The fillies pass by for the first time in the Juvenile Fillies Turf with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background. Eventual winner Tapitsfly is second at this point.
The 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships kicked off on Friday with 6 races. Conditions were ideal for racing, with clear skies and temperatures in the mid 70's, although some haze hid the San Gabriel Mountains from view early in the card. The Pro-Ride main track was officially "fast" as always, while the turf was very firm. A crowd of 37,651 fans came out to Santa Anita, an increase of 20% over Friday last year, thanks in part to a price reduction in both reserved seats and general admission tickets.
Full results with several photos per race are available at the link below the pay-off chart.
The highlight of Friday's card is the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Careless Jewel was sent off as the 2-1 favorite. Careless Jewel sprinted away to a clear lead soon after the start and set blistering fractions of 45.78 and 1:09.74 while as many as 9 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. However the favorite tired badly in the stretch to finish last, as 8-1 Life is Sweet, who was last early, closed with a rush down the center of the track to win by 2 1/2 lengths over 16-1 Mushka in 1:48.58. It was another length back to 5-2 Music Note third.
Winning trainer John Shirreffs said, "I'm just so happy for Life is Sweet. She's such a nice filly. She ran so great early in the year. I was glad she was able to get it done today. She really deserves this. She had been coming into this race really great." Jockey Garrett Gomez added, "She was a little antsy today; she halfway hopped when she left the gate and she got pinched a little bit. She grabbed a hold of me and I had to slow her down a little bit, just like I did this spring. About the 1/4 pole, they all started coming and she started finding her stride. I went by the last one and she just stayed on, and I'm glad she picked today to show up. She's had some tough races. Her campaign this summer was very difficult."
The Ladies' Classic
Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
2 Life Is Sweet Gomex 18.20 8.00 5.00
3 Mushka Desormeaux 12.80 6.40
7 Music Note Maragh 3.20
Winning Time: 1:48.58
$1 Exacta 2-3 85.80
$1 Trifecta 2-3-7 523.60
$1 Superfecta 2-3-7-5 2,533.40
$2 Pick 6 $155,819.80
The $1 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) featured a field of 9 older fillies and mares sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Defending champion Ventura was sent off as the 4-5 favorite. 35-1 Free Flying Soul battled for the lead with 7-2 Informed Decision through fractions of 23.23 and 45.95. Entering the stretch Informed Decision took over the lead. Ventura, who was 8th early, put in a strong late rally but came up short, as Informed Decision cruised under the line 1 1/4 lengths in front in 1:21.66. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to pacesetter Free Flying Soul third.
Winning trainer Jonathan Sheppard said, "She was always up there, clear and close to the pace. She got the lead in plenty of time and kept driving to the wire. If there were a chink to her armor, Ventura would have caught her but she finished up strongly. It worked out perfectly." Jockey Julien Leparoux added, "She broke good, and put me right where I wanted to be early in the race. She was nice and relaxed and comfortable. I was very happy from the start because I know what kind of kick she can give me. She can win any way. She's a champion. She just has to be comfortable, whether she's in front, close to the pace, or behind."
The $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf featured 8 older fillies and mares going 1 1/4 miles on the turf. Defending champion Forever Together was the 2-1 favorite. 11-1 Visit went to the early lead and set fractions of 1:12.95 and 1:36.08 over the firm going. She led to mid-stretch before tiring, as 5-2 Midday, who sat in third early, came through on the rail to win by a length over 8-1 Pure Clan in 1:59.14. It was another length back to late-running favorite Forever Together third.
Winning jockey Thomas Queally said, "The biggest win of my career, undoubtedly. She hit a flat spot over on the backside, and I had to get after her. She has a top gear that is really something, but we had to find it. When she quickens, it's just a dream. I am over the moon." Trainer Henry Cecil added, "They suddenly quickened up a bit, and when he asked her, she moved through nicely. She finishes well, and she gets the trip well. When she hit the front, I think she thought she had just enough for the end, and she had."
The Emirates Airline Filly and Mare Turf
Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1 1/4 miles turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
6 Midday Queally 6.60 4.80 3.00
5 Pure Clan Gomez 7.80 4.00
2 Forever Together Leparouxz 2.40
Winning Time: 1:59.14
$1 Exacta 6-5 26.80
$1 Trifecta 6-5-2 96.00
$1 Superfecta 6-5-2-1 536.50
The $2 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) featured a field of 12 two-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Oak Leaf Stakes winner Blind Luck was sent off as the 7-2 favorite. 7-1 Always a Princess dueled with 9-2 Connie and Michael through fractions of 47.52 and 1:11.61, but the pace battle set the race up for closers. 7-1 She Be Wild, who stalked them third early, came through on the inside and held off late-running 9-1 Beautician by 3/4 length in 1:43.80. It was another 3/4 length back to favorite Blind Luck third.
Winning jockey Julien Leparoux said, "I got a perfect race. I was on the rail all the way. I was hoping it would open up at the top. It did open up a little bit, and that was good. That was all I needed." Trainer Wayne Catalano added, "When they were loading, she was getting a little excited but she broke good. I'm really happy with her. I was a little worried when it looked like she might get trapped but I have a good rider who is patient. I felt good when she poked her head in the hole. She's not a big filly so it doesn't take much room."
The Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies
Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
8 She Be Wild Leparoux 16.80 9.00 5.00
4 Beautician Albarado 9.40 6.00
3 Blind Luck Baze 3.00
Winning Time: 1:43.80
$1 Exacta 8-4 2 72.20
$1 Trifecta 8-4-3 407.90
$1 Superfecta 8-4-3-12 7,384.90
Tapitsfly wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf over Rose Catherine
The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf featured a field of 12 two-year-old fillies going 1 mile on the turf. Debutante Stakes winner Lillie Langtry was sent off as the 3-2 favorite. 6-1 Rose Catherine set the early pace of 22.95, 47.02, and 1:10.33 over the firm course while being stalked by 10-1 Tapitsfly the whole way. Entering the stretch, Tapitsfly closed the gap on the pacesetter and pulled ahead late to win by 1/2 a length in 1:34.25. It was a long 3 1/4 lengths back to 7-1 House of Grace third, while favorite Lillie Langtry was 8th beaten 6 3/4 lengths.
Winning trainer Dale Romans said, "No one deserves to win a race like this more than (owner) Mr. Jones. He's been in the business a long time and has had horses for over 30 years. My father (Jerry) trained for him before me. It's just a great win for him and for me too. I thought we had a great trip. I thought that if she got her nose in front, she wouldn't stop. That other filly (Rose Catherine) ran a great race, but my filly hung on." Jockey Robby Albarado added, "She broke well, she put herself in position. I just wanted to clear most of them into the first turn so I wouldn't get packed out too wide. She's awful quick leaving the gate. She came home nice. She's a little fighter, I'll tell you that."
The Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies Turf
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 miles turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
10 Tapitsfly Albarado 21.60 8.60 6.00
4 Rose Catherine Castellano 6.80 5.80
7 House of Grace Luzzi 5.00
Winning Time: 1:34.25
$1 Exacta 10-4 76.20
$1 Trifecta 10-4-7 479.40
$1 Superfecta 10-4-7-91 7,358.00
The first Breeders' Cup race of 2009 was the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon, a 1 3/4 mile test over the synthetic Pro-Ride main track for older horses. Mastery, winner of the St. Leger last time out, was the 7-5 favorite in the field of 10. 22-1 Black Astor set the early pace of 1:13.66, 1:39.11, and 2:04.36 before tiring. 8-1 Cloudy's Knight took over the lead and looked homefree but 6-1 Man of Iron hooked up with him in midstretch and outfinished him by a nose in 2:54.11. Favorite Mastery was 2 1/4 lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "That was brilliant. We're delighted. Johnny (Murtagh) gave him a wonderful ride. Johnny said that he was just going to take his time because that's the way he likes to be ridden. That's what he did. It was just a marvelous ride." Jockey John Murtagh added, "It was his first time over the course so I let him just go along without any hurry. I wanted to stay out of trouble. I asked him at the 3/8 pole and he responded beautifully. He got the win right on the wire so it worked out just right."
The Breeders' Cup Marathon
Purse: $500,000 Distance: 1 1/2 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
9 Man of Iron Murtagh 14.80 7.20 4.40
4 Cloudy's Knight Homeister 7.40 4.60
6 Mastery Dettori 2.40
Winning Time: 2:54.11
$1 Exacta 9-4 60.10
$1 Trifecta 9-4-6 225.10
$1 Superfecta 9-4-6-10 2,845.50
2011 Breeders' Cup Entries and Post Positions - Final entries were taken and post positions drawn on Monday for the 15 races on November 4-5 at Churchill Downs. Lots of info about the Breeders' Cup, each race, and links to profiles for all the horses with post positions, morning line odds, and free past performances.
Thursday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 35 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, including Goldikova who actually galloped, Drosselmeyer, and Gio Ponti. Very few repeats from previous days.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 57 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, including Havre de Grace, juvenile Speightscity who had a bullet work, and Game on Dude. All different horses from Tuesday!
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 41 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, including Mile favorite Goldikova, Turf favorite Sarafina, and Juvenile favorite Union Rags.
Review: Crushing the Cup 2011 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Churchill Downs updated for 2011.
Breeders' Cup 360 - 'The Bettor's Inside Source' for all things Breeders' Cup handicapping
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
European News - the latest on the Euro contenders from Sporting Life
Saturday Breeders' Cup Results - Goldikova became the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races with her victory in the Mile. Zenyatta came up a head short in her quest for a 20th consecutive win when she was unable to catch Blame in the Classic. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 8 races here.
Friday Breeders' Cup Results - Unrivaled Belle held off the late close of Blind Luck to win the first Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic run at night. Also on the card, Shared Account won the Filly and Mare Turf, Awesome Feather won the Juvenile Fillies, Dubai Majesty won the Filly and Mare Sprint, More Than Real won the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Eldaafer won the Marathon. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
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