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Curlin in the paddock before the Classic

Breeders' Cup
World Championships Results

Date: 10/27/07

Juvenile   Juv.Fillies   Sprint   Distaff   F&M Turf   Mile   Turf   Classic   Juvenile Turf   Dirt Mile   F&M Sprint   Workout Photos   Misc. Photos

The 24th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships is now in the history books, as eight Grade 1 races each with year-end honors on the line, were contested at soggy Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Rain all week rendered the main track sloppy and the turf course soft, making for difficult conditions for the participants, although the temperature stayed around 70. The heavy rains forecast unfortunately kept the expected crowds away, as just 41,781 were on hand for Thoroughbred racing's biggest day.


Curlin wins the Classic

The main event on Championship day is the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic Powered By Dodge (G1), the richest race in North America, for older horses at 1 1/4 miles on the main track. Horse of the Year and 3-Year-Old Champion were definitely up for grabs. 9-2 fourth choice Curlin, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup pulled off the mild upset, unhurried in sixth early racing alongside 5-2 favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense for five furlongs well off the pace of 23.11, 45.67, and 1:10.67 set by 8-1 Hard Spun. Curlin dismissed Street Sense on the turn and caught the pacesetter inside the 1/8 pole, drawing away from Hard Spun to win by 4 1/2 lengths in a time of 2:00.59 under jockey Robby Albarado, just 0.19 seconds slower than Carry Back's track record. 28-1 longshot Awesome Gem came on late to get third.

Winning jockey Robby Albarado said, "It was truly awesome. Everything went perfectly starting with all the speed up front. It unfolded just the way we wanted, but it also takes a hell of a horse to get this done. Curlin was there for us every step of the way." Trainer Steve Asmussen added, "It's incredible (training my first Breeders' Cup winner). (The track) was a huge concern. I was extremely nervous about it, extremely nervous. Robby gave him the chance. He got him on his feet. He is an incredible horse."

The Classic Powered by Dodge

Purse: $5,000,000     Distance: 1 1/4 miles

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Curlin             Albarado        10.80    5.20  4.20
 8   Hard Spun          Pino                     7.60  5.80
 6   Awesome Gem        Flores                         9.40

Winning Time:  2:00.59

$2 Exacta 4-8                             70.80
$1 Trifecta 4-8-6                        645.30
$1 Superfecta 4-8-6-2                  2,146.20
$2 Pick Six 6-2/3-8-4-6-4 (6 of 6)   321,813.20
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


English Channel wins the Turf.

The $3 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), the longest race on Championship day, saw 8 distance specialists go 1 1/2 miles on the turf course. 3-1 second choice and Turf Classic winner English Channel saved ground along the rail around all three turns under regular rider John Velazquez, stalking the slow pace of 29-1 Fri Guy At the top of the stretch, English Channel took over the lead and powered away from 26-1 Shamdinan through the lane to win by 7 lengths in 2:36.96. Last year's winner Red Rocks was third, while 9-10 favorite and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Dylan Thomas was fifth.

Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "We got the perfect trip. Our plan was to save ground and wait as long as possible before we made our move. Everything was perfect. Last year (in the Breeders' Cup), we had an outside post and he never relaxed. This year, he's older and he has learned to relax. That was the key today." Trainer Todd Pletcher added, "He delivered big-time today. That was a big performance. He dominated some really good horses. I was concerned (about the course). Obviously, it was extremely soft, but he ran an unbelievable race."

The John Deere Turf

Purse: $3,000,000     Distance: 1 1/2 miles turf

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 6   English Channel    Velazquez         8.00   4.40  3.00
 4   Shamdinan          Leparoux                17.60  9.40
 2   Red Rocks          Dettori                        4.60

Winning Time:  2:36.96

$2 Exacta 6-4                        152.00
$1 Trifecta 6-4-2                    282.70
$1 Superfecta 6-4-2-3              1,234.60
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


Ginger Punch wins the Distaff over Hysterical Lady and Octave

The $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) saw 12 older fillies and mares go 1 1/8 miles on the main track. 9-2 second choice Ginger Punch settled just off the pace of 13-1 Bear Now while saving ground around both turns under jockey Rafael Bejarano, then moved up to challenge for the lead. She battled with 9-1 Hystericalady through the final furlong but dug in late to prevail by a neck in 1:50.11. It was another neck back to late-running 7-1 Octave in a blanket finish. 4-1 favorite Lear's Princess was never close and finished 10th.

