Richard Mandella dominates 20th Breeders" Cup
Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Never before in Breeders" Cup history
has a trainer saddled four winners. The 20th edition of the
Breeders" Cup saw Richard Mandella send four of his charges to the winner"s
circle at Santa Anita Park.
In addition to Mandella making history, High Chaparral repeated as the winner
of the Breeders" Cup Turf. In that race High Chaparral finished in a
dead-heat with Johar, to mark the first dead-heat for win in the World
Thoroughbred Championships.
Five longshots captured Breeders" Cup races in 2003, including Johar who
went off at 14-1, and Julie Krone became the first female to ride to victory
in a Breeders" Cup race.
Pleasantly Perfect gave Mandella his fourth winner of the afternoon. The
five-year-old rolled to victory in the $4 million Breeders" Cup Classic. The
longshot covered the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.88.
Pleasantly Perfect came from well off the pace to capture the Classic by
1 1/2 lengths. Medaglia d"Oro finished second after setting the pace along
with Congaree. Dynever got up for third in the nine-horse field, and Congaree
faded to fourth.
Pleasantly Perfect is owned by Diamond A Racing and was ridden to victory by
Alex Solis. Solis also rode Johar to the dead-heat finish in the Turf. The
win in the Classic was worth $2 million to bring the five-year-old"s career
winnings to $2.9 million.
Pleasantly Perfect returned $30.40, $9.60 and $6.60. Medaglia d"Oro paid
$4.40 and $3.60, and Dynever paid $7.40 for show.
One race before the Classic saw a finish that couldn"t be more exciting. 2002
Breeders" Cup Turf winner High Chaparral and Johar finished in a dead- heat
in the $2 million Breeders" Cup Turf. It was the first time in Breeders" Cup
history that two horses tied to win a race.
In many ways it was a repeat of last year"s $2 million event. The Tin Man and
Balto Star set the pace for the first mile. Up the backstretch Balto Star was
squeezed back to put him out of contention.
At the top of the stretch Falbrav took the lead, but not for long. Charging down
the stretch came High Chaparral and Johar. At the wire Johar and High Chaparral
were inseparable. The judges determined that the two horses hit the wire
exactly at the same instant. Falbrav held for third.
The time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:24.24 on a yielding course. The owners for
the two winners each receive $763,200.
High Chaparral is owned by Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier. Aidan O"Brien trains
and Michael Kinane rides. Last year High Chaparral won the event as the 9-10
favorite. High Chaparral is the sixth horse to win two Breeders" Cup races.
Johar is owned by The Thoroughbred Corp. and trained by Mandella, who already
won the Juvenile Filly and Juvenile.
High Chaparral returned $6.40, $6.20 and $3.80. Johar paid $13.60, $9.00
and $5.40. Falbrav paid $4.20.
The 20th running of the World Thoroughbred Championships got off to an exciting
start at Santa Anita. In the Distaff, Adoration led every step of the way to
get the day started with a bang.
Adoration, ridden by Pat Valenzuela, went off as a 40-1 longshot. She broke
from the gate well and went to the lead. The six challengers were strung out
behind the leader in the 1 1/8 mile race.
Adoration opened up around the turn with Elloluv trying to overtake her. Down
the stretch Adoration continued to roll and hit the wire 4 1/2 lengths in front.
Elloluv was second and Got Koko third. Odds-on favorite Sightseek finished fourth
after a rough trip. The time for the Distaff was 1:49.17.
Adoration is owned by Amerman Racing and trained by David Hofmans. The four-year-old
adds $1 million to her bankroll. She has now earned more than $1.3 million in
her career.
Adoration returned $83.40, $33.40 and $25.80. Elloluv paid $9.20 and $12.20, and
Got Koko paid $6.80.
Krone guided Halfbridled to a 2 1/2 win in the Breeders" Cup Juvenile Filly.
Krone, who came back from retirement earlier this year, guided Halfbridled to her
fourth straight win. Halfbridled has yet to lose a race in her short career.
