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 Azeri likely made herself the favorite for the Horse of the Year Eclipse with her impressive win in the Distaff. |
After a week of cold, wind, and rain in Chicago, Arlington Park welcomed 50-degree weather with a cloudy sky and a light breeze for its first Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. A sold-out crowd of 46,118 came out to see racing's single most important day. Because of the rains, the main track started as muddy and was upgraded to good and eventually fast as it dried, but there was always considerable moisture in it while the turf course was rated yielding. Jockeys John Velazquez and Mike Smith won two races each, and the Europeans captured two events, the Mile and the Turf, taking advantage of the softer going. More details and photos coming Sunday evening, so check back!
The $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff featured the best of California, in the form of the favored Azeri, taking on some formidable eastern-based fillies and mares such as Farda Amiga and Take Charge Lady. Azeri would not be denied and led the highly competitive field every step of the way, drawing off to a 5 length win in a quick 1:48.64 over a rain-soaked track rated good.
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Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Azeri Smith 5.60 3.60 2.60 3 Farda Amiga Day 4.60 3.40 5 Imperial Gesture Bailey 3.40
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As in the Distaff, the favorite in the Juvenile Fillies also came through. Storm Flag Flying was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and ran to her odds, stalking the early pace of longshot Humorous Lady then fighting off the late challenge of 7-2 second choice Composure for a 1/2 length win in 1:49.60 for the 1 1/8 mile event. She is a third-generation Breeders' Cup winner, with her dam My Flag winning the 1995 Juvenile Fillies and grand-dam Personal Ensign winning the 1988 Distaff.
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Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Storm Flag Flying Velazquez 3.60 2.60 2.20 3 Composure Smith 3.40 2.80 1 Santa Catarina Bailey 3.00
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In the Mile, Team Coolmore sent out their highly regarded Rock of Gibraltar, winner of an unprecedented seven straight Group 1 races, to try for win number eight. The public showed its respect by betting him down to 4-5 in the field of 14. However, he was slow out of the gate and had to come from second last after 6 furlongs to just get up for second. French-based Domedriver came through from midpack to win by 3/4 length in a time of 1:36.92 over a yielding course at odds of 26-1.
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Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 mile turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Domedriver Thulliez 54.00 18.20 5.80 10 Rock of Gibraltar Kinane 3.40 2.60 4 Good Journey Day 3.60
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A well-matched field of 13 faced the starter in the Sprint with no clear favorite. Orientate was the lukewarm 2.70-1 favorite with Bonapaw at 4.60-1 and Swept Overboard at 5.40-1 as the next choices. Only the top choice ran his race, as Jerry Bailey kept Orientate in striking position in 4th early and drove to the lead inside the 1/8 pole for a 1/2 length win in 1:08.89. Pacesetter Thunderello held on for second as the 48-1 second longest shot on the board.
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Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 6 furlongs
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 10 Orientate Bailey 7.40 5.00 3.80 1 Thunderello Prado 33.00 13.00 11 Crafty C.T. Valenzuela 9.00
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The Filly and Mare Turf featured several highly regarded entrants including 3.80-1 defending champion Banks Hill and 2.80-1 favorite Golden Apples. It was 13-1 shot Starine who came from 4th early to gain the lead over pacesetter Kazzia over a furlong out and draw off to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Banks Hill who was also flying late. The time was 2:03.57 for 1 1/4 miles over the yielding course. Golden Apples failed to fire and finished fourth.
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Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 1/4 miles turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 11 Starine Velazquez 28.40 10.00 8.40 5 Banks Hill Bailey 5.60 4.40 2 Islington Fallon 4.80
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The Juvenile, run at 1 1/8 miles this year, featured the best two-year-olds of the season except for morning line favorite Sky Mesa who had to be scratched Friday due to injury. Whywhywhy was bet down to the 5-2 favorite off his three race win streak. The streak ended when it counted as he faded to a disappointing 10th place finish after being in contention early. Instead, 4-1 second choice Vindication went almost gate to wire to win by 2 3/4 lengths over late running Kafwain in 1:49.61. In the trainer battle, Bob Baffert trained the first two finishers plus fourth place Bull Market, while Aidan O'Brien's trainees finished third, fifth,and eighth.
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Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 6 Vindication Smith 10.20 6.20 4.00 2 Kafwain Espinoza 16.00 8.40 3 Hold That Tiger Fallon 4.60
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Surprisingly only eight horses entered this $2 million Grade 1 event, with Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral sent off as th 9-10 favorite. 14-1 shot The Tin Man set the early pace but was mo match when the late runners began their charges. High Chaparral came from fifth early, gained the lead a furlong out, and drew away to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-1 shot With Anticipation. The final time was 2:30.14 for the 1 1/2 miles over the yielding turf.
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Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1 1/2 miles turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 High Chaparral Kinane 3.80 3.00 2.60 7 With Anticipation Day 5.20 4.20 3 Falcon Flight Valenzuela 5.20
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In the $4 million Classic, several veterans of this year's Triple Crown wars faced off to determine who should be named champion three-year-old, if not Horse of the Year. Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem took on Medaglia D'Oro, Came Home, and Harlan's Holiday in his final race. It was 43.5-1 longest shot on the board Volponi who shocked the crowd with his dominating 6 1/2 length win in a final time of 2:01.39 for the 1 1/4 miles. Medaglia d'Oro was second best as the 2.70-1 favorite, while War Emblem faded to eighth after stalking early, and Came Home finished a disappointing tenth.
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Purse: $4,000,000 Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Volponi Santos 89.00 26.80 12.40 7 Medaglia d'Oro Bailey 4.60 3.80 12 Milwaukee Brew Prado 9.60
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