Europe struck first when Breeders' Cup 2024 kicked off Friday at Del Mar, as Magnum Force topped a longshot exacta in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

The William Haggas-trained Economics added to his burgeoning profile by dethroning Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion (G1), one of three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The trainer/jockey tandem of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore won two of the three Breeders’ Cup Challenge events on Saturday’s opening day of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

Odds-on favorite St Mark’s Basilica survived an inquiry in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Irish Champion (G1), but otherwise upsets were the order of the day at Leopardstown.