct; and Stark Contrast captured Sunday’s $100,000 Zuma Beach at Santa Anita.

Juvenile Turf Sprint

Intricate Spirit edged away in the final strides to win Friday’s $175,000 Grade III Futurity at Aqueduct, and Schwarzenegger led throughout in Sunday’s $300,000 Indian Summer at Keeneland, both “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Later Than Planned was along late to win Saturday’s $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita by 1/2 length, and Cy Fair, a Not This filly, came from last to win Sunday’s $175,000 (Canadian) bet 365 Algonquin at Woodbine.

Juvenile Fillies

Odds-on favorite Tommy Jo won Friday’s $650,000 a “Win and You’re In” for the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, on the disqualification of first-to-finish Percy’s Bar.

Explora enjoyed stretching out to 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita, kicking away in the added real estate to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

Both earned “Win and You’re In” spots in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Iron Orchard remained undefeated, scoring her third win in as many starts in Saturday’s $400,000 Grade I Frizette at Aqueduct. The Authentic filly, trained by Danny Gargan, put a nose in front of long shot Rileytole for the victory.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

There were four qualifiers for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Diamond Necklace sparkled in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac on the Longchamp turf Sunday, working to the lead inside the 400-meters mark and kicking away in the final 100 to win by 1 length over Green Spirit.

Imaginationthelady rallied from a pace-stalking trip to win Friday’s $400,000 Grade II Jessamine at Keeneland.

Ground Support led gate to wire in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Miss Grillo at Aqueduct, winning by 2 lengths over Deep Learning.

And Brave Deb took the $100,000 Grade III Surfer Girl at Santa Anita Sunday.