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Year in Review Santa Anita opening day HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day |
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 A muddy Kent Desormeaux and Corinthian return after winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
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The highlight event on Day One of the 2007 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the inaugural running of the $1 million Dirt Mile. After Forefathers was scratched in favor of Saturday's TVG Sprint, a field of eight went to post in this 1 mile and 70 yard main track feature. Godolphin's local stable star Discreet Cat was sent off as the 3-2 favorite despite finishing third in the Vosburgh (G1) in his last start after finishing last in the Dubai World Cup (G1). He had not won since the 2006 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct. In to challenge him were 7-2 second choice Corinthian, winner of the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in May but fourth in the Woodward (G1) last time out, and 6-1 third choice Wanderin Boy, winner of the Alysheba (G3) but 7th in the Woodward in his final prep.
 The horses pass by for the first time in the Dirt Mile. |
 Corinthian wins the Dirt Mile |
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 8 Corinthian Desormeaux 9.40 4.40 3.00 6 Gottcha Gold Lopez 6.20 3.40 1 Discreet Cat Gomez 2.60 Winning Time: 1:39.06 $2 Exacta 8-6 60.20 $1 Trifecta 8-6-1 107.70 $1 Superfecta 8-6-1-3 496.40Results chart |
Corinthian heads to the winner's circle. His jockey Kent Desormeaux said, “Once we cornered from home, he stuck his
task for a solid 300 yards and I said, "Man, I can't even imagine that
anyone is near me," and I looked up at the Jumbotron and they were eight
back and I said, "You got 'em, boy, just keep doing what you're doing. This red
colt, he was a fireball down the lane."
Corinthian heads out of the tunnel for the post parade. His trainer James Jerkens said, “But down here we galloped him and gave him
a good, strong, blowout down the backstretch yesterday in the slop and he
seemed to handle it really good. I always thought the mare by Easy Goer, I always thought they excelled in the slop, looking at pedigrees, I thought there was no problem there and Pulpit, they seemed like they can do anything. We got lucky, he
took to (the mud).”
Corinthian heads back to the barn. Winning co-owner Don Little of Centennial Farms said, "We've already negotiated a stallion deal with Gainesway Farm and I'm thinking to myself maybe we can renegotiate and run him again next year. That is the plan. He will be standing at Gainesway in 2008, and after winning the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, he is a brilliant miler and he proved it today."
Second place finisher Gottcha Gold heads out for the post parade. His jockey C. C. Lopez said, "I told
Eddie Plesa that I might get wet, but I ain't gonna get dirty. He ran a
fantastic race. I couldn't be more proud of him. I had a really good
trip, and the other horse (Corinthian) was just better."
His trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said, "We're very
pleased. I thought he ran a good race and we're very proud of him. If
you look at the fractions, needless to day, they are a little bit faster
than we wanted. We got outrun by a good horse, but don't take us for
granted."
Third place finisher and beaten favorite Discreet Cat. His jockey Garrett Gomez said, "He was a little keen with me. Once I got him outside, he was nice and relaxed and traveling well. About the 1/2 mile pole when I needed horse, he just kind of stayed. I thought he was completely done. I just kept scrubbing away, and he hung on and ran third for us. We know (the talent) is still there. We don't know exactly what the problem is. He's traveling well and he feels good underneath me, but there's something missing, and we're going to try to find it. "
His trainer Saeed bin Suroor said, "I don't like to make excuses. There's nothing we can tell right now. Maybe it was the ground, or maybe his throat. We're headed back to the barn now."
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