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Orientate won the Sprint off a layoff of almost 2 months.

World Thoroughbred Championships
Breeders' Cup Sprint Results

Date: 10/26/02

Juvenile   Juv.Fillies   Sprint   Distaff   F&M Turf   Mile   Turf   Classic

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.

When the gate opened, jockey Edgar Prado hustled his 49-1 longshot Thunderello to the front and he led the procession at a blistering early pace, getting fractions of 21.53, 43,91, and 56.09 for five furlongs. At this point, Orientate, in striking position 4th early on, was hustled up by Jerry Bailey and he collared the longshot 20 yards out for a 1/2 length win in 1:08.89. Thunderello, second longest shot on the board, held on for second while 16-1 shot Crafty C.T. came on from seventh early to finish third.

The Sprint

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


Orientate just got up over longshot Thunderello to win the Sprint off a 55 day lay-off.
Winning Time: 1:08.89 $2 Exacta 10-1 312.00 $2 Trifecta 10-1-11 4,683.40 $1 Superfecta 10-1-11-9 23,663.80 $2 Head2Head 6 over 12 3.40
Results chart Race 6


Orientate in the winner's circle. Jockey Jerry Bailey said, "I had a lot of confidence in this horse. This colt could run down anything. I'm amazed that Thunderello took the heat like that and punched down the lane the way he did. I was always within a length or two and on the turn I knew I wouldn't be more than 2 or 3 wide.


The winning connections accept the trophy. It was the first Breeders' Cup win for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and the 17th for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Beverly Lewis said, "The Racing Form had in print that the Lewises had a drought as far as the Breeders' Cup. They could handle the Triple Crown but had a Breeders' Cup drought. Now we've broken that drought."


Orientate heads out for the post parade. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "He is a brilliant sprinter in a lot of ways but he also has mile capabilities. I thought if he was in contention at the head of the stretch he would be one of the ones that would finish."


Second place finisher Thunderello heading out for the post parade. Trainer Scott Lake said, "There is no horse faster than he is in the early going and if he wanted the lead he was going to get it. He ran an incredible race. and I'm very proud of him." Jockey Edgar Prado added, "There aren't many choices from the one hole but to go. He found another gear. He overcame a lot against a great bunch of horses."


Third place finisher Crafty C.T. in the post parade. Jockey Pat Valenzuela said, "Speed was sticking on this track today. They set some decent fractions but my horse was running at the finish. Four jumps after the wire, I'm in front of the winner."


Kona Gold competed for the fifth time in the Sprint, finishing fourth this year. Trainer Bruce Headley said: "The old guy ran big. The other horses were just better today but I'm real proud. Old Kona, he's been in the money each time and he's still doing great. He can still beat a lot of these guys but some others were just faster today. He'll be back."


Xtra Heat, always a favorite with the fans, just didn't fire and finished 6th. Her jockey Harry Vega said: "I can't make any excuses for her."

Juvenile   Juv.Fillies   Sprint   Distaff   F&M Turf   Mile   Turf   Classic

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