Winning jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "I knew the three (Tough Tiz's Sis) had speed and I followed her. She (Tough Tiz's Sis) went to the outside and I stayed inside. I just tried to keep the dirt out of her face. In the stretch, we got squeezed by the 12 (Hystericalady), but I always knew she would come back." Chad Brown, assistant trainer to winning trainer Bobby Frankel said, "This filly has come a long way. Bobby never lost confidence in her. I'm so happy for the filly. We've had her since she was two. At one point of the race it looked like she went into the rail. She's tough and has always been a fighter."

The Emirates Airline Distaff

Purse: $2,000,000     Distance: 1 1/8 miles

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Ginger Punch       Bejarano         11.00   6.20  4.40
12   Hystericalady      Castro                   9.60  7.20
 8   Octave             Gomez                          5.00

Winning Time:  1:50.11

$2 Exacta 4-12                       141.60
$1 Trifecta 4-12-8                   534.70
$1 Superfecta 4-12-8-5             3,418.50
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


Kip Deville wins the Mile

The $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) featured a field of 13 older horses going 1 mile on the turf. 8-1 Kip Deville and jockey Cornelio Velasquez saved ground along the rail around both turns while stalking the pace set by 14-1 Cosmonaut, then split horses at the 3/16 pole and took the lead with a furlong to go, easily holding off the late charging 2-1 favorite Excellent Art by a length in 1:39.78. Cosmonaut hung on to finish third.

Winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez said, "He broke very fast but I didn't want to go to the lead, so I covered him up. At the quarter-pole, I had a lot of horse, and when I was able to get clear, he took off. He absolutely loved (the soft going)." Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. added, "I couldn't be more excited. I knew he was doing very good going into this race. My only concern was him liking the track. I was under the impression that he was going to get a good trip.The owners made that decision (to supplement) based on how good the horse had run and how he was coming into this race. The key was for him liking the track. It looks like he did."

The NetJets Mile

Purse: $2,000,000     Distance: 1 mile turf

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 8   Kip Deville        Velasquez        18.40   7.20  5.20
13   Ecellent Art       Murtagh                  4.20  3.00
 7   Cosmonaut          Leparoux                       6.60

Winning Time:  1:39.78

$2 Exacta 8-13                        70.80
$1 Trifecta 8-13-7                   376.90
$1 Superfecta 8-13-7-9             1,750.30
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


Midnight Lute wins the Sprint

The $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) is the shortest race on the card, as 10 older horses went 6 furlongs on the main track. 5-2 favorite Midnight Lute was bumped at the start but recovered, raced far back in seventh for half a mile under Garrett Gomez, then unleashed a spectacular rally through the stretch to win going away by 4 3/4 lengths over 6-1 Idiot Proof in 1:09.18. 18-1 pacesetter Talent Search finished third.

Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "He really didn't break all that bad. (Talent Search) made us take back. I felt really comfortable at the half. I felt that we had a good shot. I made the decision to come around horses and Commentator took us out a little farther than I would have liked, but once I got him clear, he came on." Trainer Bob Baffert added, "What a horse! He's just getting better and better. When he didn't break, I said, 'Oh my God.' It was an incredible run he made. I always thought he was in the 'Top Ten' of all my horses, now he's in the 'Top Five.' "

The TVG Sprint

Purse: $2,000,000     Distance: 6 furlongs

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Midnight Lute      Gomez             7.00   4.00  3.00
 7   Idiot Proof        Flores                   6.60  4.60
 4   Talent Search      Fogelsonger                    8.60

Winning Time:  1:09.18

$2 Exacta 2-7                         49.80
$1 Trifecta 2-7-4                    242.60
$1 Superfecta 2-7-4-8              1,374.40
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


Lahudood wins the Filly and Mare Turf

The first grass event on Championship day is the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the turf course. 12-1 Lahudood sat back in seventh after half a mile, was hard held down the backstretch, and then when asked by jockey Alan Garcia, surged to the front opening up a 2 length lead with a furlong to go. She was all out to hold off late-charging 6-1 Honey Ryder to win by 3/4 length in 2:22.75. It was just a neck back to 3-1 favorite Passage of Time in third.