Halfbridled is trained by Mandella for Wertheimer Farm. The time for the 1 1/16 miles
was 1:42.75. The win was worth $520,000. The two-year-old has won three straight
stakes and has earned $849,400.
Halfbridled returned $6.60, $4.80 and $3.40. Ashado paid $11.60 and $7.20, and
Victory U.S.A paid $4.80 for show.
Six Perfections, the only female in the field, shot down the stretch to capture
the $1.5 million Mile on the grass. The time for the race was 1:33.86.
Jockey Jerry Bailey recorded his 14th win in Breeders" Cup history. The win also
gave trainer Pascal Bary back-to-back wins in the Mile. Domedriver won the 2002
edition.
Six Perfections overcame a tough time getting into the starting gate to claim the
$780,000 winner"s check. She finished 3/4"s of a length ahead of Touch of the Blues
with Century City third and Irish Warrior fourth in the 13-horse field. Sarafan
was a scratch.
The three-year-old filly is owned by Flaxman Holdings and has now earned better
than $1.4 million. This was Six Perfection"s first race in America after nine
races in Europe.
Six Perfections returned $12.60, $7.00 and $4.80. Touch of the Blues paid $9.80
and $6.80, and Century City paid $15.60 for show.
The fastest horses in the world went postward in the six furlong Sprint. Longshot
Cajun Beat came away with a 2 1/4 length victory in a time of 1:07.95.
Cajun Beat, ridden by Cornelio Velazquez, ran near the lead until the top of the
stretch. The three-year-old pulled away through the middle of the track.
Bluesthestandard was second, Shake You Down finished third and Posse ended fourth
in the 13 horse field.
Cajun Beat is owned by Padua Stable and John and Joseph Iracane. Stephen Margolis
trains the gelding who has now won two consecutive stakes. The $613,600 purse
increases Cajun Beat"s career earnings to more than $800,000.
Cajun Beat returned $47.60, $19.80 and $11.20. Bluesthestandard paid $12.60 and
$8.00, and Shake You Down paid $5.00 for show.
Islington, last year"s third-place finisher, posted a neck victory to capture the
1 1/4 mile Filly & Mare Turf. The winning time was 1:59.13.
Jockey Kieren Fallon, who has been aboard the four-year-old filly in all 14 of her
races, captured his first Breeders" Cup win.
The win was worth $551,200 for Islington, which is owned by the estate of the late
Lord Weinstock and trained by Michael Stoute. The filly has more than $1.5 million
in career earnings.
The pace in the Filly & Mare Turf was briskly set by Bien Nicole. She took the
field through the first seven furlongs, but tired around the final turn. Islington
and L"Ancresse battled down the stretch, while Yesterday finished third and
Heat Haze was fourth.
Islington returned $7.80, $6.00 and $4.20. L"Ancresse paid $32.60 and $13.00. and
Yesterday paid $7.80 for show.
Winning the Breeders" Cup Juvenile is a good news/bad news situation. The good
news is that the winner of the race is traditionally the early favorite for the
next year"s Kentucky Derby. The bad news, however, is that no Juvenile winner has
gone on to win the Derby.
This year"s recipient that claimed the dubious honor of capturing the Breeders" Cup
Juvenile is Action This Day, as the two-year-old put on a late charge to capture
the 1 1/16 mile race in a time of 1:43.62. He finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of
Minister Eric.
Action This Day was ridden by David Flores for owner B. Wayne Hughes and was
trained by Mandella. Action This Day adds $780,000 to his winnings, which now exceed
$800,000.
Action This Day went from last in the 12 horse field to win the first stakes race
of his career. Minister Eric was second with Chapel Royal and Tiger Hunt came in
fourth. The winner was making just his third start in his first year of competition.
Action This Day returned $55.60, $19.20 and $11.00. Minister Eric paid $8.80 and
$7.20, for place and Chapel Royal paid $5.60 for show. Favorite Cuvee finished last.
The 2004 running of the World Thoroughbred Championships will be held at Lone Star Park
near Dallas, Texas. The 21st Breeders" Cup will be conducted on October 30.
