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The first half of 2025 has served up more than a few surprises on the track. Fan favorites stumbled, long shots triumphed, and the sport’s unpredictability proved again it’s the ultimate game of chance and strategy.

From big-name stumbles to longshots stealing the spotlight, we’ve rounded up the most jaw-dropping turnarounds from 2025, each one proving why racing never plays it safe.

1. Sovereignty Caps It All in Belmont

No horse had seemed more in control than Journalism, chalked up as the favorite throughout Triple Crown season. Yet, Sovereignty, at 7–1, surged past him in the Kentucky Derby, pulling away down the stretch on a sloppy Churchill Downs track.

The real signature moment came in the Belmont Stakes. With Journalism again installed as the favorite at 2-1, Sovereignty defied expectations still, this time winning by three lengths. That kind of consistency, upsetting favorites not once, but twice, is as rare as it is remarkable.

For fans following these shifts in momentum and race-day surprises, platforms like FanDuel Racing make it easy to stay updated on major racecards, daily entries, and odds swings across top tracks.

2. Hit Show Derails Dubai

Dubai’s richest race, the World Cup, is often predicted almost to the wire, but not this year. Hit Show, a U.S.-trained longshot, stormed past heavily backed favorites in the final stretch to win at staggering 41–1 odds.

More than just about beating the favorite, it was about rewriting the story when it mattered most. That late surge made it the most shocking upset of the race, dominating international headlines.

Hit Show trailed early, making his closing speed even more impressive against a tired field. His win also snapped a streak of heavily favored winners at Meydan, shaking up future betting strategies.

3. Nick Rockett’s Grand National Charge at 33–1

History rarely smiles on amateurs in the Grand National. Yet Nick Rockett, piloted by amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, took home victory at 33–1, a rare and thrilling win.

Beyond the odds, consider the technical cliff of stamina and jumps needed over four miles. The conditions were heavy, the field deep, and the pressure intense. To conquer it all, as an outsider tells you, this wasn’t luck, but instead grit and timing on a monumental day.

4. Golden Ace’s 25–1 Triumph at Cheltenham

The Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham is a crown jewel event. With Constitution Hill and State Man as co-favorites, few expected Golden Ace to take the lead, yet he did, and by a staggering nine lengths.

At 25–1, this was less a shock than a statement of fact. When two top picks fall and an underdog runs clean, it shows just how railway-like jumping races can be. Observers now pay more attention to form beyond just favorites.

What made Golden Ace’s win more compelling was his clean travel and efficient jumping. The horse was mistake-free and steady from start to finish. The heavy going tripped up others, but he handled the course like he had run it a dozen times.

5. Desert Flower Upsets at the 1000 Guineas

Headlines often hail the 1000 Guineas, but the spotlight stayed on Desert Flower, the even-money favorite, who pulled off a decisive surprise at Newmarket. Leading gate to wire in a fashion usually reserved for less-favored fillies, she won and dominated.

The margin slipped later in the Oaks, but that Guineas win remains a win measured both in form and impact, redefining her place in the division.

6. Cercene’s 33–1 Shock at the Coronation Stakes

At the 2025 Royal Ascot, Cercene stunned the field in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes with a powerful late charge, winning at 33–1 odds. Trained by Joseph Murphy and ridden by Gary Carroll, the filly overtook the heavy favorite Zarigana in the final stretch.

The upset came in a stacked field of top milers and marked one of the biggest surprises of the meet. Cercene’s composed tracking and well-timed move proved that even on racing’s grandest stages, longshots can still rewrite the script.

7. Poniros Shocks at Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle

In a stunning turn of events at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, Poniros soared past all expectations with a jaw-dropping triumph in the Triumph Hurdle. Carrying odds of 100–1, this Willie Mullins-trained runner stunned the crowd by jumping clear of the field, and became the longest-shot ever to win that race.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr., the gelding tracked the leaders before launching a late surge that left the field behind. It was a flawless execution on the biggest stage, unexpected yet perfectly timed.

Upset Season Isn’t Over Yet

So far, 2025 has given us a masterclass in unpredictability, from dirt tracks to jumps, short odds to huge longshots. And that’s exactly where the sport thrives. What this year has shown is simple. That is to never sleep on the mid-level or ignored entries. Pre-race buzz didn’t follow these horses, but their performance left no doubt when it was time to run.

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