Haffner seals O'Brien double as Europe sweeps Breeders' Cup juvenile turf races

Aidan O'Brien moved to 23 career Breeders' Cup victories as Haffner won the Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Friday, completing a double for the trainer and a sweep of the day's three juvenile turf races for European-trained runners. According to the Guardian's meeting report, Ryan Moore rode both Haffner and Sun Goddess to victory, while George Boughey's Libertango won the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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Haffner finished ahead of Folsom Blues and Avec Toi in a 12-runner Juvenile Turf. Moore secured a position close to the pace after a sharp start, then advanced along the inside before bringing his mount past the leader in the straight. Folsom Blues made ground late but could not catch Haffner, whose success restored O'Brien's outright lead in the meeting's all-time trainers' standings.

Earlier, Sun Goddess had beaten Green Empress and Curracloe in the 13-runner Juvenile Fillies Turf. Moore moved her across from stall nine to sit second at the first turn, establishing a prominent position before asking her to go on in the closing stages. Together, the two wins took O'Brien clear of Bob Baffert, who had briefly drawn level with him on 22 Breeders' Cup successes.

Libertango's opening victory came after a late jockey change. Billy Loughnane replaced Flavien Prat only around an hour before the Juvenile Turf Sprint, having managed to reach the required riding weight. Loughnane brought Boughey's filly through from behind horses to beat Hell Of A Spin. Mussab was promoted to third after Harper's Corner lost that placing following an interference inquiry.

The European result extended well beyond the three winners. The Guardian reported that European-trained horses occupied the first seven places in both the Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile Fillies Turf, as well as the first four in the Juvenile Turf. That left no American-trained winner in Friday's turf events, although both of the day's dirt races produced victories for unbeaten runners.

Baffert's Hughes won the six-runner Juvenile under Prat, beating American History and Salahudin to make it five wins from five starts. In the Juvenile Fillies, Brendan Walsh's Emphatic finished ahead of Miss Monica and Manuka Honey, extending her own unbeaten record to four races. O'Brien then closed the day's Breeders' Cup programme with Haffner's victory.