Cy Fair ensured the first strike in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup went the way of the home contingent when powering home under Irad Ortiz Jr to land the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Always well-positioned just off the pace of the front-running Schwarzenegger, Cy Fair loomed up travelling strongly rounding the final bend before hitting the front with halfway down the straight. Brussels squeezed between rivals under Christophe Soumillon to give chase, but he never looked like pegging back the George Weaver-trained juvenile, who held on well to score by three parts of a length.

James Owen's Aspect Island ran a cracker to finish third for Frankie Dettori, while True Love, who was sent off the 3/1 market leader, could only finish eighth having endured a wide trip throughout.

George Weaver, who was enjoying his first taste of Breeders' Cup success, said: "She's pretty quick. I want to thank all my staff and owners, this is the best year we've had yet and to win this race today, my first Breeders' Cup win, with hopefully more luck to come tomorrow."

Cy Fair's joint-owner Reagan Swinbank poignantly added: "She won her maiden race at Saratoga on July 10th; on July 4th many families were impacted by the Texas floods. Lives were lost of our friends, and some family lost their kids at summer camp – mine were there.

"It cannot repay the pain and trauma some families felt, and my family lived, but that race Cy Fair provided a needed high-five and smile. To continue to do that is just incredible."

On the performance of Brussels, O'Brien said: "He was a little bit slowly away, but he came home very well. He's a nice horse for the future."