ATC Lead

By: Joe Girardi

            The Breeders’ Cup has come and gone and there were some interesting results in all the races. Longshots were the flavor of the day, the first dead heat in the Breeders’ Cup and a trainer won four races.

            In the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the first Breeders’ Cup race SIGHTSEEK was a heavy favorite. All the experts picked her and she couldn’t lose, right? Well she did lose, finishing a badly beaten fourth at 3-5. The winner of the race was 40-1 longshot ADORATION who was allowed an easy early lead and never looked back scoring by more than four lengths.

            In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile fillies the next race on the card, there was a full field of 14 horses. The favorite in the race was HALFBRIDLED, who drew the far outside post 14. She didn’t disappoint as she scored an easy two and a half length victory over ASHADO. Sent off as the 2.30-1 favorite, she stalked the early pace in fifth and took over at will to win going away. That was the first of four for trainer Richard Mandella.

            The next race the Breeders’ Cup Mile, we saw another large field of 13 horses. The slight favorite in the race was PEACE RULES, who went to the lead but stopped, finishing last. The winner was a European filly named SIX PERFECTIONS. Despite the hot weather and acting up before the start she went on to score the victory under a perfect ride from Jerry Bailey.

            The next race on the card was the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. This race also had a full field of 13 horses. The favorite in the race was ALDEBARAN who finished a non-threatening sixth. There were many questions about his ability at six furlongs and obviously he is better going a little longer. The winner of the race was the improving three year old CAJUN BEAT, who battled on the lead and still had plenty left to hold off the closers. He paid $47.60 to win.

            The next race on the card was the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. This race went to the slight favorite ISLINGTON, who was sent off at 2.90-1 and just got up to score over 46-1 shot L’ANCRESSE. Bobby Frankel’s trio of HEAT HAZE, MEGAHERTZ, and TATES CREEK never threatened as yet another European handled the very hot weather.  

            The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was next and the favorite in that race was CUVEE. Another one who drew a bad post but unlike HAFLBRIDLED, CUVEE had distance limitations and it showed as he tired to finish last. The pace was very hot and this set it up for the late closers as ACTION THIS DAY (26-1), came from last to get the win. This was the second win for Mandella. Incidentally he also finished second with MINISTER ERIC.

            The next race on the card was the Breeders’ Cup Turf. This race featured the first dead heat in Breeders’ Cup history as last year’s winner HIGH CHAPARRAL and JOHAR finished in a dead heat. FALBRAV, the import from Ireland was only head back in third. The favorite in the race was STORMING HOME, who was a non- threatening seventh. JOHAR was trained by Richard Mandella; giving him his third winner of the day.

            The final race of the day was the $4,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Even though there were some defections, such as MINESHAFT and CANDY RIDE, this race was very competitive nonetheless. After setting some solid early fractions MEDAGLIA D’ORO and CONGAREE took their battle into the stretch only to get rundown by PLEASANTLY PERFECT, who gave Mandella an unbelievable fourth winner on the day. MEDAGLIA D’ORO held second to give Bobby Frankel his best result on a disappointing day for the country’s top money winning trainer. DYNEVER, a three year old just got up to beat CONGAREE for third. VOLPONI, last year’s upset winner was a disappointing 10^th of 10 and will be retired to stud. FUNNY CIDE, who won the Derby and Preakness, finished a well beaten ninth in a still mind-boggling decision to run him in this race.

            Well as they say in baseball, there is always next year, when the Breeders’ Cup will be held at Lone Star Park.