The 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships is now in the record books.  Longshots were the order of the day as only two favorites won out of the eight Grade 1 races. Three highly regarded chances, Leroidesanimaux, Ashado, and the then-undefeated Lost in the Fog went down to defeat, throwing chaos into the Eclipse Award voting. A crowd of 54,289 braved a cold and breezy Belmont Park for the most important day of racing in North America if not the world.


The most important race of the afternoon was the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, the richest race in North America.  5-2 favorite Saint Liam settled off the early pace of 30-1 shot Sun King down the backstretch, wide throughout, and surged to the front inside the 3/16 pole to win by a length over 10-1 shot Flower Alley, in a time of 2:01.49 for the 1 1/4 mile trip over the fast main track. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 14-1 shot Perfect Drift in third.  Winning jockey Jerry Bailey said, "I was trying to keep him off the leaders as long as I could to leave him with a target."   Winning owner William Warren announced that this was Saint Liam's last race and he will go to stud at Lane's End next year.


The $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf saw a European sweep, as foreign-bred and trained horses filled out the top 4 positions.  9-1 shot Shirocco stalked the brisk early pace of obvious rabbit Shake the Bank, took charge at the top of the stretch as the 81-1 no-hoper dropped out, and dug in to hold off the late-running 16-1 shot Ace to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 2:29.30 for 1 1/2 miles over the "good" Widener turf course.  It was just a neck back to 7-2 favorite Azamour in third, and 3/4 more to 9-2 third choice Bago in fourth.  Winning jockey Christophe Soumillon, who continued to blow kisses at the crowd from the 1/16 pole to the finish, said, "This is just a dream.  To win in New York is unbelievable.  When I got to the turn I just wanted to let him go and try not to pull him back to mix up his action.  We got two lengths in front and when he saw the line he just flew home."


In the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, defending champion Ashado looked to be a cinch to repeat. However, 31-1 longshot Pleasant Home turned the tables on her, rallying from dead last early on to take command in mid stretch and drew away to win by 9 1/4 widening lengths over 12-1 shot Society Selection in a time of 1:48.34 for the 1 1/8 miles.  Ashado was a neck back in third.  Winning trainer Shug McGaughey said, "I was surprised. She has really come around late."  Owner Dinny Phipps announced that this was Pleasant Home's last race.


The $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Turf saw 6-5 favorite Leroidesanimaux take on defending champion Singletary at 9-1.  Both would be denied, as 6-1 second choice Artie Schiller turned the tables on them, settling nicely in mid-pack down the backstretch, then making headway on the turn, wearing down the favorite inside the final furlong to win by 3/4 length in a time of 1:36.10 over Leroidesanimaux. It was just a nose back to 14-1 shot Gorella in third.  Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "I had a decent trip. I ended up in a good spot (on the backstretch).  I just had to wait and at the top of the lane, I finally got out a little bit. And when he went, he did what he had to do. It was a pleasure to ride him for (trainer) Jimmy (Jerkens)."


In the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint, undefeated Lost in the Fog was the shortest price on the afternoon, at 3-5. After a rocky start, jockey Russell Baze hustled him up to the front by the quarter pole, but this obviously took his toll, as 12-1 shot Silver Train launched his bid from 5th on the turn, and held off 12-1 shot Taste of Paradise by a head at the line, in a time of 1:08.86 for the 6 furlongs.  It was 3 lengths back to 12-1 shot Lion Tamer in third, while Lost in the Fog faltered inside the 1/8 pole to finish a well-beaten seventh.  Winning trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said, "We had nothing to lose and everything to win in this race. This horse ran in 1:07 and change before and he just loves this track."  Baze said of the beaten favorite, "He got banged up a bit coming out of the gate. He was wide (on the turns). When I shook my stick at him he opened up but then he flattened out on me."


The $1 million Filly and Mare Turf saw defending champion Ouija Board back to defend her title, and was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in a full field of 14.  However, the locally trained Intercontinental turned the tables on the highly regarded Europeans, as the Bobby Frankel trainee took the lead soon after the start, opened up a 2 length lead down the backstretch, and found another gear in mid-stretch to hold off the late charging favorite to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of 2:02.34 for the 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf course. It was just a neck back to 9-1 shot Film Maker in third.  Winning jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "She broke good, but she wasn't going as fast as she has. I tried to take hold and stay comfortable. At the 1/4 pole I could feel the other horses coming but I knew she could hold on."



The $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile saw a full gate of fourteen 2-year-olds, with First Samurai sent off as the 6-5 favorite.  However, 9-2 second choice Stevie Wonderboy, who was near the back of the pack for the backstretch run, launched a powerful rally around the turn and drew away in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-1 shot Henny Hughes in a time of 1:41.64 for the 1 1/16 mile trip.  It was 2 more lengths back to First Samurai in third.  Winning trainer Doug O'Neill said, "(Jockey) Garrett (Gomez) mentioned he had a little trouble down the backstretch but once he got in the clear, thank God for that long stretch and he got up. The final time was fast. I am glad I kept training him for one turn after the Del Mar Futurity and skipped the Norfolk."  Gomez added, "He has a great mind and is very mature. I hope he is my Derby horse."


Kicking off the action on Saturday was the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.  2-1 favorite Folklore satisfied her many backers, stalking the early pace of 9-1 shot Knights Templar down the backstretch, then taking a 3 length lead at the 1/8 pole and easily holding of the late charge of 7-1 shot Wild Fit to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:43.85.  It was a long 4 3/4 lengths back to 9-2 shot Original Spin in third.  Jockey Edgar Prado, finally breaking his jinx in the Breeders' Cup, said, "It means a lot. It took me a long time bit I finally got it done.  She broke running out of the gate real fast. She did it all by herself, very sharp. She took a little breather at the 1/2 mile pole and I was very comfortable with everything. I'm very happy with the way she was doing it."