Winning jockey Alan Garcia said,"I had a great trip. We were in good position the first time past the stands, and then, when (Simply Perfect) went wide on the turn, that just opened everything up and I was in great position. She was handling the course very well. I wasn't worried about that at all in any part of the race. I had a lot of horse in the lane and she got there." Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin added, "It's just fabulous. It's just a great feeling for the owner and the jock and everybody concerned. She handled (soft ground) well in France. It's just that Sheikh Hamdan felt she handled firm a little better, but she handles soft well too.(Alan Garcia) rode a great race. I give a lot of credit to him."

The Emirates Airline Filly and Mare Turf

Purse: $2,000,000     Distance: 1 3/8 miles turf

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 6   Lahudood           Garcia          25.40   11.40  6.40
 2   Honey Ryder        Valazquez                6.60  4.60
 4   Passage of Time    Dominguez                      3.40

Winning Time:  2:22.75

$2 Exacta 6-2               167.60
$1 Trifecta 6-2-4           384.90
$1 Superfecta 6-2-4-3     1,185.60
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


War Pass wins the Juvenile.

The $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile featured 2-year-old colts and geldings at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 2-1 favorite War Pass sprinted clear along the rail first time past the stands, opened up a 2 1/2 length lead down the backstretch, and, having drawn away to a 7 length lead at the 1/8 pole under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, easily cruised under the line 4 3/4 lengths clear of 4-1 second choice Pyro in 1:42.76. It was 12 more lengths back to 12-1 Kodiak Kowboy third.

Winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez said, "My horse had a lot of speed. He wanted to go to the lead. At the quarter-pole, I asked and I had a lot of horse in the last part of the race." Trainer Nick Zito added, "I'm very excited. Wonderful horse. This is great. I never had an anxious moment. We did it exactly the way we said we would. He was just on the edge of 1:09 (for three-quarters), but no matter what, that's fast. He just kept going."

The Bessemer Trust Juvenile

Purse: $2,000,000     Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   War Pass           Velasquez         6.40   3.80  2.80
 7   Pyro               Bridgmohan               4.60  3.60
 3   Kodiak Kowboy      Velazquez                      6.40

Winning Time:  1:42.76

$2 Exacta 2-7                         25.20
$1 Trifecta 2-7-3                     73.00
$1 Superfecta 2-7-3-10               275.60
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details


Indian Blessing wins the Juvenile Fillies.

Kicking off the Championship races is the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for 2-year-old fillies also at 1 1/16 miles. 9-5 favorite Indian Blessing battled on the pace with 13-1 A to the Croft for 1/2 a mile, then having dismissed her, opened up a 6 length lead in mid-stretch under jockey Garrett Gomez, and finished up 3 1/2 lengths clear of 9-1 Proud Spell in 1:44.73. It was just 1/2 a length back to 19-1 Backseat Rhythm in third.

Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "I didn't warm her up too much today. The last time I rode her, she got real aggressive on me. She's a very tactical filly and you can put her where you want. The idea wasn't to make the lead, it was just to get a good forward position, but once she made it up to the first turn, she was rolling so easy, I let her go. When we turned for home, she leveled right out." Trainer Bob Baffert added, "That was fun. I left it up to Garrett but she's a fast filly and she broke well. She's a really talented filly and we've always known it. She was out there by herself turning for home, but (Gomez) kept her busy and she never tired."

The Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies

Purse: $2,000,000     Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Indian Blessing    Gomez             5.40   4.80  3.20
10   Proud Spell        Saez                     8.80  5.80
 7   Backseat Rhythm    Castellano                     9.60

Winning Time:  1:44.73

$2 Exacta 4-10                        54.20
$1 Trifecta 4-10-7                   243.00
$1 Superfecta 4-10-7-3             3,280.80
Results chart
Expanded results with more photos and details

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