DEL MAR — A festive Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar took a tragic turn Saturday when Jayarebe, a 3-year-old French-bred colt, died suddenly after suffering an apparent heart attack following the $5 million Turf.

Jayarebe, finished seventh in the field of 13 for the 1 ½-mile race, which was won by Rebel’s Romance.

The Breeders’ Cup confirmed the death in a statement:

“Jayarebe suffered what appears to have been a cardiac event on the gallop out. He was immediately attended to by a team of veterinary experts led by Dr. Brent Cassady, but unfortunately passed away. His jockey, Sean Levey, was uninjured.”

Jayarebe, trained by Irish native Brian Meehan who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2006 (Red Rocks) and 2010 (Dangerous Midge), was making his sixth start of the year and eighth of his career. He had won four times, including the Grade II Prix Dollar four weeks ago at Longchamp in his home country.

There were 11 racehorses who died from sudden deaths in California in 2023, accounting for 13.4% of equine fatalities.

Appleby misses quad

The day began with trainer Charlie Appleby trying to win the Turf with the same horse for the second time in three years and the Mile for an unprecedented fourth straight year.

He batted .500.

Appleby got the first part done when favored Rebel’s Romance ($5.80) held off a fast-charging Rousham Park to add the 2024 Turf title to the one he won in 2022. Shahryar, like Rousham Park a Japan-bred, finished third in this race for the second straight year.

But in the $2 million Mile, favored Notable Speech wound up third behind More Than Looks ($15.80) and Johannes, the 4-year-old owned by Debby and Joe McCloskey of Solana Beach. More Than Looks, ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Cherie DeVaux, was the only American-based winner of a turf race in this weekend’s event.

Big upsets early

The first two Breeders’ Cup races of the day produced major upsets.

Soul of an Angel ($41.60), who trailed by more than a dozen lengths early in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, rallied to edge Society and Pleasant for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Drayden Van Dyke. The 5-year-old mare was making her 41st career start and picked up a Grade I win in just her fourth attempt.

About 45 minutes later came an even bigger shocker. Starlust ($69.80), sent off at 33-1, also rallied from last place to win a three-horse photo with Motorious and Ag Bullet in the $1 million Turf Sprint. Cogburn, the 4-5 favorite, opened a 2 ½-length lead after four of the five furlongs but faded to fifth.

Starlust, a 3-year-old British-bred colt, was ridden by Rossa Ryan for trainer Ralph Beckett, a jockey/trainer pair that combined to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last month with Bluestocking.

The $2 million Filly & Mare Turf was the only other grass race not won by a European horse. Moira ($13.60), a Canadian-bred trained by Kevin Attard and ridden by Flavien Prat, defeated Appleby’s Cinderella’s Dream in the Filly & Mare Turf.

California-based horses were shut out Saturday until the final two dirt races. In the $2 million Sprint, Straight No Chaser ($14.20) outfinished 28-1 longshot Bentornato to win by a half-length for jockey John Velazquez and trainer Dan Blacker. Straight No Chaser is owned by the MyRacehorse group, whose CEO, Michael Behrens, grew up near the racetrack and went to San Diego State.

Finally, in the $1 million Dirt Mile, Full Serrano ($28.80), racing for the first time since his runner-up finish two months ago in the Pacific Classic, beat Post Time by a length and a half for trainer John Sadler and jockey Joel Rosario. Domestic Product, the seventh losing favorite in nine Cup races Saturday, was third.

Other races

Odds-on choice Hope Road ($2.60) made it four straight wins, the last three at Del Mar, with a front-running victory in the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes. The 3-year-old Quality Road filly, ridden by Juan Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert, is owned by her breeder, Cicero Farms, which is overseen by Barbara Ranck Perry of Rancho Santa Fe.

Another 3-year-old filly, the Irish-bred Raqiya ($12.20), also led throughout to win the $300,000 Goldikova Stakes at a mile on the turf. Raqiya was ridden by Frankie Dettori.